DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

•] [by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION., ARICCLTURAL EDUCATION. SITE FOR UNIVERSITY, w [WANGANUI, April 15. A meeting of the committee appointed to assist in the selection of an agricultural college site to-dav car- ' ried the following resolution:—“That Q this meeting hopes that the-gentle-men responsible for the selection of a 1 site for tjie proposed Agricultural ’ University will keep steadily in mind ‘ the true needs of and full meaning of an agricultural university, and concentrate upon obtaining, regardless of any district influence whatsoever, a site which will conform with the real needs of the university. This meeting further urges that in view of the problems in the wheat-growing industry the site selection committee should keep before it the fact that the Riangitikei district offers unlimited scope for experiments in cereal growing, as it is consdered to be the granary of the North Island. It is further argue! that the close proximity of the Rangitikei district to several lands along tho Taranaki and main trank lines widen are deteriorating is a further reason why the* University should he located in that district. This meeting believes that the land upon which the university is to he built, and not the buildings, will constitute the rod university, and having in mind the low prices of the- sites offered in tho Rangitikei district, urges that every factor mentioned herein should he given most earnest consideration.” The motion is to he presented to the Government by .Messrs Glen, Veitcli, Dickie and .Masters, members of Parliament. FISHERMAN'S COSTLY ACT. A ICELAND, April Jfi. A fisherman named Edward Hough was fined £2O and costs and vessel and tackle valued approximately at £7OO was ordered to he confiscated for using a Danish Seine net for taking fish within the area of the Firth of Thames. nUJLDINU IN WELLIN'!ITON. WELLINGTON, April U. Though the full report of the City 1 Building Superintendent upon buildings authorised in Wellington during ‘ the twelve months, ended March 31st. 1 is not vet available, the ligures avail- 1 able are sufficient to show that a new ' record of almost £2,ooo,ooo—far ' ahead of the previous best year— has ’ been established. In 1923-21, the sum of £1,3(51.584 was reached as the estimated value of buildings lor which permits were granted by the City Council, a considerable advance on that of any previous year. < For 1924-25. the total was lower, i though still above the £1,000,OIK) t mark. It was £1.0(50,137. During the ] financial year just ended, the mouth- i ly totals have added up to £1,920.832, | not very far short of £1,000.IKK) bet- I ter than the total for 1924-25. I The total is largely due to the < many large buildings that have been | erected, or are in course of erection, t Amongst there are a hospital block 1 of £150.000, the A..M.P. building of t £190.03;), the National Bank £OO,OOO, ; the Hope Ribbons, Ltd.. building a £35.000, the Oil Companies’ works, c £50,000, Masonic Temple £30,000. Maoriland Motors £20,000. Tramway i workshop* £(i0;0!!0, and others. a Had it been possible to include in I the year 1925-20, the permits for cor- s tain other large buildings already in , hand, the total would have turned j, over the £2,000,000 mark with a con- , siderable margin. I

KERBSIDE PETROL PUMPS. WELLINGTON. April 15. The controversy in respect to erection of kciT.side petrol pumps, which have lately become popular through the increased distribution of petrol m hulk, was revived at the City Council to-night, when the Works ComniTitee asked the council's approval to certain conditions when application'was being made for bowser kerbside pumps. The conditions are that the installations shall he 35ft. from the building hue of a street intersection. There shall he a minimum of 18ft. from the kerb to any tramline, clearance for tiro plugs, etc. No pump can he placed on lootways less than Bf.t. wide. An annual rental of £SO will he charged. The report was adopted. Councillor Semple gave notice of further reservations.

MAORI CHIEF Dills. TAUMARANUI, April 15. The dentil is announced of the Maori chief Ngatai te Maniaku, aged 50, grandson ot chief ’I apine to Maniaku, who at one time was paramount chief of the upper Wanganui. Deceased belonged to the Ngati Hauroa tribe.

MISSING- TEACHER FOUNDPALMERSTON X., April 15.

Ad vies was received at Christchurch last night that Mr A. M. Davidson, the ex-Richmond School teacher, who was reported missing, had -advised his relatives that he was ill Opotiki, and was quite well.

CHILDREN’S COURTS. 1 WELLINGTON, April 15. A Gazette notice is published to- , night regarding Magistrates who are j to exercise jurisdiction in the new • Children’s Courts created under the i Child Welfare Act. which came into operation on April Ist. Tu ct.ieli of the four centres where more than one Magistrate is stationed, the senior Magistrate has liven selected as under: Auckland, Mr E. C. Cut! on. Wellington, Mr AY. G. Riddell. Christchurch. Mr H. Y. ■ Widdowson. Dunedin. Air G. Cruickshank. Another Gazette notice establishes - the Children’s Courts. The recently reported postponement of child cases pending the establishment of these Courts seems to have been unnecessary, as prior to their establishment the ordinary Courts had full legal power to carry on. A third notic-e in the Gazette appoints members of the present Special Schools’ stud' as Child Welfare Officers under the new Act. VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON. April 15. Vital statistics for the month of Mfircli show that the total births registered for urban areas amounted to 1175, as against 991 in February, an increase of 184. Deaths in March were 493, an increase of 63 as cornpored with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 247 and females 246. Forty-nine of the deaths were of children under five years of ago, being 9.94 per cent, of the whole number. Thirty-eight of these were under one year of age. . BUS CATHES FIRE. DUNEDIN, April 17. At 11.15 last evening a Corporation bus at the ear shed in Market Street caught fire through back firing. The front portion of the bus was burnt and the hood destroyed, but little structural damage was done. No passen- " gers were alxiard at the time. STOLEN JEWELLERY FOUND. GISBORNE, April 16. A collection of jewellry, comprising watches and brooches, stolen from the shop of W. V. Piesse, jeweller, on Sunday last, was discovered in a re- ‘ serve yesterday bv boys playing footfc ball. There is still about £lO worth to be accounted for.