DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph— run press association. GIPSY SMITH. RECEPTION' IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Aug. 25. “1 used to be in the timber business once. Yes, x sold clothes pegs to people at their back doors, when I was a gipsy boy. When I was converted •I was sixteen years of age, and could not spoil my own name. I was given a bible in one hand and a dictionary in the other. Oft' I started and I have not been to school yet. I will celebrate my jubilee next June as an evangelist, and for fifty years I have preached Christ oil six continents and I’m not done yet.” Such was the confession made by the famous evangelist, Gipsy Smith, in responding to a welcome accorded him

at a luncheon this afternoon at which he was given a tremendous reception. Mr Smith said that he was giving up his life for the work of God, which he was trying to do. Ho was a preacher of God’s message and was not a hired servant of any particular church. He was not a parson, thank God. (Laughter). ‘‘l want to know what some of you business men that are here to-day arc doing for Christ in a spiritual sense,” he said. “Some of you perhaps, are so busy talking money that you have no time for Christ. I will ask you business men to rally round and help me in inv work during my mission in Auckland. Tf some of you would sooner attend a Rotary lunch, a golf dinner or a Chamber of Commerce dinner than come along and help others, well it is time someone with Christian audacity looked you in the face and told you something you all ought to know, when duke and duchess will lie but mere snooks fn the great eternities, and so will I. If you grasp the hand nf God it will he something that you will never forget. 'Whatever your creed is you all need God. I myself do not believe in creeds, and if I bad mv way T would burn the lot of them and start everything afresh. I am not a sectarian, neither am I an insoefcarian (laughter). Wo all need God, every one of us.” BRITISH FILMS. RECOMMENDATION TO GOVERNMENT. AUCKLAND. Aug. 25. British films and the need there is for a better public opinion in Ibis matter. was brought forward at the National Council of "Women last evening. The speaker no in ted out that the I Prime Minister was about to proceed to England, and that one of the subjects before the Imperial Conference was the need for supporting the British film industry. Some American films showed such lack of morality, said another speaker, that in Germany they bad been excluded from the picture houses. Tt bad been asserted that the films sent abroad were not of the *inie standard as those the America us kept for borne consumption, and in view of the groat

effect they were having on the public mind, they should he curtailed. The British film industry' was at the parting nf the ways, and should be supported to the uttermost. In a little time films would be taken in Anslrnlin. Now Zonlnntl, find other parts of the Empire, and give employment to our own people, but the public must be encouraged to support the industry of the British people. If a uniform sign was adopted for use in all advertising of films such as the small blocks used by some societies in their advertisements, something like a- small map of New Zealand, for this country, or n map of Australia with “British film” across it, people would know what they were going to, instead of finding some American thing, perhaps taken in England and perhaps not. The following resolution was passed after further discussion: “That the Gvernmont he urged to consider measures for the better protection and encouragement of Britsh films by placing special duties on American and foreign films, or by other legislation if necessary.” The object would be to improve tho standard of the. films shown in tin's country, and stimulate Britsh industry at a critical period of its development. JURY LTST EXHAUSTED.

INVERCARGILL, Aug. 25. Tn the Supreme Court, John F. Walsh was found guilty of the theft of £228 while Town Clerk at Mataura. A peculiar position arose when James Callahan was charged with indecent assault on a female" under 16, owing to the jury list being exhausted before twelve were secured. The sheriff ordered a recall of tho men challenged by the defence, and, as the majority were again challenged by the Crown, tho panel was short by three. 'His Honour ordered the jurymen to be discharged, mid the next ease was taken. SOUTH AFRICAN GRAVES. WELLINGTON. August 25. The question of the concentration of the graves of all cx-oontingenters was discussed at the Dominion conference of South African War Veterans. Mr V. Scott, of the (1 raves Department of the Department of Internal Affairs, attended the conference to explain matters in connexion with the scheme. A modified remit, to read as follows, was carried:—“ That, if practicable, this conference is of the opinion that tho remains of our contingenters should be removed to Cape Town if not to Bloemfontein.” It was generally agreed that Cape Town should receive first consideration.

LADY FORBES’S CHILDREN. WELLINGTON. August 26. In the Lady Stuart Forbes maintenance case- today. Magistrate Page said he felt that Mrs Renwick’s offer to place the three children, who are now with the mother and the man . Thompson, in the Convent at Nelson, should be given effect to. but Mrs Renwick’s consent would first have to be proved in Court. He adjourned the matter so that the arrangement could be carried out. ROLL-DOWN APPEAL. WELLINGTON, August 25. The general appeal of proprietors of roll-down against the decision of Air E. Page, S.M.. holding that they were guilty of keeping common gaming houses, was heard in the Supreme Court vesterdav before Chief Justice Skerrett. ■ After hearing evidence on lines similar to that given in the Lower Court, his Honour reserved his decision.

BODY FOUND. CHRISTCHURCH, August 2G. It has been established that a body found in the Waimakariri River this morning is that of Gerald N. Carrington, son of Dean Carrington, who had been missing since the disappearance oil Sunday of the raft containing three men who were attempting to sail down the river. The interment will take place at Springfield. motor, tragedy. NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 26. Tragic circumstances surrounded the final of the Taranaki provincial Rugby competition at Stratford to-day. Mr Bert Petty, a well-known New Plymouth bowler and football referee, was so. injured in a motor accident when returning from the match that there is little hope of his recovery. After passing another car near T'ariki, Petty was regaining the roadway when the ear overturned. His skull was iraetured and he lies in the hospi-

tal in a dying state. Six other passengers received minor injuries, including broken hones, cuts and bruises. MISSING FISHERMEN FOUND.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 26. A launch which put out from New Plymouth in search of tho missing fishermen found them contentedly fishing near WTiiteclifls. Tho fishermen liad taken shelter under tho cliff until the weather moderated, and then resumed fishing. MOTOR ACCIDENT. WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. A serious motor accident was caused two in lies north of Paraparaumu, by a, car swerving over a bank when passing another, and severely injuring two of tho passengers. Mrs Cohen, junr. had her skull fractured and Mr Stokes hand and arm were out. Both sufferers were scut to the hospital with all liasto. THEFT BY BAKER’S EMPLOYEE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. Failuro to account for sums totalling £l3 6s Old, thereby committing theft, was admitted by George Edward Sullivan, 24, at the Magistrate’s Court. Accused was employed by Charles Edward Bell on bread delivery. The Chief Detective said that when questioned by Bell, accused acknowledged tho misappropriation, and was given tho opportunity to repay 10s a week to avoid prosecution. He commenced tho repayments, hut at the same time took other- money, hence the prosecu-

tion. The Magistrate remanded the ease to consider the application for probation. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS. WELLINGTON. Aug. 27. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, Mr A. M. Seaman, Auckland, was elected President and Mr James Hogg, of Dunedin vice-President. The Society resolved to liecommend to members that the regulations of the Society be amended, and that after 192!) the accountants’ preliminary examination he discontinued and the matriculation examination he the only examination ereognised a.s a preliminary examination required of candidates for membership.