DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bv TELEGRAPH —I-KB PRESS association.] minister of lands, Westport, April 19. Hcpi. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, visited Knrainea to-day. lie unveiled the memorial gates for the fallen soldiers there, and also received numerous deputations, the Minister returned to Westport this evening, and was accorded a civic reception in the Town Hall l>v the Mayor, Mr Menzies, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., for tbe Boiler electorate ; Mr J. H. Powell (Chairman of the County Council), -Air Parker (President of the Boiler Progress League) also spoke at the welcome, Deputations were received concerning the Westpurt-Greymmltli coastal road, the Boiler Gorge railway, liver erosion. I'reeholding, colliery reserve leases, motor vehicle traffic, and other matters .to till of which representations the Minister promises serious consideration.

BOOKIES CAUGHT. WELLINGTON. April 19

As the result of parties of police paying simultaneous visit to various premises situated in the Wellington South district, at midday last Saturday, when the final day’s racing of the Wellington meeting was held, evidence of bookmnUing was secured. This resulted in the appearance of George William Wood (38), and John "Watson Wood (11) before Mr Page, S.M., to answer a charge of keeping a common gaming house and publishing a double chart. Accused pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Harvey, conduciing the prosecution, said the evidence showed 128 lids were laid by GeorgeWood ill the two days, while his brother had taken 180 odd lifts over a longer period. The Magistrate said they appeared to have* done a very .substantial business. On the first charge each was fined £35 and costs, and on the second they were ordered to pay costs. MORE IMMIGRANTS. AUCKLAND. April It). The liner Rcnmera. which arrived todav from .Southampton, brought 351 immigrants to the Dominion. CHILD'S DEATH AT SEA. AUCKLAND, April 19. During the voyage of the Rciuuera, which arrived to-night, from Southampton, the infant child of Mds and Mr E. ‘ P. Leeren, of Timaru, died in its cot. The cause of the death was thought to be pneumonia.

WAI.MAKARIRI RIVER TRUST. CHRISTCHURCH, April 19. The Secretary of the Waimakariri fiver Trust has been advised that tho esult of Wednesday’s poll must stand, [’he poll for £200.000 was rejected, >,821 voting lor and 2.835 against, thus ailing to obtain a three-fifths inajorty. It was thought that, there was i possibility of being able to declare he poll carried on a bare majority.

EGG THIEF. CHRISTCHURCH, April 19. Leslie Alfred Kastwick. aged 22, was irepjirin.g to remove twenty-live dozen ggs from, the Canterbury Co-opcru-ive Poultry Producers’ premises in "unm Street, yesterday morning, when e was caught. Eastwick was (barged be theft of eggs valued at £3 ss.

Consttablc Patterson, who arrested he accused, said that Eastwick told im that he was taking the eggs for is landlady, who had six children, 'lie accused bad a key to open the nor to the store, where the eggs were ept. The accused pleaded “guilty,” ml was committed to the Supreme 'ourt for sentence. Rail was allowed.

CABINET CHANGES WELLINGTON. April 19 Tt is understood that no fresh appointments will be made to the Ministry before the end of the present week. Sir James I’arr wil retain his portfolios till the time lie leaves New Zealand, which will lie next Saturday. The Prime Minister has been very busy. He leltves for Taupo to-morrow, and it is expected that no announcement will be made until his return. His visit, to Taupo is in connection with fishing rights in the lake and rivers. Sir Maui Pomare will also attend the meeting. A LUCKY ESCAPE. CHRISTCHURCH. April 19. A Ford roadster crashed through the “enco at Waterfall Corner, about half way up the Lyttelton Road, from Sumner yesterday, and was severely damiged. The driver. Mr Rowley, and iis wife, had a very lucky escape from serious injury. Evidently, noticing lint ho was running out of petrol, the driver attempted to turn his car round <> descend the hill. He hacked into lie fence, and the weight of the ear smashed the fence down. The car went over, and fell a few lent, before striking a largo boulder. It came to rest momentarily, and the driver ind his wife jumped clear, before the -nr again fell. It then dropped about thirty feet, and ran downhill for about two hundred yards, becoming partly wrecked. The car was not insured.

SUDDEN DEATH. WELLINGTON. April 20. At tho close of a boxing match in the Town Hall last night H. J. Levy, aged 50. manager of a well-known firm here, fell forward and expired from heart disease. His nephew, Dr Levy, was present and rendered* immediate assistance, the heart being massaged and -stimulants administered for some time without effect. He leaves a widow and three sons.

TYPHOID OUTBREAK. WELLINGTON, April 20. < The outbreak of typhoid near Napier *■ principally among the natives, is now well in hand. Dr Ruck was instructed j, to proceed there to assist Dr MoKibbin f who was sent up at the beginning. > The patients have the best of medical and nursing service. CONDITIONS IN INDIA. AUCKLAND. April 20. India is not yet ready for the re- , sponsibilitv of self government, is the , opinion of S. N. Ziman, the New Zea- 1 land Rhodes scholar in 1903. who arrived by the Remuera from England , last evening, having resigned irom the , service on pension, to take up his residence in New Zealand. Self government is no substitute for good government. Mr Ziman said in summing up bis view of the present position in India, that the position of a member of the Indian civil service often became extremely difficult, because of the divided allegiance. It would he found that he would have to carry out the orders of an Indian Legislature or of an Indian Minister, while feeling that the course being pursued was not m the best interests of the Indian people. He could not say that many serious cases of this nature occurred, but the tendency shown in minor matters was often disturbing. So far nothing un-j toward has occurred in India as a result of legislative reforms, lie continued. On the whole the country is quiet and moderately happy, hut there arc signs of gradual deterioration in the Government of the country, owing to the general lack of efficiency in all the Government service, particularly as compared with conditions under the old system, compensatory for the advantages of democratic institution as being more in sympathy with the as- , pirations of the people, have not apb peared, due largely to the Tact that only 4 pur cent of the people enn read

or write even their own names,, I feel there is no likelihood of tlie government of India by tbe people for many decades, and certainly not until the necessary education and experience ill democratic institutions have been gained, This must come gradually and any attempt to force the pace is more likely to do harm thrill good. The man- difficulty was that India wris poor country and education was expensive. ' WATERSIDE TROUBLE. CHRISTCHURCH. April 20. The Canopus and Coolana are still idle at-Lyttelton. It is stated that the shipowners will make one of these preference ships, and will not call labour for other vessels until it is worked. ALLEGED THEFT. CHRISTCHURCH. Ap. ‘2O. Eric Donald Ross, formerly employed as managing clerk ill tbe Christchurch office of Perry. Kimierney and Finch, solicitors of Timarn. was charged with having stolen sums totalling C3f,5. the property of a client, and of his employers. He was committed for trial.