DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH-—PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] j HIGH SPEED LAUNCH. FOP, WHALE CHASING. AUCKLAND, May 19. A whale-elm sing launch of a speed of 40 miles an hour is now being built in Auckland for service in Cook Strait, and when in commission she will be the most up-to-date craft of her kind engaged in this industry in any part of the world. This small, but speedy, vessel is being built for E. C. Perano’s whaling party of To Awaite, Tory Channel, Marlborough Sounds, by Messrs Codings and Bell, and it is expected that she will bo launched this week. The launch was designed by tho builders for the special work and is constructed on their patented concave convex principle. She is smaller than some of the whale-chasers now ill use at Cook Starit and in North Auckland waters, hut is lighter and faster, yet strongly built to stand the heavy driving she will experience in the troubled waters of the Strait.

'Die vessel is 112 ft long, with breadth of 7ft 4in. The hull draws only about loin, but with her propeller and supporting bracket, she will have a total draught of 2ft 4in. She is really a speed launch adapted to whaling, and has a pronounced flare forward, giving her a speedy and businesslike appearance. The power plant is a. 200 horsepower, 8 cylinder V Curtis aeroplane motor, adapted for marine use, driving a 19-inch propeller at 1400 revolutions a minute. This will give her a top-speed of over 35 knots, while her cruising speed will not bo less than IS miles an hour. The engine is electrically started and controlled from the cockpit, and is completely housed under the main (leek. An electric lighting plant has been installed, and this will also give power for the firing of electric bombs, which ore frequently used for the killing of whales. The harpoon gun will hemounted on a. stout post in the bows, and a special lead is provided for tho 1500 fathoms whale line, which will be coiled in tho closed hatch aft of the steersman, enabling him. to play and control the whale without leaving his post. The launch is so arranged that a crew of two can work her. DEAL IN SHARES.

JUDGE CRITICISES CANVASSER, WANGANUI, May 19. M.r Justice Alpers presided at the Supreme Court to-day in a- case in which the trustees of the estate of Dio late Robert Clement Connor sued the Wanganui Freezing Company for the removal of plaintiff’s name from the share register and a refund of £SO paid on account of £IOO shares purchased last September. T he shares were sold to Connor by a canvasser named Harding, allegedly while Connor, who has since died, was drunk. Since tho shares were sold, the company has ceased operations, hut the deceased’s estate was still liable for the balance of the share money. In evidence it was stated that Harding purchased a case of whisky for Connor.

His Honor said that Harding evidently had a corkscrew in one pocket and a prospectus in the other. According to the evidence Harding had‘supplied Connor with whisky, taking it to Hie farm when Connor was on a prolonged drinking bout. In giving judgment for plaintiff, liis Honor said that Connor was not in a lit state to do business rationally. The case is of interest, as 209 other shareholders “who claim that the eompnny’s position was misrepresented to Diem, intend taking similar action. I

Judgment for tv.e plaintiff was given by tho Judge to have the names removed from the share register.

AN UNFORTUNATE CHINAMAN AUCKLAND, May 1.9.

Hospital hoards seem sometimes to he not over-particular regarding the n< inner in which, they pass burdens on to each other. Lately two of them have been having a sort of game of draughts with, a Chinaman. ’This individual was discharged from gaol after having served at sentence at Mount Eden, and he made application to I lie relief department of the Auckland Mosl'iipl Board for assistance. 'The hoard brought him a ticket and sent him to Hamilton, and the Hamiiton Board promptly bought him another ticket and sent him back when the unfortu- - mite man sought their charity. “And when he came here again we bought him /.mother ticket and returned him to Hamilton once more,” reported the chairman (Air \\ allace) at a meeting cl the Auckland Hospital Board. Mr Wallace added that to make mint tors worse the poor fellow was consumptive, which prompted a member of the hoard to somewhat unfortunately remark that the fresh air lie got while travelling would “do him good.”

The ehainr. 111 declared that he could not understand the action of the AVaikato Board. The man came from the AVaikato, and he should be a AVaikato responsibility.

AIISSTNG WOAIAN. TAUAT ARUNTJT, AI ay 20. The police; arc. still dragging the Wanganui llivcr in a search for the body of AHs R. Voting, who disappeared oil Sunday, leaving a note stating she would not he seen again. So far, the search has been resultless. .Mrs Young u<is staying at a boardinghouse not far from the Wanganui River, and a woman’s footprints were found on the bank. Mr W. Dagg, the missing woman’s guardian, is convinced the footprints are those of his ward. Strangely, however, the footprints lead along the river bank for several hundred yards, but are then retraced. One unexplainable feature is the fact that the woman is supposed to have 'teen wearing a hat that has not been found. Airs Young 'had her hair cut, and it is only natural, therefore, to suppose that the hat would not remain on her head long after she entered the water.

INTOXICATED YOUTHS. PALMERSTON NORTH, May 20. At the Police Court, a youth, whose un mo was ordered to be suppressed pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on a charge of hurling a bottle at the engine of an incoming evening train from Napier on April 15th. The police evidence was to the effect that accused made a statement admitting throwing the bottle at the engine. He and another youth 15 years of age, after attending an entertainment the night of the occurrence, procured 14 bottles of beer from the licensee of a hotel. They had been near the Terrace Street I intersection when the train approached. Having consumed four bottles of beer each, both were in a state of intoxication, and decided to throw a bottle that was broken at the engine. This had bc-en done by the accused, who, in conclusion, denied he had any connection with the attempts to derail trains at Palmerston North. The. .remaining bottles of beer were consumed later. Asking that the name of the hotel from whence the beer was procured bo suppressed, the police stated that a prosecution was pending for supplying the youths with liquor.