DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEOKAPn —PER TP.ESS ASSOCIATION.]

A!AN KILLED. DUNEDIN. Aug. 2

A man named Albert Joseph Nicholson, of South Dunedin, was run into by a taxi driven by a man named Atkinson. in Forbury road, about 6.30 to-night. He received a fractured skull and his jaw; was badly smashed. He died before admission to the hospital.

ATHLETIC COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Aug. 3

At a meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council, the Chairman, Air F. Wilton. said Rose was evidently a. long way behind his best form. The time for Lilts 1500 met res race at Oslo repre--1 sen ted about 4min 30-sec for the mile. Mr L. Tracy remnrked that AUHolm, in his latest notes, stated that a wcvTknown trainer, Bines, considered the climatic conditions were beating Rose. Competing at a sports meeting at Ha-wcrn on February 3, the American, Lloyd Hahn, ran 80 yards in lnrin 5G I-usee. The council prosed this as a New Zealand record, and the secretary was instructed to forward the time for recognition as an Australasian record. Tho Wellington Centre asked the council to consider asking a team of athletes from Britain to visit New Zealand. Tho Canterbury Centre secretary advised that he had been instructed to press for the.commencement of negotiations for a visit from American athletes on the lilies of last season’s visit. His centre suggested that Ritola be approached, together with a wellknown sprinter or middle distance ir|rn, such as Barber, Locke, or Helll'crieh, or a prominent jumper, such as Osborne. For several reasons Air Wilton considered that the council should give attention to local matters at least for ono season. Mr Tracy considered that unless a team was invited this year, when the public was behind amateur athletics and when the council had some money, it might be difficult to get athletes out later. Mr Wilton said, that no other amateur association attempted visits from overseas annually. Tho opinion was beiny; expressed in some quarters that sport vDs being overdone. The matter was held over pending the return of Air Guy from Australia.

FLOODS IN NORTH. TAUMAkUNUI, Aug. 5. The rainfall since Monday night lias been very heavy and the rivers have risen eonsidei'.rbly, though not dangerously. There are numerous slips on country roads in the King Country. Tho golf championship which was fixed for Friday and Saturday has been postponed owing to two of the fairways being under water. A SERIOUS CHARGE. THAMES, Aug. 5. Edith Amy Geratv was charged before Magistrate Salmon with illeg.il.y using ait instrument with intent to procure a miscarriage on a married woman, who has six children. She was committed for trial on hail of self in £2CO, and one surety of £214).

TWO FIRES. AUCKLAND, Aug. 5. A ten roomed house at Tepapapp. occupied by W. Cartiiev, his wife and four young children, was destroyed by fire with the contents. The occupants escaped in their night- attire. While the Onchuuga Brigade was fighting the tiro at Te papa pa a-u unoccupied six roomed house at Onehungn, owned by ,J. Broadlmtrst was almost completely destroyed by fire.

KICKED BY HORSE. BLENHEIM, Aug. 5

J. T. Murphy was stabling a .stallion when the animal kicked hint in the chest, fracturing four ribs which penetrated his lungs. He is in a serious, but not critical condition.

TRANSPORT CONTROL. AUCKLAN D, Aug

The Takapuna Borough Council decided that unless it- could get protection from bus competition, it would not take steps to place before the ratepayers the question of purchasing Takapuna tramways. It also passed a resolution stating that subject to its opinion of a monopoly of transport, it was desirous of giving effect to the policy of municipal control of transport.

N.Z. INSURANCE COMPANY. AUCKLAND. August 3

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company, the chairman of directors, Sir James Gtinson, said that the loss ratio,, which last year was 27 per cent., had risen to 59.47 per cent. “ Apart from reduction in premium income, which lias a slight effect on the ratio, fires have been general in all parts of the world, particularly in Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “ The State of Victoria sustained serious bush fires in February last, causing extensive destruction of property and, unfortunately, loss of life. In New Zealand fires have been very frequent, especially in dwellings in the country districts ol the North Island, where the construction of buildings is not so . effectively supervised as they are in boroughs. While the company is operating to afford protection against fire, yet these conditions, which in many cases, cause considerable loss to the assured, are sufficiently serious to call for the adoption by local authorities in country districts of some measures of control, particularly as regards construction of chimneys and hearths, so as to prevent undue destruction of property 'by fire and danger to life. The expense ratio shows a. slight increase, being 33.34 per cent., consequent upon the lesser premium income already referred to, ton-ether with an increase of £13,94/ m total exnenses. The accounts, however, have horn practically a years expense at the New York 'wane l !, which accordingly, will not recur. The surplus on the underwriting for the vear amounts to £80.158. « great portion of which as been earned beyond Now Zealand and with which, under all the circumstances, your directors feci YOU Will he gratified. The income derived during the year from the compjvnv’s investments amounts to U.ll/, compared with £111.506 for the previous period, an increase of LoW J. The yield on the invested funds of the company is now 5.19 pei ce!l aerninst >5.11 per cent- last year. James Gunson and -Messrs C. v . Moughton and Oliver Nicholson were re-elec-ted directors.

COUNTERFEITING CHARGE. AUCKLAND. Aug. 5. In the Supreme Court the trial of Raymond R. W. Grigs, charged with having in his possession material tor the manufacture of counterfeit conus, counsel for accused objected to evidence by a detective regarding a conversation between accused and bis ife when the latter visited Grigg, then n custody on another charge, as the U w precluded a wife from giving evident against her husband except where t latter consents. Justice Herdmaii decided the evidence was admissab'.e as given by t e detective. Barling then produced a statement in which he declared among other things that Mrs Grigg had seen moulds in the house and then, follo\ - ing the discovery by her of some g°° c s

soon after tho burglary she obtained a separation. Lily Henry, a sister of accused’s wife, stated in evidence that she had seen in tho workshop under his house a complete mould for a halfcrown and one for -a sovereign. Professor Worley said some of the smaller casts he had exit mined showed traces of milling marks.. There was an exact coincidence between these marks and the milling marks of the counterfeit coins.