DOMINION ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS

fllV TKM'.GIt.U'n —PKU CURBS ASKOCIATIO\’.] BOUT WITH A BULLOCK. WKLI ,IXGTOX, Juno l(i. Constable Morrison, the police motor patrol officer on the Hutt road, has been rigid in the enforcement of the traffic regulations, his ciTorts being well seconded by motorists. Yesterday. however, Constable Alorli.son mat with unexpected opposition. He was going quietly along the road, when he met with a. mob of bullocks, one of which apparently look umbrage at the idea of the regulations, for it charged the. police cyclist, who was badly .shaken in the resultant rough and tumble, but otherwise escaped injury. The cycle was hadlv damaged. I •’11; IIN THEATRE. AUCKLAND. June Id. An outbreak of (ire in the Strand Theatre, Onehtuiga, between the ceiling and roof, at six o’clock last night caused damage estimated at about £SOO. The building was empty. Tt was insured in the Atlas' Company’s office for £l‘l,ooo. BANDSMEN IN BEQUEST. WELLINGTON, June 10. A I'eeent telegram from Dunedin threw doubt on the announcement made hero that two men from the Exhibition Band had been engaged for Welington, claiming them as amongst the men who had signed oil for a Dunedin Band. The officials of the Tramways Band here have produced signed and stamped agreements by the two men coneernod. engaging them to join the hand for three years, and applications to the North Island Association for permission to take part in the next hand contest. They have been .nominated as immigrants, and provision made for their passage money.

DAIRY FACTORY MANAGERS. I’A LMERSTOX X.. June 10. The annual meeting was hold last ovning nf (lie New Zealand Hairy Factory Managers’ Association. A resolution supporting the movement to introduce tlio compulsory grading of cream on a differential linsis of paypayment and urging tlie necessity of following it with a similar move in respect to farm and dairy instruction, which the Association considered of equal, if not greater importance than compulsory cream grading, was car-

lied. Mr .T. Morton (Auckland) was elected president'for the •ensuing year. SHOW DAY. PALMERSTON NORTH. .lime 17. There was brilliant weather the third day of the National Dairy Show and Annual Conference of the North Island A. and P. Associations. Officers elected were President, Conway (Afanawatu); vice-president, Stuckey (Dannevirke); treasurer, Johnson, (Alanaw'atu); committee. Dorman (Feihiing). Brown (Ilorowhemia), Farley (AVanganui), Sandiland (Feikung), Booth (Carterton), Jams© (Afasterton), Buchanan (Dannovirke), Grant (Taranaki). A deputation is to see lion IJawken, Alinistcr for Agriculture at the Show this afternoon, regarding the decision of the Government not to allow Alcntal Hospital stock to be exhibited at the Show. AI AN HITS A TRAIN. TAUAIARUNUI. June 17. When travelling from Okahukura to Taumarunui on a jigger this morning, a man named Drummond, foreman of the railway carpentry works at Rnngataua, collided with a goods train which leaves Taumarunui at 9.5 a.in. It is said there was a dense fog and Drummond did not see the train, he received a broken rib and suffering abrasions to band and hip. i* COAL MINE FLOODED. WHANG ABEI , .Tune 17. -’ A flood in the TTikurangi Coal Company’s mine, due to abnormal rainfall a fortnight ago, has assumed serious proportions. The only available pump is now out of action and bailing operations arc stopped owing to a mishap to the -cage which lowered the tanks, the water rising rapidly and causing a

complete cessation, idling 150 employees. Two powerful pumps capable of dealing effectively with the dewatering are on■ order, but the date of their arrival is . uncertain.

ALLEGATIONS OF THEFT. AVELLINGTON. June 16. John Arthur Cormack, a meterreader, was charged in the Afaglstrate’s Court to-day with theft by fraudulently converting to his own use £l6l Cs 9d. the property of the Electricity Department of the City Council. Tlie assistant general manager of the department stated that' Cormack told him on AlTty 14th he worried over a shortage of about £IOB, which he said was due to his loss of £57 collected two years a,go and subsequent efforts to cover the loss by putting in money collected from other customers. Other evidence was to the effect that no trace was found of any report or other notification of any such loss and that there were cash slips for the total amount referred to in the charge, but not paid in.

Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial on hail. HOSPITAL BOARD’S TROUBLES. AUCKLAND. June 16. A dispute between the Hospital Board’s architect (Air G. W. Allsop) and the quantity surveyor (Air J. A.Stewart) appointed by the Board at the erection of the nurses’ quarters at the infirmary led to a heated discussion at the Board meeting. Air Stewart complained that the architect had refused to supply him villi a builder,s’ price schedule. He was forced to adhere to his decision not to lodge a statement in tlie architect’s hands until he had been through all the accounts, invoices, price schedules and so on. Mr Allsop said that the bulkier objected to a price schedule being given, to the survevur. and his objection was supported hv the president of the Auckland Association and two other quantity surveyors. Tie chairman said that this was one of the matters in connexion with which an. enquiry was necessary. “It is heartbreaking the way things arc going on,” he said. “ Who are we to trust On the one side lam told there will he £2OO in excess for the home, and on the other side 1 am told there will he £BOO to come back. There is no co-operation between the officials and the Board. There is nothing the matter with the Board; the trouble is

with the officials. 1 want to see an end made of it.” On a division, a motion was carried that the architect should he instructed to submit his report in accordance with the resolution of the Board: FIRE IN HALL. AIASTEBTON, June 17. The Clarevillo Hall, about two miles from North Carterton, was considerably damaged by fire at- 9.30 to-n ight. The golden wedding of Afr and Airs A. Dapli, old .settlers of tine district, had been celebrated up till 8 p.m and apparently the fire originated near the copper in the kitchen, from where tine wedding banquet was served. Before the Carterton Brigade could cheek the spread cl tlie fin:, the whole rear of the hall was demolished, together with furniture, piano and crockery. Tlie hall, which was erected in 1906 by the settlers of tlie district, was insured for £7OO, hut it will tak,? £ISOO to replace it without interior equipment.

UN AIA BRIE D TEA CM EB S. I WELLINGTON, June 17. M bother the Education Act prejudices unmarried male or female tench- , ors ’ appointment, was a question before the Supreme Court. Ihe Education Institute sought a declaratory judgment, the defendants being the Wellington and Otago Education Boards. Justice AfeOregor was the presiding Judge, Mr Evans appeared for the plaintiff's, Air Hislop for the Wellington Board, and Mr lair for the Education Alinistcr and the Otago Board. Plaintiffs asked the Court to answer a series of questions regarding' the powers of Boards to give preference or refrain from appointments, in, view ■of certain sections of the Act. Counsel stated that the object of the proceedings was to ask the Court to decide whether women teachers and unmarried teachers were ns a class to be denied the opportunity of competing for positions in the service. He said they were denied that opportunity bv the present practice of the Boards. Justice AfcGregor raised the following questions: (1) Whether the Institute had any status to take proceedings: (2) whether plaintiffs had cry interest in the construction of the Act. and the regulation so as to enable it to issue an originating summons; (3) whether in the discretion of the Court it should, in ‘sucli circumstances answer the questons. His Honour remarked that the Institute seemed to be purely a voluntary body. ATr Evans said it was at any rate the mouthpiece of the teachers. His Honour: “I want something more than the mouthpiece. T want the body of teachers.” The C ourt adjourned to allow plaintiffs to provide further information.