DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv telegraph—per press association.]

MESSAGE FROM THE DEVON, WELLINGTON, May 19.

. The Secretary of the G.P.O. advises that tho following message was broadcasted by the s.s. “Devon” at 3.10 a.m. to-day: “Devon,” lat. 30.22. long. 158.55:. Have the steamer Eastern Moon in tow, but not under command. Steering south, eighty west. True lights exhibited. Please keep clear.” LAND MONOPOLY. "WANGANUI, -May 19. The conference of the "Wellington Provincial Branch of tho Farmers’ Union concluded to-day. Many remits were passed, including a motion calling on the Government to take steps to prevent land aggregation. Ml RACULOUS ESCAPE. AUCKLAND, May 19. A motor car was completely cut in two in front of the garage of Scabrook and Fowlds in Symonds Street, this afternoon, through being caught' between a. train car and a centre pole. Two occupants. Alexander Stevenson, of Albany, and his son, William Ronald Seven son. had an almost miraculous escape. His son was driving tho car. his father lieing on the rear seat and when travelling up Symonds Street, the driver turned to cross to the other side of the road, a city-bound tram car caught the motor vehicle and jammed it against the centre pole, wrecking it entirely, and cutting it in halves. Stevenson senior, who was caught under the hood, was extricated with some difficulty, after the car find been jacked up and was found to bo uninjured, though badly shaken. The son was not so fortunate, sustaining cuts oil tho arm and on the left side of the. head.

BREACH OF PROMISE. AUCKLAND. Mav 19.

A breach of promise of marriage is the ground alleged for an action now pending in the Auckland Supreme Court in which Ada Mary Rond is the palintifT. and James Ernest Gear, the defendant. The amount of damages claimed is ,£2OOO.

PAPER SELLERS FINED. HAMILTON, May 19,

Two Hamilton newsvendors were today fined 10s fid and costs for selling newspapers on Sunday. The facts wore admitted, hut the defendants’ eounse 1 held that, although no person was allowed to work at his calling on Sunday, there were certain exemptions, one being the preparing, printing or publishing of a daily paper. He submitted tho term publisher was intended to cover the sale of newspapers whenever and wherever offered in public by the proprietor. The defendants were thus engaged in publication. The Magistrate held that the defendants were not engaged in publication, but were independent contractors, purchasing the papers which they sold to make a profit for themselves.

CHARGED WITH BTOA.MY. AUCKLAND, -May 19. “This man is an habitual criminal, and was discharged from prison only on Tuesday.” said Chief Detective Cummings in the Police Court today, when Arthur Julius Theodore Winter Branstad, aged 52, was brought before Air F. K. Hunt, S.M., on a charge of undergoing a bigamous marriage with 'lvey Lowe, on June 17th., 1919, lie having previously been married to Lucy Hayes (who was alive at the time, June 17th., 1919), on May 3rd. 1915. The Chief Detective asked for a remand until next Monday. The Magistrate granted the remand, and allowed hail at £209 with personal surety for a like amount.

ASSAULT CASE. INVERCARGILL, Alay 19. At the Supreme Court, before Justice Sim, Thomas Hiisscy was sentenced to three months’ hard labour for assaulting Archibald Anderson, so as to cause actual bodily barm. The jury made a strong recommendation for mercy, but the Judge said that in view of accused’s previous bad record, be would have to impose imprisonment. A motion was made before Air Justice Stringer, early this week, on behalf of the plaintiff for an order that tho case be tried before a iurv. and the order was opposed by the defendant. Tn a judgment on the motion, delivered to-day His Honour said it was apparent from the pleadings that there would be a direct conflict of evidence, and probably, as stated in argument, a good deal of hard swearing, especially n.s regards £ISOO, which was admittedly paid by defendant to the plaintiff before the action was brought. It seemed to him that, with its composite intelligence, a jury, viewing the relevant considerations from a variety of angles, and assisted by the presiding judge, was more likely to arrive at a proper conclusion than would any individual judge acting alone. Therefore he directed that the action he tried before a jury. No fixture has yet been made for tho hearing of the ease. It is therefore unlikely to ho heard before the next civil sittings of the Court. RAIN AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. -May 18. Rain fell continuously in Auckland to-day. The total from mid-night to seven o’clock to-night has been three inches. The cargo work on the waterfront was brought to a standstill. £22,000 TENDER. GISBORNE, Alay 20. The Poverty Bay Power Board aci epted a tender by the Afetropolitan Vickers Ltd., of £22,000, for additions to the existing power station, the principal item being two 500-li.p. semi-Die-sel engines.

AtAD .MOTOR rSTS. AUCKLAND. Alay 19. .. 11 Careless and reckless motorists have no right to the. roads at all,” said Mr Hunt, S.AL, this morning, when hearing a speeding case. “AY hen they are before me for their second offence 1 intend to endorse their licenses, and the third time 1 will cancel them altogether. I’m going to do my best to clear the roads of these callous drivers. If they know what I intend it will probably make them exercise a little more care.” SCHOOL BOOKS. WELLINGTON. Alay 20. Replying to representations by the Taranaki School Committee’s Association. Dr Afarsden, Assistant Director of Education, says fhnt the only uniform reader in use in the schools is the school journal. All other reading matter varies from school to school and it cannot be said there is too much uniformity in this respect. The present text books are not entirely suitable and new ones are in the course of preparation. The present books have been in use for fifteen years, and a shorter term would scarcely be advisable, as it would impose undue burden on the parents. The Government cannot agree to issue free school stationery, owing the very large cost involved.

A MINER’S DEATH. WAIHI, Alay 20. Leonard AlcClnre, the miner who sustained concussion as the result of a falling stone in the Waihi mine on Tuesday, succumbed to his injuries this morning.

DAMAGES ALLOWED. AUCKLAND, May- 20. At the Supreme Court, the Public Trustee in the estate of the late William Henry Angell, who was a tool sorter employed by Waihi Gold Mining Coy. claimed £2OOO damages from tho Company. Angell was at .liis mid-day meal when a beam fell on him causing fatal injuries. The jury found negligence, the beam not being properly secured and assessed damages at £1250, including £450 for the widow and £BOO for the four younger children. Argument is proceeding on a non-suit point. HEAVY WEATHER. AUCKLAND, May 20. " Vessels arriving report heavy weather at sea. The I'rio from Napier, Elsie Mary and Fancy Kate from Gisborne, were hove to in a heavy gale off flic East Cape and driven a long distance from land. They returned to East Cape last Saturday land arrived here yesterday. The Elsie Mary had her main boom and gaff broken and the upper topsail carried away. HEAVY RAIN. 1 WTIAXGAREI, May 20. There was an exceptional rainfall in Whangarei and the district, covering a wide range. During the forty-eight hours to nine o’clock this morning 3.55 inches were recorded. A continuous downpour since then betokens floods of an extensive character.

In consequence of the adverse conditions tho challenge sculling race between George Ceruti (Australia) and Jim Mason (Whangarei) scheduled for ttiis afternoon has been postponed till Saturdav afternoon.