DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nr TELEORAPn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] FISHING LICENSES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 12. Some sidelights on the license fees charged for fishing in the Dominion wore thrown out at a meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Mr Talbot suggested that the fee for trout fishing for outside anglers all over Now Zealand should ho .increased to £5. The discussion revealed that holiday and tourist anglers wore able to fisl, for weeks on end. They paid onlv £1 the same as a person who could fish only occasionally. Mr Anson said the charge should b more than £5 for a license to fish over the whole Dominion. Mr Talbot said most overseas fishermen were surprised that New Zealand ..was so foolish as to allow them to fish at tho money. Mr Tripe: In America they would charge 100 dollars. Mr M’lntosli asked how all the societies would participate in a £5 foe. It was thought this matter would be fully dealt with l>v the conference. Mr Anson : Could not wo bring the fishing license into line with the game license? A touring man would then have to take out a license in many districts.

The principle that overseas fishermen lie charged £5 was approved. A recommendation by Mr Wiffen that a remit he sent to the conference that a system should lie formulated for the endorsement of licenses between the societies on the payment of a small fee was accepted. TRAIN CREW PRAISED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 12. A testimonial signed liv between fifty and sixty passengers of tlie derailed Limited expresses appreciation of the prompt action of the driver and fireman in averting what might have proved a terrible disaster bad not the train been pulled up when it was. The testimonial also expressed appreciation of the kindness and consideration of the guard, who made it liis first duty to sec to the safety of the passengers. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. A charge, brought by the Police Department, against Constable Archibald Moore, of using obscene language in Quay Street, was beard by Mr Poynton, S.M.

Inspector Lewiti said that the charge was made on the information of two men of good character and standing in the community. The defendant and Constable Shields, who was with him at tile time of the alleged offence were men of high character in tho force, and they had good records. Both constables emphatically denied the use of the language alleged. Six witnesses gave evidence of Constable Moore's high character and excellent record.

The (Magistrate dismiss,*! 1 1 he. charge. He remarked after taking tho evidence of the witnesses: “The Court is satisfied that the listeners made a mistake. There was no inducement for a man with the constable’s reputation, and no motive, to make the statement alleged in tho charge. CAR. THIEVES. AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. On Wednesday uiglit,, a large sixcylinder motor-car, owned by Mr W. ,T. Parker, of Schofield Street. Grey Lynn, was removed from his garage. The car. which was used on the Mission Bay service, contained nine gallons of benzine. Its size prevented the garage doors from being closed, but it was locked with a Yale key, and the benzine was turned off. this morning the car was found bin nt in May's Road, Mount Eoskill. It is not definitely known whether the ear was insured.

Another car was also stolen, tlie proper! v of Air Ivan Black, of Aiatamata. Air Black left his car outside the Royal Hotel, where he is staying, at 8.25 last evening, and on returning for it three minutes later, he found it had disappeared. • Previously in the evening, a globe was stolen from one of the front lamps. So far the car has not been traced. A TOTE BLUNDER. AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. An error in recording investments on a race won by Joy Ride at Avondale spring meeting last year cost Francis Sinclair Abates, totalisator proprietor. £I6OO and was the chief cause of his bankruptcy. His schedule, presented to a meeting of creditors, showed debts of £2,186 and the deficiency over the estimated assets was £Bl2. The amount invested on Joy Ride in the commission book was £386, but, in recording tlie amount on the tote, the figures wore read as only £3B, and only that amount of commission money against Joy Ride was recorded. Yates had to pay a dividend three hundred times out of his own pocket. Asked how much money would pass through his hands in a year at the totalisator that ho managed, the bankrupt replied £300,000. He. admitted having lost £2OO in a certain gambling place. A resolution was passed instructing the Assignee to ascertain whether certain payments were preferential.

LIQUOR, QUESTION. AVELLINGTON, Aug. 13. The Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance resolved: That the Standing Committee of the Alliance recalls the Premier’s specific promise that this session Parliament should have an opportunity of considering licensing legislation and urges him to expedite the introduction of the proposed Bill. The views of all parties having been repeatedly given before Select" Comm it tees and by deputations to the Government, it is considered the time is ripe for Parliament to take immediate action.

CORNSTACK BURNT. NEAV PLYAIOUTH. Aug. 12. If rumour speaks truly, there were some sensational happenings on the Upper Alangorei farms on a recent day. It is alleged that a farmer found that an oaten haystack on his place had been burnt to the ground. About the same time, a settler opposite discovered that part of his separator was missing. On Saturday morning the owner of the burnt- haystack awoke to find his cowshed alight. He put it out, but almost immediately afterwards saw smoke rising from a stack oil an adjacent farm. He rushed over and c-ftvp the alarm. Some of the hay was saved.

As the result of inquiries liv Detective AFeiklejohn. a mail named Harris T,. Spence was arrested, and was brought before the court to-day on three charges of arson, one of theft, and one of mischief. The application of the detective for a remand to AYednesdnv was granted, but an application for hail was opposed by the. Police, and refused by the Afagistrate.

censes fees become payable at the same time; that a protest bo made against tho suggested petrol tax with a view to. the revenue going to local bodies, and that a further protest be made against disfiguring roads with advertising. A remit that motor drivers be given reasonable lime to produce licenses after demand by a constable was lost. It was decided to press for an amendment of the legislation to provide a penalty of imprisonment for theft of motor cars. Strong exception was taken to legislation providing for special taxation of motorists for the maintenance of certain roads, Hutt road being instanced, and it was decided to take steps with a. view to preventing any further legislation on these lines. APPRENTICES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. An amendment to the regulations under tho Apprentices’ Act was gazetted to-day. also amendments to the regulations under the Government’s Railway Act. dealing with the classification of the Department. ELECTRIC SHOCK. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 13. E. Edwards, an employee of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, while working at No 7 wharf at Lyttelton this morning, received an electric shock as the result of which he had to be removed to tho casualty ward. Edwards was boring holes in a wooden beam when the auger, in passing through the beam, connected with one of the live wires of tho electric capstan. Ho was knocked backward several feet, and rendered unconscious. His condition is considered not serious.

BURGLAR. ESCAPES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. While the police were being summoned, a burglar caught in PuymasterCoininandor Butcher’s house on Wednesday evening violently struggled and escaped. The police have his descrip tion but no arrest has been made so far. POLICE RAID. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 13. Alfred Vivian Wbitta, for whom Mr H. S. G. Goodman appeared, was charged with having kept a common gaming house. He was remanded for u week, hail being fixed at £l0:>, and nuo surety of £lO9. The other men were Benjamin Stubbing, retired tanner, of 33 Gloucester Street; Albert Khouri, clerk, of 20V Barbadoes Street: and John Edmond Cavanagii, insurance inspector, of 549 Barbadoes Street. They were charged with being loiind in a common gaming house, their release was secured by sureties ot £5 each- the remand being for a week. SUPREME COURT. WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. The following prisoners were sentenced at the Supreme Court: —Edwin Henry Faullduer and Stephen Percival JPatterson, both aged 39, for breaking, entering and theft at Wellington, three years’ probation; Percy Idler Thurston and Francis William Blackett, a< r cd 38 and 57. lor breaking, eiiteiing and theft at Taihape. the latter to four years’ hard labour, and the former two years.

■UNLICENSED WIRELESS. WELINGTON, Aug. 13. For erecting a wireless sot without irst obtaining.a license, Leonard Mangiam was fined £2.

GIRLS WORKED TOO LATE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. Convicted of employing female waitresses after 10.30 o’clock at night, Joseph Barnao, who had been fined £5 last month for a similar offence, was to-day fined £lO. Two girls concerned were convicted and discharged, the Magistrate holding that their employer was most to blame.