DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FAILS TO CUT RAGWORT. PAHIATUA, May 7. .Mr McSherry made a plea as counsel for a defendant, a Mastertou resident, who to-day -was charged locally with failing to clear his land of ragwort. Air McSherry said that his client found it impossible to get anyone to do the work, ns his property was so far out back under the ranges, opposite Eketahuna. Tho Magistrate held that the man should find ways and means of clearing his farm, so that the weed should not become a menace to his neighbours. In some districts, he explained, ragwort was a real menace and yet fines made no difference to some men, who simply would not clear their land. Neither would they compensate their neighbours. Some men did not care two straws whether the land was cleared or not. The defendant, was fined £3 with costs. AIIN.ISTERIAL VISITS. PAHIATUA, May 7. lion A. T). McLeod, Alinister of Lands, intends visiting Pahiatua on Monday. Jlon Air ITawken has accepted the ('handler of Commerce’s invitation to visit here, and will come before the session opens. A NARROW ESCAPE. GISBORNE, May 7. R. K. Al(.•Gregor, coxswain on tho Harbour Hoard’s hopper barge, had a narrow escape from drowning to-day. He was thrown from the deck into tho sea by a lurch of the vessel, and ho was picked up by another boat (half an hour later.

PIG SHOOTING ACCIDENT. GISBORNE, .May 7. 1 Weparc lionatama, when out pigshooting at Torero, yesterday, was accidentally shot in the back by bis brother, Davis lionatama. Ho is now in tho Opotiki Hospital in a critical condition. DAZZLING MOTOR. LIGHTS. j CHRISTCHURCH, Aby 7. j AYith the idea of impressing upon 1 motorists the necessity for observing the regulations prohibiting the use of dazzling headlights on motor veliieles, the police are now prosecuting offend-, ers. The first person to be prosecuted for having dazzling headlights in Christchurch came before Mr TI. A. j Young S.AL, in the Magistrate's Court this morning. The defendant! was convicted and ordered to pay costs. AIAYOR’S RULING. COUNCILLORS SEEK WRIT. TJAIARU, [Alay G. At the Supreme Court In-day, before hi-. Honour, .Mr Justice Adams, eight members of the Timarit Borough Council asked for a writ of mandamus, to compel the Mayor of Timaru to submit to the Borough Council four motions in respect of the appointment of a blacksmith, which motions be bad ruled out of order.

After lengthy legal argument, the Jndge issued a mandamus in respect of one motion, which stipulated that the proceedings instituted against Robert. "Welsh, formerly blacksmith in the Council's employ, in tho Magistrate's Court for possession of a dwell-ing-house, property of the Council, which he occupies, and rceovorv of rent. Iw discontinued, his Honor .stating that the Council had the right to have such a motion submitted to them for their decision. Costs £1(1 KM and distursetnenls were allowed against the Mayor. ACCIDENTS'. DUNEDIN, A lay 8. Herbert Mann, .‘lO, a fisherman belonging to I imam, had his right leg severed and lacerated and also received injuries to his right side at Carey's Pay yesterday. He is the owner of the small trawler RTiyeho and was engaged in repairs to the engine, when he became entangled with the fly wheel. He was conveyed by launch to Dunedin and hospitalied in a serious condition. I‘rank Trenoskv, 18, a seaman on the Canadian .Miller received injuries yesterday through falling down one of I the ship’s hold. He was hospitalied. j