DOMINION ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS

[by telegraph--per press association.] FORGERY AND THEFT. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 10. At the Police Court, John Joseph Hansen, alias Jim Weretu, aged 23; Neils Martin Olson, aged 32; and Edith Ilosina Smith, aged 22 • appeared on a number of charges. Hansen was charged that on May 28, at Papatawa, lie did steal from, the dwelling of Edith Huggins, 17s in money, and also sundry articles, including a Post Oflice Savings Bank boolc, of a total value of C 3 ss, the property of Mrs Huggins. All tliree were charged that on May 31, at Palmerston North, they did conspire to defraud the PostmasterGeneral of the sum of £159. Hausen was charged with making a false document, a Post Office withdrawal slip for £l5O, purporting to lie signed 7>y Mrs Huggins, and with uttering tlie same to tho accused Smith, with intent that it should he acted upon as genuine. Smith was charged with making out a false withdrawal slip for £759, and uttering the same to Dougins Sydney C’omrie.

Hansen pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence to Hie Wellington Supreme Court. Smith pleaded not guilty to forging another withdrawal .slip for the same amount and uttering to a postal official ; also not guilty of conspiring with others to defraud the PostmasterGeneral of £159, and was committed for trial at ihe Palmerston X'orth Court. Hansen and Olsen pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the Latter connection and was committed tn Wellington for sontence.

FRA (ID CHARGE. CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day Alfretl Atkins, manager of Andrew Lees, lead, oil and paint merchants, was committed for trial on a charge of attempting to obtain £2 19s from Car' Johansen by falsely representing that two 281 b drums of Hartman’s No. 2 led paint were Hartman’s No. 1 paint. The prosecution alleged frauds taking place over a number of years. The accused was granted bail at self in £IOO and a surety of £2OO. REQUESTS TO CHARITY. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 10. The Hospital Board was advised today by the .Public Trustee that it is the residuary legatee in the estate of the late James Kirby, formerly a Palmerston North resident, who died in Wellington in March. The assets in the estate, which is subject to the widow’s life interest, exceed five thousand sterling. Other bequests are;— CIOOO to the Institute of the Blind at Auckland, £IOOO to the Baptist Church Orphanage at Manurewa, £SOO each to the Methodist Orphanages at Christchurch and Auckland. The amount coming to the Hospital Board is estimated at between £2,500 and £3,000 ROLL DOWN ILLEGAL. WELLINGTON, June 10. Giving judgment in the case against Bishop and Dawson, Mr Page, S.M., said that tests conducted showed there was lan element of skill. He held it was not a game of chance within tho meaning of the Gaming Act. It was difficult to lay down a rule as to what degree of playing and wagering at 'a legitimate game,, would cause tho premises to become a public nuisance. The game had attained some degree id’ popularity. There was r.o opportunity for cheating, no assemblage of bad characters, and no nuis'anco or annoyance to adjoining pieinises, but the game had no intrnasic merits. Its vogue was based solely upon the gamble associated with it. In view of the fact that a largo number of devotees were children and young people, and also that among the adults, probably a number could not well afford the money wasted, and also that the amount of play reached substantial dimensions and the game was a gamble, he thought it prejudicial to the morals of the participants, and so held the keeping of the premises to he illegal. Defendants were convicted. The fine was fixed at £5 Is to enable an appeal, security for winch was fixed at £ls Los.

RUS TRAGEDY. 'MAY UNDER WHEEL. AUCKLAND, .Tunc 10. While attempt in" to board a City Corporation bus, in Mountain Rond, this .evening. Richard Gutteridge. an elderly man. fell into the track of the back wheel, and received injuries which proved fatal within a few minutes. The bins was bound for the city and had pulled up at the Owen’s Road stop, at about five minutes past six o'clock. Two ladies boarded the bus and told the driver to wait. The bus was kept standing while Mrs Gnttcridgo. who resides at 8, Brightside Road, had taken her seat. Thinking that Airs Gutteridge was the passenger for whom he had been requested to wait, and not knowing that anyone else was going, the bus moved about a length, when the driver pulled up in response to a shout. He then descended and Air Guit c ridge was found lying near the hack of the bus. The injured man was removed to the Alater Afiserieordiae Hospital, but be succumbed to' bis injuries and shock almost immediately.

A passenger in the bus stated to the driver, that, after the vehicle commenced to move, she saw the deceased catch hold of the hand rail near the step.

AIOTOR, VICTIM INQUEST. WANGANUI, June 10.

At the inquest on the death of Francis William Alitchell, aged 06, pantryman, who was killed by a- motor truck yesterday morning, Albert Victor Chambers, the driver of the truck, said lie bent over to alter the mixture. When - lie looked up, the lorry was right on top of Alitchell. The evidence, showed that Chambers and Alitchell had been friends for many years. Alitchell generally rode into town with Chambers. The theory was that he was waiting in the middle of the road in expectation of the usual lift A verdict of accidental death was returned. AYHEAT COAIJSfNE. CHRISTCHURCH. June 10. The North Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at a conference to-day. resolved that it is desirable to establish as soon as possible, an organisation which can protect and assist the grain growers. The conference favoured one agricultural college, favouring Lincoln as the site.

A LABOUR. PROTEST. DUNEDIN, June 11. i A meeting of tlie Otago Labour Council condemned tlie Premier’s proposal to employ men under award rates, stating “We deny emphatically tho right or authority of any official to i override the decisions of the Arbitra- ; lion Court, even under the pretence of relievcing distress. Furthermore, we regard as particularly reprehensible, tho Premier's unconscionable attempt to Hake advantage of the destitution which has been rendered more acute, by his own disorderly immigration policy, to drive an unjust bargain with tlie innocently helpless unfortunates. We refuse to believe that, the people of New Zealand wish to bo made partners in a practice of this kind, which can be regarded only ns a flngrai/t abuse of power.” INQUSET FINDING. DUNEDIN, June 11. At tho inquest on Victor Sanderson, aged 3, who died as the result of a fall from a pram on Wednesday, the evidence showed the child developed a form of paralysis, causing frequent falls. A verdict of death from cerebral concussion was returned. PAINTERS’”CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 11. The painters’ dispute was further considered by the Conciliation Council. Speaking oil the claim for double rates for work done with paint spraying machines, the employers’ representative, Mr W. C. Prime, said so far as is ascertainable, machines were not in use, having been found unsuitable, therefore the claim, was unnecessary. Mr F. Cornwell, tlie employees’ representative admitted the machines were not successful, but it was incorrect to say none were being used and union members bad to be protected. The matter was referred to the Arbitration Court. W. Grenfell, secretary of the New Zealand Builders’ Federation, suggested that the interested parties who had not been consulted on various matters should have the right to refer these to the Arbitration Court before the award was ratified. This was agreed to. The Court was left to decide tlie term of the award and to settle matters relating to tho exemption of Borough and County Councils, minimum wage and ship work conditions. With those exceptions the agreement was signed by tlie parties and will go on to the Court.

DAIRY COMPANY’S PROTEST. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 11. The Directors of Bainesse Dairy Coy resolutioned to notify the Dairy Control Board and tho Prime Minister that immediately the Board attempted to seize their butter and cheese under compulsion, tho company would take such legal proceedings ns may protect the rights of tlie factory and tlie shareholders