DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

fay TELEGRAPH- -PER PP.ESS ASSOCIATION.] FIRE IN JEWELLER’S SHOP. INVERCARGILL, June 23. Eire occurred ill the \vorkroom of Mr Bumsden’s jeweller’s shop, through a gas-ring igniting the woodwork. Stock valued at £BOOO was damaged by smoke and water. It is fully covered by insurance. SIR JAMES CARROLL. A TURN FOR THE BETTER. WELLINGTON, June 23. Sir James Carroll, who was reported yesterday to be seriously ill, had regained consciousness last night and was considerably improved. A FIRE. AUCKLAND. June 24.

A fir? occurred shortly after six o’clock this evening, ami destroyed a wooden block of shops right at the lower end of Main Street. The block was a one-storeyed structure, and one of the oldest in (lie street. Tt comprised flic following premises: Defence Offices. A. AB'ikgiU's motor workshop and garage, -T. F. Donnelly’s music studio. Uobcrls’ fish shop. W. Cook’s fish shop. W. AL-Ewcii's office, and 'Williams Brothers electrical workshop and showroom. Th>? three lastnamed premises comprised the top portion of the block, which was owned by Makgilß Williams Brothers’ stock and fittings, and Donnelly’s piano and sundries were saved. Alnkgill’s plant and the contents of other premises were destroyed. The fire provided an hour’s intense excitement. If started in Makgill’s garage. A ear was being • ranked hv Mnkgill when it backfired, and fho rear portion burst into llnmes, which spread rapidly. An unsuccessful attempt was made to push th.? car outside, hut the ceiling caught tire. The flames then spread rapidly, and the whole block was burned. It is understood the building was insured for £950. The loss is very extensive. A HALT, BURNT DOWN. AYAXGANUL .Tune 24. Wangnehu Hall, a very old building was destroyed by fire to-night. \ short time before the fire broke on!, residents had been decorating it in preparation lor a dance. The went awuv to unload n new piano, purchased for the occasion, and on their return found the hall in flames. The building burnt to ashes. Undeterred by this misfortune, ihe people held their dance at Ttirakina, five miles away. XA V V BE A 01TF, DUMA XD. WEBBIXGTOX. June 21.

Replying t:> a deputation from the Xnvy Boagiic, the Minister of Defence (Hon F. J. Bollestou) pointed cut. that New Zealand had provided ■ second cruiser, and another .-Cloo,ooo was being provided for 1926-27. If New Zealand want in for a third cruiser it would mean an additional ■022.1.000 in the naval contribution, so raising the vote to the amount suggested by Ford .Tellicop. The Xnval Board would have to report, and the cruiser could not be stationed for another two years.

Neither tho Defence Department nor the Naval Board thought Now ZcalawT'shoultl exercise any functions regarding the Air Force. It was considered wi.v.ir to l«>avp Ihe control with lhe Army meanwhile. The Hon J. G. G-.ntes said that the question of a third cruiser would he discussed by him at ihe Imperial Conference. Before launching into further expenditure, lie wanted to ensure that, the money would he wisely spent. He agreed that it was hard to say New Zealand had spent enough on the Navy, hut they must lie perfectly sure that the money for defence was spent on the most modern forms of equipment. THEFT OF GEESE. DANXEVTRKE, June 24. A Dannovirke professional man was charged at the Magistrate’s Court today with the theft of five geese, of the value of £5. the property of Daniel Cullinane. Accused elected to he tried by jury. The can?, which was the outcome of a recent shooting expedition al Oringi, will lie heard in the Bower Court by a Justice of the Peace on Monday next. The accused, whose name was ordered to lie suppressed in the meantime, was admitted to hail on his own recognisance of Got).

SHEEPSKINS WITHOUT EARS DANNEVIRKT], Juno 24,

Several cases were before Magistrate Stout in which defendants were charged with having sheepskins in their possession minus the. ears. One was charged with knowingly purchasing 35 sheepskins from which the ears had been removed, and also with living in possession thereof. He was fined £1 > on the first charge with 7s costs. Cr the second lu* was convicted and ordered to pay 7.s costs. Several others were fined £2 each and costs.

ED IB EZ Z LEA 1 E NT CHA R GE . PALMERSTON N.. June 24

Robert John Malcolm, accountant, of Bovin, pleaded guilty and was committed for trial at tho Supreme Court in “Wellington. on tv charge at the Police Court this morning of theft of seven hundred and twenty pounds sterling from Stanley Nelson Stillwell, between May Ist.. 1925. and March 4th. 1926.

The act-used was employed by Stillwell, garage proprietor at Levin, as a part-tibie employee, doing book-keep-ing. receiving money, etc. The accused was also given authority to operate on Stillwell’s account at the bank, his employment, covering a day and a-lialf each week. Tn the course pf such employment, the embezzlement alleged against the accused took place.

A SUICIDE. MASTERTON. June 21. Vincent James Prosser, aged ">S yeasr. an unemployed ironmonger, took his life at 9.30 to-night bv coal gas poisoning. lie had-been feeling ill and remained in lied all day. At 9 o’clock he was all right, hut at 9.30 his wife discovered him dead in bed with a length of garden hose in his mouth ntul the other end attached to a gas bracket. He is survived by a wife and a family of four.