DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TOWN HALL BURNT. AUCKLAND, June 30. A fire early tills morning destroyed the, Henderson Town Hall a landmark for thirty years together with two libraries, piano arid furniture, also the Town Board safe with contents. The picture’s proprietor lost a projecting machine and material, valued at £3OO. The Town Board’s loss was partly covered by insurance. The Oddfellow’s Lodge lost furniture and regalia. It was insured for £75.

A W AIM ATE PROTEST. WAIM,ATE, June 30. A representative meeting of the Waimate retailers decided to enter a strong protest against any proposal-to make Saturday the universal half holiday which is foreshadowed in amending the legislation to shops and offices act this session.

COUNCIL INVADED. PROTEST AGAINST INCREASED RATES. WANGANUI, June 29. The Wanganui City Council to-night enjoyed the privilege of conducting business before a massed meeting of rate-payers, whose presence in the Council Chamber was the upshot of recent protests against raised rates, bringing in £34,700 more than last year. Opportunity was taken to-night to present a deputation urging a reduction in rates. The deputation consisted of two speakers, Messrs S. E. Read and W. J. Regers, who were backed by hundreds of ratepayers crowding every foot of space in tlie large council chamber.

After the deputation had spoken tlie Mayor, Mr Hope Gibbons, outlined tbe cnrincil’s policy and financial proposals. He was subjected to considerable heckling, arid at times could not proceed owing to uproar. A proposal to acquire Gordon .Park for the city came in for particularly lively criticism. The Mayor said the purchase would involve 91d in every £5 of rates. He offered to pay that amount of Old for any ratepayers who could not afford it. A voice: Talk business, not charity. The meeting ended ill uproar when the Mayor declined to permit Mr Rogers, a member of the deputation, to address tbe ratepayers further after the Mayor bad replied to delegates’ remarks. Mr Rogers advised tbe people to continue their protests against higher rates. The Mayor barred further discussion, asking the deputation to withdraw. There was a chorus of hoots and cries of “Resign” as the ratepayers with-drew from the chamber. POWER FOR/ MILT,. INVERCARGILL, .Tunc 30. One of tbe first of Now Zealand sawmills the power for which is completely supplied from an electric station, was operated from the Southland Power Board’s Monowai plant. Tho current was turned on yesterday, tbe mill being Halliday’s new mill at Waitane.

The results were entirely satisfactory. All tbe plant is electrically operated, tbe total -.installation of motors amounting to 156 h.p.