DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BV TELEORAFH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. ( PURCHASE OF RADIUM. j AUCKLAND, Aug. 24. Exception to the attitude of the Department of Health towards radium funds was taken at a. meeting of tho Auckland Hospital Board this evening. The Department- advised that the Government bad recently decided that the four centres would not be permitted to expend more than CIO,OOO each on radium unless any extra amount was made up solely of voluntary contributions. A Government subsidy -would be paid at a rate of £1 for £1 in voluntary contributions up to a

limit sufficient to provide £IO.OOO, that is. the Gvernment subsidy would be' paid only to the extent of £oooo in any one centre. A subsidy would not bo granted on donations for radium except in respect of tlie four centres. Afr S. J. Harbutt said the injustice appeared to him to lie in the limit of £IO.OOO in expenditure on radium by each of the four principal Boards. He thought the Auckland Board, uitli its greater population to serve, should be allowed to spend more than, say, the Dunedin Board. The chairman (Air Mail nee): Tn Auckland we could use all the radium there is in New Zealand. Tlie subject was referred to the Finance Committee with power to act.

LAND FOIL SETTLEMENT. A RECORD PURCHASE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24.' The Afinitser for Lands has had his attention drawn to a recent Press statement to the effect that 9900 acres of land in the Gisborne district acquired by the Government at a cost of £04,500 would provide only five sections. “I have seen the statement referred to,” said the Alinister, “and I can only say that it is incorrect and quite unofficial. The property referred to is known as To AYera Estate, and. according to the reports of my officers, it should provide not fewer than fifteen farms. If the front sections can he devoted entirely to dairying, up to twenty sections should lie provided, but a decision lias not yet been come to in regard to his phase of the matter.” «TLF,D CROSS FUNDS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. An argument was heard before the Chief Justice, the Hon O. P. Skcrrott, to-day. as to whether £30,000 received by the Red Cross Society from the British Society was a war fund, and expenditure limited by provisions of tlie War Funds Act, 1915, or whether it could be used for the alleviation of suffering generally. Air v*. G. AVliite appeared for the New Zealand Rod Cross, and Air R. Fair, Solicitor-Gen-eral. for the Alinister.

His Honour reserved lii.s decision. KAW Alt All DAM. SPECIAL BOARD SET UP. AVELLTNGTON, Aug. 24. The Government lias set up a special Board to determine when the gates of tlie Kawarau dam shall be opened and closed, in accordance with the license to A. O. Hanlon. The Board is as follows: .lohn Reuben Alarks, District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Dunedin; Alfred Charles Hanlon, representing the licensees; .Joseph Mosley, representing the Clutliu County Council; Leo Lee, representing the Lake County Council; James R. Copland, representing the Balelutha Borough Council; Andrew Siinson, representing the Queenstown Borough Council; Arthur Cooper Leary, representing the Cintha River Board; Alexander Renton, representing tho Inch Cintha River and Drainage Board. The Board has power to appoint a clerk and officers or workmen to ensure the necessary working of the gates, power to collect from time to time from lho licensee, and any person or company in whom the said license may at any time be vested, nil sums of money necessary for the purpose of providing for the expenses that may reasonably lie nntiepated Lo be incurred by tlie Board in carrying out the powers vested in it. and power to recover moneys owing and oilier nowors necessary in connexion with the working of the dam.

kawar.au mining venture. •DUNEDIN, Aug. 25. The Kawarau Gold Mining Company’s dam at Lake Wakatipu, is practically complete, and, if the weather conditions continue favourable, the gates will be closed on Monday, to allow the commencement of mining opera tons. naval wedding. AUCKLAND. Aug. 24. The sunshine of a bright spring day was the hanpv augury for a naval wedding at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Parnell, when Miss Rona Vaile, second daughter of Mr and Mrs IT. E. Vaile, Glade Hall, Epsom, was married to Lieut. A. .1. Baker-Cresswoll. of TEALS. Veronica , only son of the late Major A. E. Baker-CYosswell and of Airs BakerCresswoll, of Northumberland., England. Great crowds lined the pavement outside the church, where a brilliant gathering assembled, in which the gold of the naval uniforms was an outstanding feature. Masses of flowers decorted the church. On leaving the church, the bridal couple passed under an archway formed of fhe crossed swords of the officers of H.Af.S. Dunedin, Diomede, and Philomel. After the ceremony, a reception was held at Glade Hall, Epsom, the residence of the bride’s parents. The rooms were attractively decorated with flowers. BULLET IN BRAIN. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 24. James AfcDonald. a young man, was found in a stable on Burwcod Station, near Lumsden, suffering from a Bullet wound in the skull. He was removed to the hospital, where it was found that the bullet had splintered in the brain. His condition is critical. YOUTHFUL CAR STEALERS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. A sequel to recent cases of joy riding in the city was heard, when Robert Seymour James, Basil Frederick Baillie. "William Hugh Urquliart and Askew John Robertson, all at present undergoing Borstal Jreatment, were charged with breaking and entering a shop at Parapar-auinu, and stealing goods and money to the value of £l2. After evidence that- the offence was committed during one of the youths’ escapades in stolen cars, accused all pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. \ SUICIDE ON DAIRY FARM. NEW PLYMOUTH. Aug. 25, T. N. Rat ford, a sharemilker oil ATcBeath’s farm at T-arurutangi. committed suicide this morning by shooting hilmself with a shotgun.