DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1926, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—I*Kit PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

COCKSFOOT SEED

WELLINGTON, July 29. Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere), in the House to-day, referred to the impor- & tation and the sale of Danish cocksfoot W seed. This was far inferior, lie snid, to the local seed, and the grass from it would not live on high country as » the New Zen laid grass would. The trouble, however, was that the nierchalnts did not sell it as Danish. They should insist that the whole of the Danish seed should he sold under its own name. Legislation in this direction should ho passed during the present session of Parliament. CHRISTCHURCH TO FOXTON. CAPTAIN BUCKLEY’S AIR FLIGHT. * FOXTON, July 29. Captain Buckley, accompanied by Air Mechanic H. H. Smith, of the Defence Service, flow from Christchurch to Foxton to-day in two and threequarter hours with a following wind. The distance covered was about three hundred miles. They left the aerodrome at 10.45 a.m., Kaikoura 11.40 a.m, Blenheim 12.20 p.m., Wellington 12.45 p.m., and landed at Foxton at 1.30 p.m. The object of the visit is to take aerial photographs of* flood conditions in the Manawatu basin on behalf of the Mannwatu-Oroua River" Board’s scheme to deal with overflow waters from the" Manawntu and Oroua Rivers. The work is similar to that done by tile air service at the Waimakariri and the Ashley. It is expected that the aerial survey and photographs will greatly assist the board in its projected undertaking.

STEAMER SERVICES.

WELLINGTON, July 29,

The Minister of Marine, the Hon G. J. Anderson, and the assistant-general manager of the Union Strain. Ship Company (Mr Wheeler) were" interviewed by a number of South Island members regarding reinstatement of the former direct Australian services with South Island ports and the running of the steamer Marnroa in the ferry service. The members who attended were the Hons R. Moore. R. Scott, G. M. Thomson and G. Witty, of the Legislative Council, Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon D. Buddo, Messrs, Forbes, Sidey, Girling, A. Hamilton, IT. Holland. D. Jones, M’Co mbs, Sullivan and ID'u, cf the House of Representatives. The deputation having put its ease on the lines of recent discussion in Parliament the representative of the com- t

pany replied giving some details of tho results of tho services betwon southern ports and Australia. He was asked by the members if his

company would go into the question of reinstating these services and specify the amount of subsidy which might he necessary.

ASSAULT CHARGE. AUCKLAND, July 30. John McNair was convicted and ordered to pay costs by Mr Poynton, S.M., on a. eli urge of assaulting Percy Robinson, the Magistrate remarking \ that accusccl who was visiting Robinson’s wife after having been forbidden to do so by her husband, deserved all lie got. A good hiding would do him more good than any penalty. Robinson stated that be was supposed to be in Helensville last night, but ed that the accused would be with Airs Robinson, and returning found liis anticipation was correct. He stated that McNair struck him and he hit back and came off best. He sent for the police and gave McNair in charge for assault. Accused admitted he lijd been keeping company with Robinson’s wife for the past eighteen months.

POLICE CASES. AUCKLAND, July ;30. The case against Paul Kqkish," sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment yesterday for assault on » gaol warder was reopened before Mr Poynton today and additional evidence given. The Magistrate said the affair was not nearly so bad as was previously represented and he reduced ,the penalty to a fine of £2, half to go to the man assaulted. The Police have been keeping n certain women under obsrvation with the ; result that seven women were charged ’ at the Police Court with being idle, disorderly and habitually consorting with thieves and prostitutes. Six of them were sent to prison, five for three months, one for one month.

NEGLIGENTLY DRIVING. AUCKLAND, July 30

The trial of Alfred James Dickinson charged with negligently driving a motor car in Anzac Avenue on March 25th., and thereby causing the death of Frank Wilson, a passenger in the car, was concluded at the Supremo Court to-night. It was alleged the accused was travelling at an excessive speed, one estimate being forty miles an hour and struck a tramcar. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, taking into consideration the mental and bodily suffering the accused had gone- through, ami wjis still going through. Mr Justice Herclman saicU it was a most proper verdict, and tlie recommendation would have his earnest consideration.

The prisoner, who was Tenianded until Monday for sentence was himself seriously injured in the accident, and appeared in the Court visibly suffering from tho effects of a breakdown. He trembled violently throughout the proceedings.

•WELLINGTON HIGHWAYS BOARD. WELLINGTON,, July 30. The local Highways Board finds itself faced with heavy unforseen expenditure. It expected only to he called upon to do the actual paving of the roads already fit for the purpose, but it found a number of stretches on which costly preparation work had to ~ lie due, liefore paving could begin. JIB No less than £11,840 liability already been incured on this aecou>which it is seeking to get hack in part from the local authorities interested, leaving its own share at a Is per square yard. When the engineer brought up the report on the subject, opposition was shown on the ground that it wo sgd throw out local bodies’ finance, and they could not stand the extra cost. One suggestion, was that no paving should lie done till the road were put in order. The report was received, but further discussion postponed.

Another difficulty is as to who is to maintain these paved roads. Amended legislation will he asked this season to throw more of the expense on the Main Highways Board..

THEFT CASES. WELLINGTON. July 30. John Arthur Cormack, for theft of £l6l. while employed as a meter reader to the Corporation, was sentenced by Chief Justice Skeri'ett to reformatory detention for a period not exceeding two years. For stealing a mustar pot, valued at one shilling, from McDuffs, Ltd., William Ross, 22, was convicted at tho Magistrate’s Court, and fined £5.