DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nr TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] £SOO REWARD! FOR- DETECTION OF TRAIN WRECKERS. WELLINGTON, April 10. The Railway Board 'has decided to offer a reward of £SOO for information leading to the apprehension of the persons responsible for the Palmerston North railway outrages. WEATHER IN MARCH. WELLINGTON, April S. The Government Meteorologist, Mr I). C. Bates, states in his summary for the month of March, 192(1:—The atmospheric pressure was above normal during the greater part of the month, and dry weather predominated, hut some heavy and welcome rains occurred about .March 23, 27 and 31. On March 23 a small, but rather intense, cyclonic disturbance passed through Cook Strait/ and this was billowed by another on March 20. The. rainfall was above the average for the month in the Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough districts, also at Hokitika. Westport and Otira. It was also above' the average at Ivawhia, but less than, usual for tlie month of March in all nthci parts of the Dominion. Westerly gale.- were experienced about ( uok and Hovcaux Straits on March 7. s. and !>, anil severe winds also occurred about March 23 it nil 31. Generally, however, there was little wind during the month. Conditions were, on the whole, mostly cool and fair. The rains during the hitler nart of the month eased the situation for farmers in many parts of the' country, particularly in the North Island, and will, it is Imped, produce growth for winter food.

MORE MOTORISTS BEFORE COURT. DANNEVTRKE, April 12. George Paris and Archibald Ernest Johnson were before the Magistrate's Court, the former charged with negligently driving a motor-ear and the latter with assisting Paris in the negligent driving. The charges arose out of a motor accident in High Street on the ('veiling of (sth when the ear. owned by Johnson and driven by Paris mot with a mishap and George Lawrey, n passenger therein, received injuries and subsequently died. After the hearing of evidence the Justices of the Peqee dismissed the information. CAR FALLS 100 FEET. WELLINGTON, April 12. A ear driven by Davidson, of Rawhili Terrace, went over a steep hillside and fell about 100 feet, trying to avoid a collision with another ear. It mounted the kerb and crashed through a fence at the side of Kelhuru Viaduct. Davidson managed to keep it- on the wheels and it did not overturn till if reached the bottom. Ho, with his wife and son, all escaped with bruises. Ihe place is regarded as dangerous as the view is obscured by fences.

CYCLIST HURT. WELLINGTON, April 12. Percy Clement, aged 20, residing at I’etone. who crashed into a telegraph pole while riding a bicycle, still lies unconscious at the hospital. His condition is described ns very serious. ENGINE DRIVER BLAMED. AY E 1.1. INC TON. April 12. To the Automobile Association a complaint was made tliai a motorist had a narrow escape from death at a crossing, through the driver ol a train not sounding his whistle early enough. A copy of tlie letler was forwarded to the Railway Department. SOUTH ISLAND TRAINS. WELLINGTON. April 12. Commencing oil Afonday. May 17. the running of the mail and express trains between ('llristchureh. Dunedin ami Invercargill will he reduced, as usual, lor the winter season. man found dead. HAMILTON. April 12. A man's loot am! a portion ol a log protruding outside a large empty packing ease at the rear of William Muir’s china and fancy goods simp, in Victoria Street, this afternoon attracted the attention of a girl from an adjoining shop. who. upon an examination, discovered the dead body of tlie proprietor lying head downwards. The deceased came to Hamilton about three years ago from Temuka. where his wile is at present oil a holiday. He had boon receiving treatment for heart trouble and blood pressure for some time. He remarked to a friend only a few days ago that he was feeling a good deal better than ho had for some time. In the meantime, however, the circumstances of his death remain a mystery. COMPANIES FINED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 12. A number of companies - carrying on business in Canterbury and Otago were convicted in the Alngistrate’s Court this morning before Mr 11. A. Widdowson. S.A!on charges of not having licenses, and were lined in amounts ranging from £5, downwards. The informations were laid by Hie Commissioner of Stamp Duties.

SLANDER DAMAGES APPEAL. WELLINGTON', April 12. Justice Sim delivered reserved judgment on the applications for judgment and a motion by the defendant for a retrial of the, recent ease, in which Eleanor Heap claimed £9OO damages for slander against Elizabeth Green and was awarded £250 by the jury. An unusual point made in the defence was that the defendant honestly believed certain statements were trite and it was her duty to make them. The Judge set aside the defendant's claim that the occasion was privileged, as the jury had found she did not believe the statements to he true. The Judge refused to recognise the arguments for a retrial as sufficient. Judgment was given for plaintiff in accordance with the jury’s finding. YOUNG MAN'S THEFTS. PALMERSTON X.. April 12. - At the Police Court, this morning. John Samuel Thomas Parsons. 24. pleaded guilty to the theft of various articles at Wellington, the property of Huleie Key. also with obtaining from Wilfred Bagno, of Levin, £3O, by falsely representing it would be paid for a third share in a side show. On the minor charges he was ordered to tome up for sentence if called on within 12 months. For false pretences he was ordered to he detained for 1? months’ reformative treatment. \CETYUEXE EXPLOSION enquiry. WELLINGTON, April 13. i An exhaustive enquiry into the ex-

plosion of the acetylene cylinder at Niven’s Foundry, in January, appears to show that it was caused by the decomposition of the acetylene. No such previous accident has been known of. The report is being referred to the British Home Office with a request to make further investigation and determine what precautions are necessary. TORONTO EXHIBITION. N.Z. TO BE REPRESENTED. WELLINGTON, April 13. New Zealand is to be represented at the Toronto Exhibition. Mr Collins, the Secretary of the Industries’ Department. will be the Deputy Commissioner. and Mr Marshall, of tlie Tourist Office, will assist him. No comissioner lias yet been appointed. MOTOR. CONTROL REPORT. WELLINGTON, April 13. Mr Christie, a Crown Lands Divmghtfiman, who has la on in England and'America, made special inquiries into the registration and taxation of motor vehicles and the control of competition between trams and buses. Tie, will report to the Gove.-; me lit. N.Z. REVENUE SURPLUS. ONE AND A-lIALH MILLIONS. WELLINGTON. April 13. It. is announced that the revenue accounts will show a surplus for the year of a million and a quarter l (l a million and n half during 192-1. FIRE LOSSES. WELLINGTON, April 13. hires in New Zealand were 1121 affecting 1105 buildings and the grosf.nxurnnoe was l£-t,3(>8.C21 of which £1,005.1 1(1 was paid out by insnivim-e companies.