DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEOKAfn — PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,

A VETERAN PASSES. GISBORNE, Aug. 4

Obituary.—Francis Charles Leggett, for many years officer in the Colonial Forces, aged• ninety-three. He landed at Dunedin in 1860 when be was 'ecruiting officer to Her Majesty’s l'orces. He wais liter transferred to Waikato where lie saw active service as an officer, in the First Waikato militia wherein be had a distinguished record. Subsequently lie entered the civil seivice retiring thirty years ago,.

FARMERS’ CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, Aug, 3. The Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union was opened by the Premier, Mr Poison presiding. Mr Coates hoped the conference would bo a success and that in many discussions, they would do theii utmost to solve some of the problems of 'the producers. The Government was anxious in every way to assist. Tt seemed to him that the greater the knowledge possessed by tlie farming community, the better it would be foi the whole nation. In some thirty centres. information was given by officers of the Department. Those meetings were attended by some oOfK) farmeis. The Department was finding it very difficult to keep pace with the demand for instructions. Referring to the Agricultural College he. said that a site had l>een secured, and money would he brought up to date. To begin with, the dairy industry would have primary attention. Only by having the highest knowledge coupled with practical knowledge, was it possible to compete with their competitors overseas." The largest proportion of agricultural production was derived from the 17-niillioil acres o! grassland. It was on the permanence and increasing production of herbage turned into butter fat, wool and meat, that our prosperity mainly depended. The Government was thoroughly convinced that extensions of pasture by top-dressing on a far greater scale, was the most urgent necessity for New Zealand farm management. It was essensential to secure that extension at the earliest possible moment. The n fertilisers had been investigated and important negotiations were being conducted. which was hoped would appreciably lessen the cost to the farmer. At oresent 120,000 tons of phosphate were being used in top dressing. It should be at least four times that quantity.

A FATAL FALL. AUCKLAND. Aug. 4

James Kelly, who suffered severe scalp wounds by falling down a flight of steps on July 26th.. died at the hospital this morning.

A CENTENARIAN; AUCKLAND, Aug. 4

William Reeves, an inmate of the Veterans’ Home, celebrated his hundred and first hirtlu.ay yesterday. He is still one of the cheeriest of the inmates, though he had one leg amputated at the age of 09 years.

PAID THE PENALTY. PALMERSTON X.. Aug. 4

At t.he inquest on William Frederick Brown who lost his life on 2otli July, when attempting to cross a flooded stream in a gig, the evidence of Brown’s companion Doyle, showed he warned the deceased against going into the river. Doyle crossed on a wire while Brown drove the horse into the stream and was swept away. Doyle made an unavailing attempt to save his friend. The Coroner returned a verdict of ; accidental death, and said Brown lost his life in a foolhardy attempt to cross the stream.

money, no name or friends as he puts it in a note found on his body, observed the Coroner at an inquest tyeld this morning on the body of an unknown man which was found oil April 22nd on Awahuri Road with a bullet wound in the bead and a pea rifle lying across the knees, ft was stated in evidence that • exhaustive inquiries throughout the Dominion and Australia had failed to establish the identity of the deceased who left a note stating lie was unable to find work, had no money or friends and had decided to relinquish life. He signed it: ‘‘ Unknown Warrior Aussie ” and hoped “some other poor devil would have better luck.” A verdict of death from a self-inflicted rifle bullet wound was returned.

£SO VOTE REVOKED. AUCKLAND. Aug. 4

Auckland Typographical Union, at a meeting, rescinded by a large majority, a resolution passed at a meeting on July 24th.. voting £SO to the funds of the coalminers on strike in Great Britain. The action was on the ground that the vote was outside the objects provided for in the Union rules and was contrary to the spirit of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, under which the Union was registered.

A PRISONER’S STATEMENT. PALMERSTON N., Aug. 4

At the Supreme Court, His Honour Justice Reed, summing up, in a case wherein Hector Mark Perreau, 18, was arraigned on three charges of breaking. entering and theft at Levin, or alternatively theft alone or receiving property, knowing it to have been stolen, referred to accused's statement in the box that a detective at the police station, at Wellington struck him (accused) with his fist and knocked him down and then caught him by the throat to get a statement from him. I have not the slightest, hesitation in saying this evidence is absolutely untrue, said his Honour. Such a thing is impossible with any police officer unless bo is mad or drunk. Probably accused had been reading some third degree story of America, and had given the Jury the benefit of something lie had read. Nothing had been said by accused about the knocking down incident when charged in the lower Court, and it was also strange that the detective when in the box bad not been cross-examined on the point. The jury were entitled to believe this story told by the, accused, but Lis Honour felt it was right for him to say such an incident was impossible in New Zealand. If the jury disbelieved accused in this matter it -would help them in coming to a decision on other matters

FARMERS’ UNION. WELLINGTON. Aug. I. Tho Farmers’ Union Conference received a report on organisation which was considered in committee. A vote of thanks was accorded'the Dominion Secretary and was supported in the warmest terms. The produce report was submitted by Mulholkuul. A remit to tho conference considers tho time has arrived widen the Wool Board is essential for the hotter marketing of wool. It was moved by Mr Daniel (Wairnrapa) after an address by .Mr Lilburn representing the Farmers’ Union on the wool committee. Mr Anderson (Pulorus) strongly advocated absolute control. He maintained it was essentilil to tho success of primary producers. He instanced the success acliievL'd by the Wool Board in Australia. Mr Joll denied the force of the contention that as wool was not A perishable commodity it was not necessary to have a control board. II tlies unsatisfactory position of last season continued the result would be bad for sheep farmers. A. scheme to do away with bazaars and badge days was outlined by Mrs Poison, president of the women s division of the farmers’ union at the first annual meeting. 11l America they bad a community week, firms giving an annual subscription which went into the community chest, apportions!® from that to various charities.