DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHILDREN ADRIFT IN BOAT. AUCKLAND, September G. Two children, brother and sister, aged nine and seven, drifted away from Devonport in a scow’s dinghy yesterday morning. A north-east wind and flood tide carried the boat into the middle of the harbour, where the sea was somewhat choppy. The children’s predicament was noticed by tbe signalman at North Head, and lie telephoned to a Harbour Board official at the Queen’s Wharf. The children, however, were taken aboard tho auxiliary scow Tahoe, which was passing, and which also towed the dinghy to safety. GIPSY SMITH. AUCKLAND, September G. A good deal of criticism has been levelled at Gipsy Smith and his evangelistic methods since he arrived in Auckland. He took occasion last evening to reply to some of these critics, ] while the secretary of the mission | spoke on the financial arrangements of | the tour. j “ I have come in for a lot of criticism.” Gipsy Smith said. “ J. wonder if you believe all that has been said?” Voices: No. “ That’s not enough.-” Gipsy Smith said, and he was answered by a chorus of “ No.” “ I have met with more criticism here than I have anywhere else.” he continued. “ I can’t see- why. I didn’t come here for a reputation. 1 have the backing of a)l the churches. There is no

man in the Christian world to-day as much loved or with as many friends as f have.” A denial was given by Mr Senmer. secretary of the mission to a statement that Gipsy Smith was making money out of the collections at the meetings. “He does not get a penny from them,” he said. “They go to pay the expense of the mission. All Gipsy Smith gets is the collection of one day’s meeting, and proceeds of the sale of tickets for a lecture to be given 1.-v him. People who are making these false statements are detracting from the usefulness of the mission.” A SUDDEN DEATH. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 7. Miss Minnie Tiplady, aged about 27, employed as a clerk bv Newton King Ltd., died suddenly at tbe office about

TEA C IT Eli’S CON VICTI ON. AUCKLAND, Setpember 7. Consideration was given by tbo Mercer School Committee to the ease of Alfred Charles Hook, headmaster of the Mercer School, who was convicted in Auckland last Saturday for the theft of a pair of socks. Hook was present, and he gave an (explanation, a copy of which is being forwarded to the Auckland Education Board.

The following resolution was subsequently carried: “The Committee has everv confidence in Mr Hook, and is unanimously of the opinion that he is not guilty of the crime of which lie was convicted. It is considered that the proceedings were too hasty, and that Mr TTook was not given sufficient time and opportunity to defend himself. esnocially .considering his state of health, caused by war service and by a state of mind which such a charge would naturally cause. The committee trusts that the Education Board will give Mr Hook every possible consideration and reinstate him in bis former position.”

TROUBLE OVER BULL. HAMILTON. Sept. 7. An interesting claim heard before Mr Justice Stringer and a. jury of twelve men pied tv a days. Henry /iiniiierm.-ii, i Swiss -et tier of Kopaki. sued Henry Oowdall, caretaker of the Oovernineiit firm at Biri-Kopaki, and Michael -Inseph Calvin. Crown Lands Ranger, '1 aumarnnui. for .C-T-TO lor alleged rnisrup-

resentation in the side of a grade hull which was allegedly said as a pedigree animal, ft was shown in evidence that nlaiiitih had a- Jersey hard o! GI in..'

and wanted to improve his butter-fat returns. He saw Dowdall who, according to the plaintiff, said he had a good pedigree Jersey bull, and this was finally purchased by the plaintiff for £23. Ho allowed it to run with his cows, and it proved a failure. Plaintiff then pressed Dowdall for its pedigree and finally, some months later, Dowdall gave him a list which, he said, he ha received from Calvin. A letter was also read from Galvin authenticating the pedigree and asking for 2s Gd search fee, adding that Zimmerman had got a “snip.” The alleged pedigree contained a long list of names famous in Greek mythology, ancient and modern history, poetry, politics and fiction, such as (sire and clam’) Jupiter —Y onus; Ahrib—Jemiebcl ; Mark Anthony— Cleopatra; RQleigb—Elizabeth ; Napoleon—Josephine; Tvanhoe —Bride of Lammernioor; Rob Roy—Joan of Arc: Copperfield—Little Dorrit: Sherlock Holmes—Lady Watson ; Lloyd George— Sylvia Pankhurst; Oscar Wilde—Lady Windermere; Eugene Arrant—Maid ef Perth; and many more. The list was admittedly drawn up by Galvin, who. in defence, declared that it was a joke, ami that it was regar tied ns such hv all parties, and was j only given to the plaintiff twelve , months (after the purchase of the hull, j Dowdnll’s defence was that the bull j was never sold as a pedigree one, and i the plaintiff inspected the. hull and j himself took delivery. j

The jury found that no fraudulent misrepresentation had been made Ip. Dowdall but had been •acted upon as though genuine. It awarded plaintiff £3G damages against Galvin. A nonsuit point raised on Galvin’s behalf is to ho argued. MOTOR- KILLS OLL LADY. AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. An elderly lady, whose identity is not yet established, lvas knocked down by a motor bus at Archhill this afternoon. receiving injuries from which she died in the hospital. N.Z. MOTOR TRADE. TNVEBCARGILL. Sept. 7. The' annual conference of the New Zealand Motor Trade will he opened hero to-morrow morning by the Mayor, Mr Andrew Bain. Twenty-one delegates will he present from all parts of the country.

A REVERE JOLTING. ■ WELLINGTON. Sept. 7. Passengers by the Hutt train that usually reaches the city in time to allow people to reach the offices by 0 o’clock, got a severe jolting to-day’ when extra carriages were being taken on at Lower Hutt station. There were two severe shocks, which were sufficient to throw a. number of passengers out of their seats. When the train went to proceed, the coupling of two carriages parted. Delay’ was caused in removing tho ears for despatch to the repair shop. Lambton Station was reached twenty minutes late.

A CITY ETRE. WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. A; fire in a building in Harris St., owned by the City Council, did considerable damage. Folly and Sons, Electrical Engineers, on the ground floor, suffered most, but had insurance amounting to £IO,OOO. On the first floor Dawson and Maudsley, Importers, were affected by heat and smoke. The building was not much injured, being brick.