DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[Br TELEGRAPH —rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CRUISE ROUND N.Z. WHANGAREI, March 25. Captain W. R. Patterson leaves Whangarci this afternoon on a cruise round New Zealand in his new launch,' Bakanui, the first stage being to Wellington via. tlio East Coast. Jt is anticipated that six weeks will he occupied in the journey. A party ol seven is aboard. FIRE AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, March 25. A fire at Banfurly Road, Epsom, destroyed John A. Stewart’s two-storey residence oi twelve rooms. Stewart was the sole occupant and escaped in his night attire, dashing through the burning structure to a window and then jumping six feet to the roof of a leanto. The insurances on tho building and contents total .CG675, all in the New Zealand Insurance Company. The loss includes a library on engineering valued at £1,500. A DEFERRED VERDICT. AUCKLAND, March 25. After a drinking hold for two days in August last year Andrew Soutter became entangled in an argument and was struck by a man. Soutter fell to the footpatli and died a few hours later. The adjourned iuouest was held before Air Mciven-xie. S.M., this morning when Ernest Walton, who was in company with Soutter. said that so far as he could see the man who struck deceased had no reason for doing so. Dr Murray said the injuries causing death could have been caused by the deceased striking his head on the footpath when falling. Detective-,‘Sergt. O’Brien and Detective Xalder made inquiries as the result of which a warrant was issued on September 25th charging the man with manslaughter. It was found that the man left Auckland on August 28th as a member of the crew of the Moeraki for Sydney. He deserted the ship in Sydney on September 2nd and had not been located. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to haemorrhage caused by a fall as the result of a blow received.

GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE

WELLINGTON. March 25

Speaking at a farmers’ function, the Hon. 0. Hawken said that there had been a good deal of controversy about Government i n ter fere nno in business, but if that interference enabled those engaged to carry on business more success!ully. the Government was quite entitled to interfere. He. was afraid that those who talked about interference did not quite understand the position. He hardly knew n solitary business in which the Government did not try to-help. As Minister of Agriculture. li.e considered ilie Government could help farmers still more than in the past. He deplored the fact that people were drifting back from the land to tiie towns, and expressed the licliet that life in the country must lie made more attractive, especially for women. Ff they persisted in leaving tiie ooniurv it. would bcooino depopulated.

NARROW ESCAPE OF STEAMER ALEXANDER. NELSON, March 25. On a voyage from Lyttelton to Nelson, early yesterday morning, during very had weather, the Anchor Company’s steamer Alexander grated on a rock off the Xno Pins, near Chotwade Island, at the mouth of Dolorous Sound during a heavy rain squall, which obscured the visibility. Tt, was found during the squall that tiie vessel was close up to the lightrock off the Nine Pins, near Chotwade engines were immediately reversed, hut. on going astern, the vessel grazed the rocks. The Alexander remained afloat, however. and. after ascertaining that there was no leak, the voyage to Nelson v.as resumed, this port being reached at 7.15 a.m. A customs inquiry was hold, and the vessel was examined by the local surveyor. It was found that the vessel had suffered no apparent danger, and she has resumed her usual running. A RESIGNATION. CHRISTCHURCH. March 21. Mr G. Payne, formerly of the M.'.iist Club, has resigned from the Cnnteroury R-ughy Union, on the ground that his work for the code had linen condemned, and he had decided if was time to make an exit. This was Iho only reason why he was leaving the Rugby Union. His decision had been hi-ought about by unfair criticism icveiled against him by one or two members ol the Rugby Union Committee. Tils sole reason for resigning was that his work had been condemned by a rortain section. He would continue, to work lor the code. He was accorded a vie r f thanks. A LICENSE AT LAST. TTUTT TROTTING MEETING TO PE “WET.” WELLINGTON. March 21. After having had dry meetings lor years at the Trotting Club's race meetings at- Lower TTutt, due to the it.iuitl of the Licensing Committee to grant a conditional license, this year s meeting next Saturday will be held under wet conditions. At the election of the Licensing Committee the question of whether a conditional license should Ik? granted was reallv the principal issue oefore the voters. Tn the contest the lnnlerate party gained all five seats with substantial majorities. At to-day’s n toting of the Hutt Licensing Committee a license was granted to V. E. Mmgt.er for the Trotting Club’s meeting at Lower Tlutl. £9O for KARU WRECK. AUCKLAND, March H. The remains of the steamer Rani, wrecked at Cape Maria, Van Diem-ni last month, were sold by pnohe awfion to-day. The wreck and cm o s were knocked down to Afr V . '>'W '■ of Oneluinga, for £2O- , The buyer will have a difficult task in salvaging anything, as the Ku lies in an exposed position -h ‘ C l luck attend his venture, however, he might easily show a substantial Urnover on his small outlay. V SUDDEN DEATH. ITAWERA, March 25. \ middle-aged native, Rangiahu Pikirapu. died suddenly at Taiporohenu. this morning. He went out on horseback rounding up stock. He was found later on the ground, eompalinmg o his heart. He died before the arrival of a doctor. He was apparently m a healthy condition. -- . ...