DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bt TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,

N.Z. FISHING. M'. K. VANDERBILT COMING. WELLINGTON, Aug. IG. "I. am a great booster for New Zealand,” confesses Captain L. D. Mitchell a friend and fishing companion of Air Zano Grey, in a letter which has just arrived in New Zealand. Captain AlitcheM gives news of American fishermen who arc planning to visit New Zealand this year. He has interested several friends who contemplate making tiie trip after big fish, and Air AVilliam IC. Vanderbilt is particularly taken with the idea and has been corresponding with Captain Alitchell at length. Air Zano Grey has sent to the New Zealand High Commissioner’s Office in London a number of enlarged photographs of big fish which he caught in Dominion waters and these are expected to make a fine display in the window of the New Zealand House. Captain Atitcholl also has written an articlo on the trip for the “Field.” Air Zano Grey has booked by the Tahiti sailing from San Francisco on December 29th. Air Vanderbilt is expected to come in Kis own yacht., and there may also arrive Air Spaulding, a famous American sportsman. Captain Mitchell gives news that Air Zano Grey has caught another record fish, a monster broad bill swordfish, weighing 5821 b, which it took five and a half hours to land at Avalon, Santa Catalin Island. The following day he came in with another which scaled 5151 b.

A 1 IS APR R OPR TATI ON. AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. Twelve months’ reformative detention was imposed by Air Justice Stringer on the land salesman, Stanley Thomas, who was found guilty of misappropriation of money in connection with the sub-division and sale of the Pnpakura Station estate. His Honour said tho accused was engaged by the old man, Prietou. to carry out the land transaction. He was given authority to operate in Prieton’s hank lircount for certain purposes. He abused that trust l>y applying about one thousand sterling to his own use. DIRE POVERTY. IN NORTH AUCKLAND.. PITIABLE PLIGHT OF CHILDREN. AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. Children who are so hungry that they try to get each other’s lunches are reported to he attending some of the schools on the Northern Gumlands. Air A. Burns (Chairman of tho Auckland Education Board) stilted at ‘"■-dnv’s meeting that Mr Maurice (Priestly, Inspector of Schools, had found conditions at five of the northern school in an alarming nature. The children—some of them half caste hud others the descendants of the Austrians—were in many cases undcrelotlied. underfed and on the verge of starvation. The decline of the gum!antis has brought poverty and distress to numbers of families, and some of the girls had only one article of clothing to wear this winter. One boy had a big edit and not much more. Some of the children went hungry to school, and others were unable to go at all. “In a young country like this, it is pitiable that such a state cf things should ho,” remarked Air Burns. “It is the duty of the Board to see that the children go to school, but it was no use trying to teach hungry; children. Some of them are starving. Air Burns suggested thpt some arrangements bo made to get food and clothing to these destitute homes. Air AV. J. Campbell volunteered to make immediate arrangements to cooperate with charitable organisations to have supplies sent. Air Burns: —“Thank you, I think that is splendid.” ATr E. C. Banks said that grocers and storekeepers would probably he willing to give their support through the teachers.

TAXI-DRIVER. ACQUITTED. WANGANUI, Aug. 18. At the Supreme Court, Frederick John Hawkins, a taxi-driver, was acquitted on a charge of driving a ear while intoxicated, and causing the death of James AVilliam AfcDougall on August 7th. BANKRUPT PROPERTY. . NEAV PLYMOUTH, Aug. 18. A conclusion was reached in tho hearing in the Supreme Court of the action by the D.O.A. against Martha Knapton to have declared void certain documents relating to tho transfer of property by Teddy Knapton, her husband, to defendant, a short time prior to his bankruptcy. The proceedings arose out of Knapton’s actions in 1922, when he was a dairy farmer in South Taranaki, and when he allegedly fraudulently transferred his assets to his wife, following unsuccessful negotiations with his mortgagee for a reduction of the. mortgage, hi.s alleged object being to defeat the mortgagor, at whose instance he was later made bankrupt. The defence was that the assets were really his wife’s in the first place, and were transferred in liquidation of lawful debt. Decision was reserved.

EXPERT CRACKSMAN. WELLIN' G TON, Aug. 18. Some time ago a burglar visited the premises of the Bell Bus Company, and secured a substantial sum of money. To-day David Cameron Stewart, aged 23 years appeared on charges of breaking, entering and stealing £B7 10s, and goods valued at £5 -Is 6d, and also of attempting to break into another shop. The accused was traced through a single finger print on a drawer in flic Bell Bus Garage, from which the money was taken. He pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. NURSE ARRESTED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. Gwendoline M’Dermid, a nurse, was arrested at the instance of a dentist named Glover, when she was booked to sail this afternoon for San Francisco, on a claim of £7 Ids 6d for dental work.

Counsel for the defendant said that she was quite willing to pay for the work when the plate was to her satisfaction. She had refused to pay after the plate was examined by an independent dentist, who said that it could be adjusted satisfactorily in ten minutes.

The plaintiff said that he was prepared to make the alterations before the ship sailed.

Judgment, was given for £6 4s 6d and costs £2 11s 6d. The Magistrate remarked that he thought a short service summons would have met the case.