DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS .

[BV TELEGRAPH-—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] lIATANA AND CHURCH. THAMES, July 30. ( The Native Land Court sat for two days hearing evidence in the dispute between Ratana’s followers and the Church of England. c Application was made to decide whe- u ther tlie churt-li at Manaia, near Coro- r) mandel, should be handed over to the j Church of England. It was erested | seventy years ago by voluntary sub- j scription. It was blown down in 1905 j and rebuilt the same year. Two years f ago a large proportion of the congre- ~ gation went over to Katana. Relations j. became strained, culminating in an attempt to prevent English services being held. ' Judge MacCorihick, giving judgment, was of opinion that tlie church should j remain for the purpose for which’ it was built, and for which it always had jbeen used. He therefore decided to j. vest, possession of the church in ( trustees for the purposes of permitting services only of tlie Church of England | in the building, with a right of way . from the road to tho church door. He - was satisfied that'ally system of joint i control would he impracticable; it , would only lead to trouble. If there j was power to do so lie would have eonsidered the question of compensation, 1 but he was plainly limited to the land on Which 'theI’church 1 ’church stood. ( AGAINST PROPOSED TOUR. PALMERSTON N„ July 31. The Aliinawatu Cricket Association considered circular letters from the New Zealand Council relative to tho proposed tour of England, when thefollowing motion was carried unanimously:—“That in the opinion of this Association tlie proposed tour is not in tho best interests of cricket, and that Dominion cricket would be better served by concentration on an exchange of visits with Australia. Holding such opinion, this Association does not think any assistance can ho expected from this district for any of the three financial proposals' submitted by the Council for consideration. Further, that the Association should lio consulted ills to the advisability of undertaking a- tour of England and not only as to the methods of financing the trip. whAngarei harbour. WHANG A RET. July 31. An important step was taken by the Whangarei - Harbour Board when it decided to invite tenders for the construction of a. harbour at IviorerOa to replace Onerahi wharf, which Ims necessitated the connection by the railivay bridge -across the waterway, thus interfering with the town wharf. Communication between Kioreron and Whnngarei will he by a flat road of loss tlihn two miles, facilitating motor transhipment of sen. borne cargo. Railway connection with the wharf will make tlie port the inlet and outlet for a rich district extending to beyond Northern Wuiroa. The estimated cost of the new harbour is forty thousand, 1 which is available without further .borrowing.’ Onerahi wharf ‘anil railway are to be removed. THEFT ALLEGED. "WELLINGTON, July 30. Cyril Claude Hunter. 19. was remanded to-day bv file Magistrate to appear at Christchurch, oil four charges of stealing £lO, the property of Blanche Edith Hunter. LEG AMPUTATED. NAPIER, July 30. A young man, Percy Mayo, a motor cyclist, this evening applied the brakes on his machine suddenly when a collision with a motor-car seemed imminent. The result was that the cycle skidded round in front of the car and Mayo sustained such severe injuries to the left leg that it had to be ampu tated below the knee. NECK DISLOCATED. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 30. While returning from the Government mail delivery from Ashhurst to Umutoe, John Clieyne, aged seventytwo, went over a twentv-four-foot bank, striking a fence and dislocating his neck. Death ensued ten minutes later. He was' a well-known settler, and had Ucoii in charge of tlie mail for fifteen years. DEATH UNDER ANAESTHETIC. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 39. I Louis John Hunt,- aged tuentjseven, married, succumbed under an auresthotic at the hospital while undcigoing an operation. 1 . MAN HIT WITH BOTTLE. AUCKLAND, July 31. Walking along Ponsonby Road last night, William .John Warrington, aged ' 30, saw his wife arm-in-arm .with Al- - fred Walter Girling* aged '6O years. The two men appeared at tlie Court this morning for fighting. ! “I crashed him.” said Warrington, i hut the arresting constable observed it was with a' bottle, which Warrington ‘ afterwards threw at Girling. Mr Sullivan, who appeared for Mr Girling, said lie was a respectable widower, which whom tho Warringtons and their three children used to live. Owing to Warrington’s drunken habits Girling had .to request his departure, and Warrington’s wife had kept house for Girling. Warrington admitted signing a separation agreement, hut said that a condition to it- was that she should keep away from Girling, though lie (lid not suggest improper relations. Tt appeared that Girling, Mrs Warrington and lier sister were out snopping when W arrington struck the man with a. bottle., Mr Poynton, S.M., held that War-l rington was the aggressor, and fined • him £2 or seven days. ) The charge against Girling was dismissed. as he had the right to defend himself. ” The Magistrate observed that it was plain that Warrington was not supporting liis family. He had contributed only a few pounds since March last.