DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TEUECiaAPU PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.} MANAIA STILL ON REEF. AUCKLAND, June 20. Ou her trip up the East Coast from Wellington, the Government lighthouso steamer, Tutauekai, which arrived at Auckland last evening, inspected the wreck of the Alanaia on Slipper Island.

Captain J. Bollons reports that the position of the wreck lias remained unchanged since the steamer struck the. rocks more than a fortnight ago The Alanaia, which has been stripped of nearly all her gear and fittings,. is firmly wedged on the reef, the rocks through lor' bottom preventing her from slipping into deep water. It is thought that a moderate storm will cause the ship to break up.

LOSS OF ALANAIA. AUCKLAND. June 28. Further evidence of the existence of a strong set toward the land was given when the Nautical Court of Inquiry concerning the wreck of the steamer Alanaia at Slipper Island continued its sitting. “I have evidence of the set,” said Afr A. Moody (who appeared for the master. Captain Norbury, and the 3rd. officer, Air J. Hare) at a late stage in the proceedings. “I have just liad a message from my office—l do not know what the effect of it will be, that the City of AVinChester has just arrived, and that in a run of 13 miles, she was taken 18 miles inward by the strong sot. "Would the Court adjourn so that I could call the evidence of the master.”

'Phe Chairman. Afr F. O. Cuttcn. S.M., agreed and an adjournment of 15 minutes was taken.

“I am afraid that I cannot produce the evidence of the captain of the City of AVinehester, who has just arrived, at the expiry of the adjournment.

“It does not matter,” said Mr Cutten. “There is sufficient evidence of the sot,.”-

The Court, after hearing counsel’s addresses, intimated that its decision would be delivered to-morrow morning.

NARROW ESCAPES. CHRISTCHURCH. June 28. Mr T. Aspcll, of the Eastern Hotel, had a remarkable escape yesterday while motoring to Alethven with .Mrs Aspcll. two children and a friend. In trying to make a turn, the front wheels got into loose shingle, with the result that the car turned a double somersault. The first turn tore off the top of the sedan, and threw all the occupants on to fhe road, with the exception of Aspell, who remained in his seat the whole time. The family and the visitor escaped with very minor bruises, but Aspell had four stitches put in the hack of his head. He it suffering from shock.

CYCLIST’S ACCIDENT. CHRISTCHURCH, June 28. Late on Saturday afternoon, John Henry Wylie, of 31 -Jeffrey’s Road, was found lying unconscious on the Ferry Road, lie was taken to Christchurch Hospital, where he was given medical attention. Wylio does not remember what happened, except that he left Lancaster Park on his bicycle.

After he recovered unconsciousness he proceeded to his home. Tie was not suffering from, anv severe injury.

PROPOSED BY DIRECTOR. CAUGHLEY. WELLINGTON, June 28. 1 should like to refer very brielly to a wrong view of secondary education that is all too prevalent, said the Director of Education (Mr J. Caughley) at the opening of the Jlutt High School. “Many parents think that unless their children are being taught Latin. French and . Alathcmatics. thev are not receiving secondary education. Parents, therefore, often insist on these subjects being included in the course of instruction for for their children.'’

Ah- Caughley said that in some cases children were not suited to tins study of these subjects, though they could study to great advantage on other subjects. In most cases children would not he able to continue the study to a profitable stage or to a point where they could read Latin or French with some ease Mul profit, use mathematics in some real way. Unless such a stage was reached, the real objective of the education was defeated. The old idea that certain subjects gave a special kind of mental training, or discipline of value in itself, apart from, the content value of the subject was exploded long ago. Mr Ca ugh lev said: " We claim that a. fuller study of the English language and literature, with the additional time that might, he given to it, that is now too often, wasted on acquiring a useless smattering of foreign language, would uive far better educational results. even oil the very points the study of foreign languages is supposed to score.” The proper study of statistic** method in connection with commercial geography and calculations involved in experimental science would, be do all that scraps of pure mathematics acquired in three years could accomplish. Ho also put in a plea for manual work and home science. He said that besides being useful, these dev- ■ oped a kind of thinking that could never he gained from mere abstinit study.

CHARGE of ASSAULT. CHRISTCHURCH, June 28. A difference of opinion between two of the spectators at the hockey test match between the Indian Army team and the New Zealanders at Lancaster Park ou Saturday, resulted in one assaulting the other, an old man. Amid the hoots of the crowd the aggressor was led away by a constable. The sequel was that Summers Hernikn Edwards, aged 32, was charged in the Magistrates Court to-day, before Air IL °P. I.awrv, SAL. with assaulting John Lawrence Turner. The accused, who had a pervious conviction for assault, was fined £3.

-13 \XK OF NEW ZEALAND MOVE MASTER TON, June 28. “The Rank of New Zealand’s proto lend money on long-term repayable mortgages, is a fine compliment to Mr W. J. Poison’s work m getting more reasonable finance 101 the farmers.” said Mr A\ . B-, Matheson, Acting Dominion President of the New Zealand Formers’ Union, to-day., when asked for an expression of opinion on behalf of his organisation concerning the bank’s proposal. “In the early stages of Mr Poisons cnniTOgin for a. co-operative agricultural bank,” continued Mr Matlieson, < ‘the proprietary banks were naturally annoyed, and they cleverly inferred | that the farmers were being trouted as

well as was good for them, and that better terms would only tend to make them plunge into a worse financial position. When the Government set up a Commission of Enquiry, the first indication of the financial expert’s weakening in their assurance was when it was deemed wise for two of them to accompany Air Poison during all tlieso months in which tli© Commission has been gathering evidence. The Bank of New Zealand also seems to have been busy, for an innovation such as they propose, is not designed without much care. Surely their move is a further indication that there is need for re-

form. AVhen produce prices slumped in 1922, the farmers were forced to search for cheaper money. It is quite possible that the earning power of money may, before long, have considerably fallen. and that the farmers will find relief in that way. In the meantime, it is good to see this offer of the bank to try land meet the situation. I have no doubt that Cabinet sees as clearly as I do that any concessions of permits wished for cannot properly bo granted to any proprietary company until the Commission returns ‘and their report lias been made public and dealt with by Parliament.”

A WILL DISPUTED. WELLINGTON, June 28. A ease involving bequests under a will, totalling £38.483, was heard before Justice McGregor, in the Supreme Court, the parties being the Public Trustee, plaintiff, and various relative of the deceased, James Gray, of Plimmerton.

Plaintiff as executrix, asked the Court to declare probate. The defence alleged that the will was not executed in accordance with statute, hut that at the time it purposed to lie executed, deceased was not of. sound mind, memory or understanding, and did not know of the contents of the will, nor approve them. The bequests were £2500 to Christina Gray, £ISOO to Arthur Sims, £SOO to the Salvation Army, and £SOO to the Hutt County Council for a tennis, howling and croquet court at Plinunerton. The remainder was divided in three shares between the AVcllington Presbyterian Orphanage, Lower Hurt Anglican Boys’ Home, and the Wellington Home for the Aged and Needy. For the plaintiff, Sir J. Findlay ♦said che deceased was suddenly taken ill on August 18, 1925. Deceased’s sister was asked to take note of his testamentary wishes on the same night. Deceased was taken to hospital in Wellington, where lie was found to be suffering from appendicitis. An officer of the Public Trust drew up the will in accordance with the sister’s note, with alterations endorsed by deceased, who

signed the will twelve hours after the operation. Deceased gave every sign that lie was quit intelligent, and the officer had no doubts.

SHOOTING GEESE. DANNEVIRKE, June 28. The story of a shooting party from Dali nc'irke, on Sunday, May 16th., who tried their skill at Oringi on hares, but wound up by charting geese and taking them alive and dead, was told before three Justices of the Pence to-day.

Clifford Harris Thompson, a wellknown local business man, was tlie defendant. Ho was charged with committing ..theft of five geese, valued at Co, the property of Daniel Cullinaue, and also with having stolen one goose, valued at £l.

The defendant had expressed regret for what had occurred, and the Bum of £5 had been paid as compensation. He took the blame for the actions of tlie other members of the party, ns he had led them to understand that ho had permission to take the geose. Defendant, in evidence, staled that ho believed, from what had transpired on a previous occasion with one of the Culliniuie Brothers, that he and the members of the parly were within their rights in taking the geese. Ho pleaded "not guilty.” 110 was committed for trial at the Supreme Court on hail of £SO and a like surety.

POULTRY THEFT. AUCKLAND. Juno 28. Six prize hens were stolen from the pens of the Auckland Poultry-keepers’ Associa lion at Alount Albert. The birds wore white leghorn pullets and were entered in the egg-laying competitions on behalf cf the Poultry Farmers in various parts of the province. The value of the six lions is estimated at no less than £3O. The thief showed some discretion in the selection of the birds, and must have handled them with the skill of a poultry fancier, as the caretaker was not disturbed. The pons were all locked, hut the thief adopted the simple method of cutting the wire netting with some sharp instrument.

A DRUG ADDICT. AUCKLAND, June 29. George Edward Barker, aged 23, was charged at'the Police Court for breaking and entering a shop of the Auckland Pharmacies on June 19 and stealing a quantity of drugs. Detective MiAVhirtor stated he visited the accused’s home and the accused handed him a quantity of heroin and morphia. lie also produced cocaine from under the house. The accused admitted the theft charge and said he climbed through the fanlight into the shop. Ho knew where the drugs were kept on the business premises, He injected about six grains of heroin. He knew he did wrong lmt lie could not resist the craving. Tlie accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence.