DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[llY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] fire in cool store?. jINVERCARGIIjL, April 8. At 1 p.m. to-day an outbreak of lire occurred at the Southland Cool Stores buildings (at Bluff. An alarm was promptly sounded on a newly-installed electric siren. Mr Charles Fox, an ex-member of flic Bluff Fire Brigade, v.iis quickly on the scene and dealt with the situation in a most expeditious manner, finding the centre of the trouble was located in the testing room, high up under tile roof. Fie climbed upon a railway waggon in the siding, and thereby gaining access lo a window, through which be was enabled to play a lead of water with good effect. Other leads from the stores were also brought to bear, and the spread of the. flames, which were bursting through the skylights was quickly checked. By the time the Brigade arrived, the fire was well in hand. An inspection revealed that the tiro started in the cheese testing room, and the damage was confined M this and an adjoining office. Find there been any wind the greater porLift:! of the building would have he destroyed. HOSPITAL HEADS. HAMILTON. April 8. Various expressions of satisfiu-t : ■•• with the present system of hospital control were made by members of the Waikato Board to-day. Despite the remarks of Dr MaoEachern, the visiting American physician, relative to the benefits of running hospitals with honorary staffs, the members considered the existing system a hotter one. Speaking in reference to the remarks of Sir Undo Ferguson at the recent conference of Hospital Associations at Dunedin that the Hospital Boards were incompetent to select medical superintendents for hospitals, several members of the Board cited the position of the "Waikato Hospital as an adverse commentary on Dr Ferguson’s assertion. The members contended that the selections made by the Waikato Board in its medical officers had given the utmost satisfaction, and Dr Ferguson had met with a merited rebuke from the Minister of Health for his statement. A GIRL THIEF. HAMILTON, April 8. Quito unconcerned, and with a smile for everybody; a 19-year old girl. Mary Teresa AliHor appeared at the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton today for sentence on charges of stealing a five-pound note, a georgette dress and bangles. She was further charged with •'lie theft of an attache ease at New Plymouth. Asking for a remand for seven days to that place, Sergt. Cooper mentioned that two other charges were pending. The girl was sentenced to detention not exceeding 12 months, in the Borstal Institute at Wellington, where she would be under much-needed supervision, and where she would be taught industriotisness. On the other charges she was remanded to New Plymouth next Thursday.

A RESCUE FROM DROWNING. CHRISTCHURCH. April 8. Samuel Garrett, a fireman on the steamer Crossbill, while stepping from the pier to the vessel, lost his balance amt fell into the harbour, where lit' floated face dowmtards until a seaman from U.M.S. Dunedin and another man rescued him. Tie was then unconscious. He was resuscitated after some time and was removed to the Dunedin’s siek hay, and later was sent to the Hospital. WOMAN'S DEATH FROM BURNS. TTAMTT/TON, April 8. At the inquest on Airs Lilian Castleton, who succumbed to injuries from burning, as tho result of her clothes catching fire, while washing af a copper at Eureka, the verdict was Hint she died from shock. N.Z. LABOUR PARTY. WELLINGTON. April 8. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Labour Party at AVanganui. Mr 11. E. Holland presiding, tile election of officers resulted as follows: - President—Mr Robt. Semple. A ice-I’residoiil:—Air .T. J. Thorne. ProvineVd Afomhers of the Kxe utive—Afessrs AY. E. Barnard (ITolons-

ville), D. W. Coleman (Gisborne), J. H. Terry (New Plymouth), W. J. Rogers (AVanganui), W. Beaver (Taumarunui), E. Spurr (Lower ITutt), T. Parfitt (Westport), F. R. Cook (Christchurch), G. T. Rollers (Timaru), T. and F. Jones (Dunedin). Resident Control Executive at Wellington: Messrs T. Brindle, W. Bromley, F. Cornwell, J. Roberts and J. Glover. AVANGANUI, April 8. The Conference of the New Zealand Labour Party concluded to-day. Among the motions carried was the following regarding defence: ‘‘That the '•Labour Party whole-heartedly supports disarmament by agreement among the nations, and declares that it will he prepared to face the problem of defence, on assuming the office of Government, in the light of that policy, and will bo guided by tie circumstances prevailing at that time as to the extent to which disarmament can lie achieved, or defence is neccssa rv. Before the proceedings terminated a presentation was made to Mr T. Brindle, the retiring President. •Several of the delegates have left to participate jp Hie Eden bye-election campaign. THE TRADE’S TENURE. A\ ANGANUf, April 8. Mr P. Covle. President of the Licensed Victuallers, at a meeting of fho local hotelkeepers to-dav was asked it hi* thought the Trade would have a longer period between the polls. He replied that ho thought that Hie Government, during the coming Parliament would introduce legislation on the basis of the 192-1 Parliamentary ’Committee’s recommendations. which included provision for a longer tenure.