DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—pee pp.ess association.] AN ACCIDENT’. CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. A runaway horse, attached to a cart in which was seated the owner, an Asiatic, named Bhangi, tripped over a gutter and crashed into an iron fence. The animal’s neck was broken but the driver was unhurt. NATIVE ASSAULTED. TA UMAR UN U August 9. At t"o Police Court, Dallas McLain was charged with assaulting To llopapa, a Native. He was remanded till Tmirsday. Bail was allowed. The Na live is now in the hospital. CHARGED WITH THEFT. MAR TON, August 9. At the Police Court at .Marton, a public servant, whose name was suppressed. was charged with the theft of Government money totalling £133 4s. He was remanded till Thursday. Bail was allowed in self £l5O, and sureties amounting to the same amount.

A SERIOUS OUTBREAK. PALMERSTON X.. Aug. 29. Another serious fire occurred in the early hours this morning when theground floor of a two-storeyed wooden building owned by the Waldegrave Estate. occupied by Woods’ Motors, as a motor cycle garage and bicycle shop, being completely gutted. Over 29 motor cycles and nearly as many bicycles us well as large stocks of accessories were badly damaged. Insurances amount to £1590 on one building and £I7OO on the contents. The former was valued at £2200 and the latter at £2373. The Brigade made an excellent stive in a high wind, preventing the flames damaging the upper floor am! adjacent buildings.

APIA OBSERVATORY. AUCKLAND, Aug. 10. Important work is being'done at the meteorological station, Apia, according to the Assistant Director, and seismographicnl expert. Weston. \v!to arrived at Auckland on leave bv the Tofua. The station at Apia is large and well equipped, and of importance because it provides an observation post. For mid-Pncific Meteorological work, it was by far the most important. Information concerning the weather was carefully collected and a valuable comparison made with the findings of oilier stations. It would undoubtedly he of great benefit to shin captains when in good working order. The observatory was also excellently equipped for magnetic- and seismographie investigation. Much valuable work is being done in the compilation of records. The study of the upper atmosphere was being pursued extensively and the results would be of use in days not far distant, when trails-Pacific aeroplane flights become common.

MOTOR DRIVER FINED. . MASTERTOX, Aug. 10. Peter Charles McLaren, farmer, of Longburn, charged with having been intoxicated while in charge of a motor car, was fined at Court to-day £2O and his license cancelled for six months. The charge arose out of an accident in Masterton on Saturday evening when MeLnren’s car collided with a barricade round drainage work and then struck n motor car.

UXEMPLOY ED. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 10. There are 294 men registered as 1111 employed in Christchurch this week the highest yet.

FIRE IN DRUG STORE. WELLINGTON, August 10. A fire ill Salelis wholesale druggist shop Lower Cuba Street gutted the premises and did damage to tlie extent of £7.000. It was caused by tlie electric light wire fusing. The brigade were summoned at once hut tho chemicals got too firm a hold. The other tenants of the building, the Premier Supply Coy, E.C.C. ami A. Corrigan and Co., also suffered by smoke and water.

A SCHOONER LOSS. AUCKLAND. August 10. News from. Apia states there is verylittle chance of refloating the schooner Teine Yimuela, formerly named War Lord, which went ashore at Nukmnene Lslnnd in Tokelau Group. All the cargo was' saved and there were no casualties. TOWN PLANNING. AUCKLAND, August 10. Auckland City Council has decided to ask tße Government to defer the Town Planning Hill until next session, to enable local authorities to consider it thoroughly. It is considered that a measure more suited to Dominion needs could he evolved, with the aid of those administering rapidly growing communities. A similar resolution was adopted with respect to the Local Bodies Loans Bill, the Mayor exoressing the opinion that ho was doubtful if. a Board as proposed to he constituted, and located in Wellington, would he competent to pass loan proposals submitted by local bodies in, other nnrts of the Dominion.

STOC K 11A N KI LLED. BLENHEIM. August 10. .T. T. Murphy, a well known stockman, of Marlborough, died this morning as the result of a kick from a horse he was stabling. DROPPED DEAD. AUCKLAND, Aug. 10. Captain Holford (harbour-master at Vavau) while ascending a hill to his home dropped dead from heart failure. HOSPITAL COMMISSION. AUCKLAND, Aug. 10.

• At the Hospital Commission. Mr Johnstone representing the Hospital Board, said he did not propose to call any evidence regarding negligence, extravagance. or waste, because no such charges had been properly made. The only buildings in respect of which the charges had been raised in the press were Wallace Ward and the laundry. As to Walla-o Ward only two small matters had been criticised. There was only one left, and the only one the oncrating theatre. Regarding both buildings the advice of a medical and engineering expert had boon followed. The Board had asked for an enquiry, because it had promised an inquiry of some kind to the architect and secretary, because of discussion re delay in completion of the laundry and an alleged error by the Board’s officers. Nothing had been raised in the dispute regarding the management of the Hospital or infirmary, or of the Board’s relations with the nursing staff. The Commissioner: I quite agree. I don’t intend to inquire into matters such as that, but to consider complaints ' v local bodies as to the increase in the Board’s levies. Mr ’Johnstone proceeded to review the hospital expenditure at length.