DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[av TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BOY DROWNED. AUCKLAND. July 13. A Maori boy, Wan Irimana. aged 15, was drowned at Kerikeri Falls, near Kaitoke. He was riding a horse across the ford over the river, when the animal slipped on a rock and fell. The boy clung to the rock, but before his father, who witnessed the accident, could get to his assistance, the boy’s strength failed and ho released his hold, and was swept down the stream and drowned. The body was recovered half a mile below the falls. WASHOUTS. AUCKLAND, July 13. There are extensive wash-outs on the northern railway between Way by and Hotco and Hoteo and Kaipara flats, disrupting the train service between. Auckland and northern stations. Some passengers by last night’s express returned to Auckland. Tho train from Whangarei end was unable to get further than Maungntliroto.

FOUND DEAD. PALMERT.ON N., July 26. The body of John Blair, aged between 55 and 60. was found tin’s morning in fthecnan’s Creek, Shannon. Yesterday Blair arrived at Shannon with the intention of going to Mangalmo in search of labouring work. He missed the conveyance and was last seen alive about 7 p.m. BRANCH RAILWAY. HA AVER A, July 13. An important stage in the development of the district was consummated yesterday when the Railway Department assumed control of Teroti-Opu-nakc branch railway, and inaugurated a tri-weekly goods and passenger service. For the past year similar services have been conducted‘by the Public Works. Tho construction time occupied 9 years, involving approximately £400,000. ALLEGED' THEFTS. CHRISTCHURCH, .Tidy 13. At the Court this morning, C. T. Mosley, .the well-known public accountant was charged with receiving the sum of £3OO from, a client of Sea field Ltd., and fraudulently omitting to pay same. The police said the total thefts amounted to £IBOO of which the accused had refunded £6OO, Ho was remanded till the 20t1i., bail in self of £SOO and one surety oT £SOO. AN ELECTION SIDELIGHT. AUCKLAND, July 13. fn his reserved decision on the motion by Samuel Mclnnes and Angus J. McKay to compel the Marsden returning officer, Frank Bird, to take proceedings against William Jones, M.P. for Marsden, for alleged failure to, submit a complete return of bis election expenses, Judge Stringer de-

cided not to issue the mandature asked for and the motion was dismissed wit'll costs.

Mr Justice Stringer said on the facts stated, it appeared that a true account of Jones’ expenses, in Ilie form required by the Act, was not transmitted to the Returning Officer within seventy iti.vs of the election. The accidental omission of four pounds for launch hire, in his opinion, would not render the necunt of March false within tho meaning of tho section. If the candidate bad. as result of amendments, substantially complied with the Act, as in tlie present case, when both the returning officer and chief electoral officer were satisfied with the return, he. Justice Stringer did not think the writ of mandamus should be granted. To enforce penalties for merely technical breaches of tlie section he was certainly not prepared, having discretion in a breach of tho law against a person whom he honestly believed had not committed any such breach. In the exercise of his judicial discretion lie declined to issue the mandamus asked for.

SAWMILLERS FINED. OH ATvUNE, July 13. A case of interest to sawmillers was henrij in the Ohakune Magistrate’s Court to-day, when the Forestry Department proceeded against Holt Bros sawmillers, on a charge of permitting •l fire to originate in the State Forest by not using spark deflectors on the bush locomotives. The defendants pleaded guilty and wore convicted and fined £lO. NITRATES FROM AIR. OTAGO’S BIG SCHEME. DUNEDIN. July 9. A reporter interviewed M,r J. Orcliiston and two of the experts who are associated with him in the preliminary work in connection with the flotation of the company—that is, the preparing of data before the main company is formed —for the production of nitrates by moans of power derived from Lake .Uanapouri. Air J. D. Holmes, who is a member of the firm of Messrs R. W. Holmes and Son, and Mr A. T. Leeds, assitant surveyor, are the professional men referred to.

The three gentlemen have just come back from the region between Manapouri and Deep Water C'ove. at the head of Smith Sound, a commodious harbour that is said to lie one of the easiest in the world to work for the purposes of such a scheme. The principal work has been the taking of levels for a great tunnel to take the water of Lake Manapouri from the Lake to the Cove. They state that this tunnel will not need to be as long as was at first expected. It was originally thought thnt the tunnel would he six and a half miles long, hut a deviation has now been proved possible that will shorten the distance by about a mile. This means a saving ol nearly £200.000.

Apart from the Mannpouri source, the company will have its command for power purposes the waters of a number of considerable streams that concentrate within a mile of Smith Sound. Tt is computed that this auxiliary force represents 30.000 horse-power. The preliminary work, which is now well in hand, has been temporarily suspended till the rigour of the winter is over.

Mr Leeds says that the blazed track from the west arm of Lake Mannpouri to the Sounds, is in places, the most difficult lie lias any knowledge of. For about three mile of the twelve the track is passable. As for the rest, a bus'll man is doing well if be makes a mile an hour.

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON. July 13.

The annual conference of the National Dairy Association was opened by President Morton, moving the adoption of the renort and balance sheet. He urged a shelter on the farm for stock testing and culling of cows. Tie supported the compulsory grading of home separated cream. All would he benefited by increased production and better quality. The report and balance sheet were adopted.