DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PENSIONER’S FALSE DECLARATION. WELLINGTON. July 27.

A widowed pensioner with one child was granted a war pension •of £156 per annum, and-in addition a civil widow’s pension of £lB. She obtained employment as a charwoman at over £2 per week in March 1921, but made a declaration that she had no earnings. She was proceeded against in court. She was convicted on five charges of wilfully making false statements and was ordered to come up for sentence if called on within three years, also to repay £93 at 15s per week.

ARAPUNI WORKS. HAMILTON, July 26. The second shot at the Arapuni hydro electric power works, blowing a huge lip of rock on tlie hank of the Waikato River at the entrance to the inlet tunnel, was fired to-diy. 'Flic explosives set off nine days ago were merely for the. purpose of removing the crown at this dumpling inlet, permitting a certain flow of water through tlie tunnel, in order to form a cushion of water to take the concussion of blowing out the rock bank at the outlet, which consisted of several thousands of tens of material. Several thousand tons of rock were left at the inlet, which, if blown out originally might have caused a jamb of rock and debris at the entrance ter the tunnel before the water commenced to flow freely along its new course.

To-day, the remaining embankment of rock was sent skywards by a charge of two and a half tons of blasting gelatine. This effectively blocked the old course of the stream, and caused the whole flow of the river to pass through the diversion tunnel. Thus is the first stage of tlie undertaking accomplished, leaving .tlie dry bed of the river at tlie site where the dam is to be constructed, so that the work may proceed unhampered by the presence of water. As a safeguard to tlio workmen against any sudden rise of the river, a subsidiary'dam made of gabions, is being constructed on the upstream side, while a further coffer dam will be necessary above tne funnel outlet, as a precaution against backwash.

A BAD RECORD., CHRISTCHURCH. July 27. Theodore East, 22, pleaded guilty to-day to charges of breaking open a telephone booth, and of having in his possession, house-breaking tools. He had previously been convicted of theft and allowed out oil probation. East was convicted 'and sentenced to the Borstal Institute for three years.

UNSATISFACTORY BANKRUPTCY. CHRISTCHURCH, July 27. Dissatisfaction with a statements was expressed yesterday at a meeting of creditors in the estate of Robert William Borland, aerated water manufacturer, of Rnngiora. A motion was carried requesting the Official Assignee to (look into the Bankrupt’s affairs more thoroughly. The deficiency was estimated at £1,978.

WOOD SHED FIRE. AUCKLAND. .July 24

A fire destroyed a wool drying room and store in a fellinongery at Drury, owned by Alexander McDonald. About forty bales of wool valued at £7CO were destroyed. The building was insured for £2OOO.

ANXIETY' FOR CRANE. CHRISTCHURCH, July 27

Anxiety is felt here regarding the Harbour Board’s new -floating crane, Eapaki, which left Gisborne last Tuesday, and no word about it has been received since. She may have put out to sea to avoid the heavy weather. NOT SERTOUS. GISBORNE, July 27. Police investigation into a recent affray in which a schoolboy stabbed another child, shows the affair was less serious than first reported. The assailant being very young and terrified, being bullied at the time, used a knife.

FOXTON DAMAGE. FOXTON, Jillv\27.

A phenominal rain storm during the week-end caused one of tlie biggest floods in the Mann watu formally years. Road communication is cut off by flood waters and railway communication between Palmerston North and Foxton is suspended. There are big washouts at Rangitane and Rangiotu where the Oroua and Ylaiiawatu Rivers junction. A special* train left Foxton this morning to render assistance to the settlers. The country in t ! ’’is locality is inundated' for mites. The banks at ALuitoa were wasbeef, away and the set tic i s homes invaded. All flaxmills have ceased working. A considerable loss of stock is reported throughout the district. At present there is no indication of the flood subsiding.

LATEST FLOOD REPORTS. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 27. Following incessant rain for nearly forty-eight hours, to-day broke fine. The flood waters in Manawatu this morning had fallen from one foot to thirteen feet according to the gauge at Fitsdierbert Bridge. A large area of countryside is still coVered with, water mostly caused by local rains and the flooded river backing up the tributaries and drains. Most settlers took precautions to remove tlieu- slock to high ground when the weather became severe, consequently the loss of stock is not reported as exceptional. In the borough a lot of surface water is lying about. The business area is not flooded, storm-water conduits coping with the downpour. Advices from Rangiptu state the river there is still rising. Houses near the confluence <> the Manawatu and .Oroun rivers are inundated and the occupants had to be rescued by boats. A special train can-vine boats and volunteers was despatched from Foxton and Rang.otu this morning. The railway line at Rangiotu is under water and also the roadway.

BREAK in WEATHERTAPMARANLI, - Tu 'v 2 ‘- ■Wanganui river rose rftpidly last ni<dit and overflowed on to the to. at Piriaka. A break in the w-eatbe. has now removed the danger of set-, ions flooding and the rivers are subsiding. Several slips are reported on the roads throughout the distinct. XEW TRIAL REFUSED. WELLINGTON, July 27. Justice- Reed dismissed the motion, for a new- trial in the case of N olio Te Whiti and others versus I emu Te Whiti. DAILY CONTROL. STRATFORD, July 2<. At the annual meeting of the Midhirst Dairy Coy., resolutions were passed strongly protesting against the compulsory clauses in the Dairy Control Bill, and appealing to the Premier to postpone absolute control. Tins was carried by 34 votes to 20. The total number of suppliers to the fade 's 220. At the annual meeting ot ford Dairy Factory no resolutions were passed.