DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PEIt PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SUPREME COURT. PALMERSTON N., May 31. A fine of £2O was imposed on Wil liant James Brown, motor driver, aged 2-1, who admitted two charges of unlawful conversion of a car. The case arose out of an accident in which a lady was knocked down while Brown was driving. Prisoners who pleaded guilty in the lower court were sentenced as follows : Joseph Wham, aged -12 theft of £97 14s lid, while a servant of the Taihapo Borough Council, reformative treatment for twelve months. George Matin, aged 24, theft of a motor-car at Palmerston North, reformative detention for two years. THREW. BOTTLE AT TRAIN. \ WELLINGTON, May 31. Pcrcivnl Hands Wilde, aged 101 years, charged with throwing a .'•• ttle at a train at Palmerston North, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court. Ml' Justice Reed wjns on the Bench. Mr O’Leary said the accused ws charged, with another lad under 10. who pleaded not guilty in the lower court. Under the Child Welfare 2, i it had been suggested that the Court might send the present case hack to the Children’s Court, but ho did not think this should bo done. He asked for probation. There was no suggestion that accused had been mixed up in the attempts to derail trains, a lie younger boy had been a had influence on him and had suggested after they had been drinking, throwing the bottle.

The Judge told the prisoner he was lucky bis act did no serious harm. Ho might have killed the driver. He was admitted to probation for flvo years, and ordered to pay costs 21s, and abstain entirely from liquor and take out a prohibition order. His amusements ; and associates would bo selected by the probation officer. Mr O’Leary expressed doubt whether a prohibition order conkl be issued against a person under 21, as lie was forbidden by statute from getting liquor or being supplied.

SHEARERS’ AWARD. WELLINGTON, June 1

The Conciliation Council met to-day to consider demands for a Dominion award for shearers and shed hands.

Mr A. Cook, for the applicants, said that certain minor points had been agreed on at Christchurch, but there was no hope of agreeing on the main issues. The dispute, therefore, was referred to a special session of the Arbitration Court at Christchurch, at till© end of the month. The Council agreed that further discussion here would be waste of time, and the ruling of the Court will he accepted.

UNEMPLOYED. GISBORNE, June 1

At present forty-three names arc registered on the books of the Gisborne I labour Office as desiring employment; but this hv no means represents the full number of worldoss in the town and district. Of the names now on the list, several are recent arrivals in the Dominion. Amongst the application cards at Ihc Labour Office, are two filled in by men, each of whom had been only eight days in the Dominion, and they had families of six and eight respectively to support. NAPIER. Juno 1. The unemployed registered at the Labour Department in Napier number 88. of whom 10 are married and 72 single. Some 7-1 arc labourers, while the majority of others are larm hands. GIRL IMPOSED UPON. MOCK MARRIAGE CEREMONY. NAPIER. .Tune 1. Detective Sergeant Butler stated in the -Magistrate’s Court this afternoon that Ronald Hamilton, charged with being idle and disorderly, had been living at Havelock North since Christmas, and had received his keep from a man who believed that accused had married his daughter. Accused had told the man lie was working at a hotel in Napier. On May 24th accused was taken to the Police Station to make a statement: in respect to a fire, for which he had given the alarm. The Detective Sergeant said that accused had _obtained his hoard by trick, deceit and false representation.

The Havelock man mentioned deposed that accused had represented himself as married to witness’s daughter, who also said that they were married and had one child.

The young woman concerned stated in evidence that she had gone through what sho thought was a marriage ceremony with Hamilton in an office in Napier in August last, ill the presence of two men, who were unknown to her. "Witness honestly thought she was married to accused.

Hamilton, in evidence, denied having gone through the form of marriage, declaring that tho girl had requested him to say they were married to save her name. He had done no work since his discharge from the hospital last November ; hut had a homo in Napier to go to. The Magistrate disbelieves accused’s story, and describes his action as moan and contemptible. He was sentenced fo three months’ imprisonment. HAMILTON WINTER SHOW. HAMILTON. June 1. The Hamilton Winter Show was opened to-day in beautiful weather by the Prime Minister. The attendance was large. Air Coates referred to the value of such exhibitions, and to the excellent display of agricultural produce which afforded a splendid demonstration of the specail features of the Auckland Provincial District especially the Waikato. Speaking generally of the agricultural industry, Mr Coates said the past season had been unsatisfactory from a climatic point of view, with a late spring and drought in Hawke's Bay, East Const and Marlborough. Although the conditions in Auckland. Taranaki and Canterbury have boon better, the Chief features of the agriultural year has been a substantial increase in. sheep, whilst there has been a decline in the production of butter fat. and a shrinkage in the number of cattle. Market features were n fall in the value of wool, lamb and mutton, with a smaller decline in butter and cheese.

MEN STTLL MISSING. ROTORUA, June 1

Tn the "Rotorua Lake incident the names of the missing men are Gustave Wolfgramme, aged 2s. married, with four children; Angus Douglas, single, aged 21. and Sedden Matthews, aged 16. There are no signs of the missing men. The oars were picked up on the beach at Awatiou, near Ngongotaha. Cumulative evidence shows that cries were heard from the Lake on Saturday

night and there was also a bright light seen on the water. All hope is practically abandoned. The theory is advanced that the benzine carried ignited or tho boat opened up under engine vibration, it being old and allegedly unsound. Launches are dragging the. lake between Kawaha and Awahon. STOWAWAYS. - AUCKLAND, June 1. Five young men concealed themselves aboard the steamer Canadian Explorer before she sailed from Auckland for New York this morning. They wero discovered after the steamer was at sea, and the matter was reported by wireless. The steamer returned to tho Gulf and was met by a police launch which brought the stowaways hack to Auckland. Two of them came to New Zealand as passengers, and the other three are seamen discharged from vessels in the Dominion. They will bo prosecuted. EARTHQUAKE SHOCK. GISBORNE, June 1. A fairly sharp shock of earthquake was experienced in Gisborne at 4.50 p.m. to-day. MOTORISTS’ LUCKY ESCAPE. DUNEDIN, June 1. While returning from tho Wingatui races to-day, a ear, owing to a defect in tho steering gear, went over a hank into a gully a hundred feet deep. Tho occupants escaped with minor injuries. TOWN CLERK’S DEATH. TTMARTJ, Juno 1. Mr David Virtue who has been Town Clerk of Timnru for tho past 21 years, died suddenly to-night of heart failure. Ho was aged 66, and had been at his office all day, as usual; and was sitting reading by the fire at his home after ten, when he suddenly expired. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES. DUNEDIN, June 1. A conference was field to-day between Llie City Council and representatives of various local bodies interested, relative to the apportionment of heavy traffic, license fees. After considerable discussion it was decided that the distribution of fees lie on a mileage basis. THEFT CHARGE. CHRISTCHURH, June 1. . In the Magistrate’s Court, Bernard j Win. Irwin, aged 37. pleaded not guilty j to a charge of theft of .£323, the proporty of the creditors in the estalcGH' ( IV. Grossman and Co. Tho accused was one of the trustees appointed by the j creditors to dispose of the assets and collect debts. It is alleged that ho withdrew monies from Clio trust aecount and failed to account for same to liis co-trustee, or the other creditors. He was committed for trial. Bail was granted, self £4OO, one other surety of £IOO. or two of £2OO.

SAMOAN CENSUS. WELLINGTON, June 2. The results of the Samoan census shows a total of 40,231. an increase of 3801) or 10.-Hi per cent since 1921. The native Samoan population is 36,308, an increase of 3.978. or 12.3 per cent. A STRONG CRITICISM. OF SIR F. HEATH’S REPORT. WELLINGTON, June 2. .Strong criticism of Sir Frank Heath’s report on research centralization was made yesterday by one prominent in research work, who declared Heath’s proposals merely meant tho creating of a replica of tho British Department of which lie was merely Secretary. Britain was one of the most backward countries of the world in industrial research and had not yet begun on (he problems which Germany and America had already tackled with successful results. The proposal to transfer industrial research work to the University can only be regarded as a retrograde step. Tho Universities first work is teaching and as in Now Zealand they arc under-staffed, they cannot possibly undertake research which is really the responsibility of industry itself. The Government could accomplish more by the expenditure of ten thousand per annum than by setting up elaborate hoards and a central direction as proposed by Sir F. Heath. Tile cost of the latter would probably he found so great (possibly one hundred thousand) in the first year, (hat if would break down with its own weight. “In any ease for the sake of true, efficient research it is to he hoped that such a Department will not have a long life.’’

THEFT OF MONEY. WELLINGTON. June 1

Wesley Withers, aged 25, who fell into the hands of the. police at Invercargill, while drunk in charge of a car, pleaded guilty to-day to the theft of £l9 16s 9d in 1920. by failing to account for it to P. T. Hoaro for whom lie had collected rents. The police stated accused g/ivo every assistance.

Mr Page, S.M.. said that this was his third breach of trust, and sentenced him to three months’ hard labour.