DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TfcLEGIUrn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] COMPENSATION CLAIMS. HAMILTON, June 12. A claim for £l6lß damages for injuries received while employed at the Te Kawa quarries, near Te Awamutu, was heard before Air Justice Herdman, and a jury in the Hamilton Supreme Court. Plaintiff was James Floyd, labourer, Te Kuiti, and the defendants Thomas O. Martin, farmer, and William Dunedin Ross McCurdie, engineer, formerly carrying on business under the stylo of the Te Kawa Quarry Co. In summing up, Ill's Honour described the claim, as a ridiculous one. He thought some of the jury might even regard it as preposterous. Plaintiff, to his Honour’s mind, suffered from a bruise and after sleeping on the claim for six months, now came forward and brought an action for this large amount of money. After a retirement of three and a-half hours, the jury returned a verdict in favour of plaintiff, awarding him. £3OO.

MAOR rS ACQUITTED. GISBORNE, June 14. At the Supreme Court, on a charge of assaulting and robbing a Japanese at Tikitiki, tw onatives, Kereania Tuhaka and Pnrkeura Heanga, tho jury returned a verdict of “not guilty,” and the prisoners were discharged. OPPOSITION TO HOTEL LICENSE. AUCKLAND, June 13. A public’ meeting of thirteen hundred persons, organised by the Council of Christian Congregations, carried a resolution protesting against the action of the Auckland Licensing Committee in granting flt license to the Ambassadors’ Hotel in Quay Street. Tlie resolution stated that in view of t'lie position previously taken up by tho committee its action constituted a gross violation of the principles of democracy and an abuse of the confidence reposed in it.

STOLEN CAR WRECKED. AUCKLAND, June 14. There was found abandoned by the roadside opposite Knox Home-, Paiinutre, early this morning, a five-seater Nash motor ear belonging Lo Mr C. Rac, of the Rising Sun Hotel. It is now almost a total wreck. It was taken from Karangahac Road between 8.30 and 9.30 a.m. on Saturday evening, and no trace was found of the car until this mor.niug, when it was mscovered badly burned by the roadside. The machine is insured, but the owner is a. heavy loser.

BURGLARS AT WORK. HAMILTON, June 11. Burglars were at work at Hamilton on Saturday and Sunday evenings. On the earlier occasion the promises oi: Sandford Ltd., fish mart; Booth and Chapman, painters; Byrant. butcher; and Emerson, tobacconist were entered. Some stock was removed from the latter, and small sums of money from there and from Sanford's. On Sunday the shop of Young and Co., conimereia lprintcrs, was entered ami a small sum of money taken. BOY ATTACKS BURGLAR. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. . A fierce struggle between an 18-year-old boy and a burglar whom he encountered coming away from his parent’s residence in a lonely part ol Shirley took place at mid-night on Saturiku. The burglar eventually succeeded in making his escape but not before the lad luid recovered lroin him his mother’s purse and a sum of mdiK’y which had been stolen lrom the kitchen mantlepiece of the house. A bicycle almost new has since been discovered to have been stolen from someone else and an electric torch and a blood-stained handkerchief are other souvenirs of the encounter which are now in the hands of the police. A CRAFTY FORGER. AUCKLAND, June 15. At tho Supreme Court, John Ewart, who pleaded guilty to forgery at Papuakura while employed at a hank, was sentenced to be detained at W aikera for reformative treatment not exceeding two years. Justice Stiinget said the prisoner was a young unmarried man of fair education and considerable ability. He was in a position of trust and received a substantial salary. Ho stole from his employers a considerable sum and (led from \*ow Zealand with the proceeds ol his lishonesy . His crime was designed and deliberately carried into effect by a very crafty forgery.

1 CUPED OVERBOABP. AUCKLAND, June 15. A wireless received by the Union Coy. states that a Chinese, who on a-rival iu Sydney from New Zealand on the Ulimaroa was. declare insane, was ordered to be returned to New Zealand, but ho jumped overboard and was drowned. PALMERSTON SHOW.

PALMERSTON N., June 15. The Twenty-fourth National Dairy Show opened this morning in squally weather which shows signs of clearing. The entries exceed last year s abrogate by over three hundred. All accommodation is booked up. There iro excellent displays of butter, cheese, vegetables, fruit, home industries, etc.

THEFT OF LIQUOR. AUCKLAND. June LiOn Saturday afternoon, L. D. Nathan and Coy’s bonded store was die rally entered and spirits valued ai £BO removed. Apparently the liquor had been taken from the store upstairs by a. lift, and loaded oil two lorries, one of which was driven off unloaded and returned. The police have arrested Horace Speight, a motor driver employed by the firm on a charge of theft.

DROWNING F EARED. TAURANGA, June 15. Two men, Daniel Kukti and Andrew Bidois. set out from Tepiuia m a launch loaded with timber for Matakana Island on Sunday, but failed to reach home. On Monday morning the launch was found at anchor, and no trace of the two men. It- appears that the timber fell from the launch, dragging the anchor with it. There was a rough sea at the time, and it is feared that the men fell overboard and were drowned. Natives are searching the beaches but so for no trace has been' found. A GARAGE ON FIRE. WAIPAWA. June 15. A fire early this morning completely gutted Nielsen’s garage. The flames had got a hold when the alarm was given, but the Brigade, with a splendid pressure of water made a remarkably good save, confining the fire to one building. Six cars were completely destroyed. Insurance on machinery and stock amounted to £1240 in the Alliance Company. The building, owned by Mr Corskie. was insured for £BOO in the North British office. CHARGE ADJOURNED. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. In the Magistrate’s Court this inciting, charges against Joseph Harlow and Herbert Robinson, of keeping a common gaming house and with con-

ducting a game of ohance, “ rolldown,” were adjourned pending an appeal said to be pending in a Wellington case.

IN COOK GROUP. AUCKLAND, June 15. A passenger front Fiji by the Tofua, Rev. J. 11. Motley, of Tasmania, on his way home from, mission work in the C'ook group, says the work of the London Missionary Society there, is full of promise, in each of Rnratonga’s live towns is a church where the inhabitants attend worship from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sundays and also afternoon services, preceded by prayer meetings. WHALE Catch jA G. BLENHEIM, June 10. It- is reported from Picton that the Teawaite whalers gave.’ eha.se to and succeeded in capturing 'two whales this morning. E. C. Peranase and party made fast to one, another sinking. J. T’erano and party caught one.