DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH PER CHESS ABSOCI ATI OR.]

SENTENCES

AUCKLAND. Sept. 15

Justice Her dm,an admitted to probation for two years two Fijian girls, charged with concealment of birti. Honour expressing regret that the man whom the girls were shielding could not he found and punished. Frank Bauekc oil six charges of theft at Cambridge, received two years icformative.

Keawiri Toitoi, for horse stealing at Rualoria. two years’ hard labour. Tony Alahika, carnal knowledge, to twelve months’ reformative.

John Massey. 1.4 charges of theft, to three years’ hard labour and two tears reformative.

DAIRY FACTORY .MANAGERS. AUCKLAND. Sept, 15. At a conference of Auckland branch of tht; New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers, Garry (Ngarukhai) moved to express regret that dairy companies in Taranaki were not living up to the agreement in regard to wages of dauj factory majuagers. Such action,, he thought, would force managers to apply to the Arbitration Court for an award. That he claimed was undesirable. Other speakers depreciated interference and further consideration was deferred till later in the day.

gipsy smith. AUCKLAND. Sept. 14. There has been so much controversy aboui the amount, of money made 1» Gipsy Smith in Australia that when Hie Rev. A. J. Scauier, secretary of the inter-denominational committee controlling the New Zealand tour on behalf of the Associated Free Churches, invited a representative oi the “‘Star’ m bis office the invitation, was readily aft optoiL

T7u; secretary showed the receipt of the Federal Tax Department of the Commonwealth, which made it clear that at the conclusion of his six nfontbs’ tour in Australia Gipsy Smith paid less than £15(1 income tax on an amount of just over £2030. Mr Seamer said that all expenses of the lecturer were paid by the commitice. who took all the moneys in the collections, with the exception of the final colled ion of each season in each lown. In addition to this collection. Gipsy Smith gave a lecture, to which admission was fixed at Is fid, and he also took any profits from the sale of hvmn-books.

Asked what the total amount of the collections, irrespective of the one accorded to Gipsy Smith, would he. AD Seamer said that he did not know the amount, hut ho thought that when the Auckland season was balanced up there would be perhaps a loss of £SO, or perhaps a profit- of that amount. The reporter endeavoured to ascertain what amount Gipsy Smith would receive from his collection, sale of hymn hooks and thanks offerings, hut Mr Seamer .said that although he as secretary handled all the money he was not in a position to say what Gipsy Smith would receive, and in any ease that was a private matter.

STEAAIF.R SHORT OF GOAL. WELLINGTON. Sept. 4. The Makura has wirelessed that a small steamer in Cook Strait is short nT coal. The t'liion Company's Terawhiti has gone to its assistance. A EIRE. TLMARL. Sept. 11. About 2.3(1 this morning a wool.shod ami motor garage, the property of Mr H. S. Palmer, of St. Andrew’s, were destroyed liv fire. Mr Palmer was absent from home at the time, hut a bucket brigade was formed by All's Palmer. Mr Palmer, jun.. Mr Davis and Cons table Ha luuiond. the only persons present at the conflagration, and strenuous efforts were made to counter the flames, but without .success, the fire having a strong hold when discovered. It is understood that the premises were covered hy insurance, AN EXHIBITION' TRAIN. WE LING TON, Sept. It. The proposal of the Auckland Industrial Association to run a special North Island exhibition train came before the Wellington Industrial Association, ffc was suggested that the train should run from Thoriulon to AVhnngaroi and that it should branch off at various towns cn route. The cost would he £'4009. The estimated receipts, including the Government grant of £IOOO, would be £4OOO, consisting of ten carriages at £SO per week for four weeks £2O-00, admission £IOOO, Government grant £IOOO. The chairman thought the idea a splendid one. It would be a tine, novel advertisement. It was decided to write to Australia asking for their experience with a similar train.

STR J. ALLEN’S VIEWS,

WELLINGTON, Sept. 14

Tn an interview to-day Sir Janies Allen alluded to the progress of the work ol the League of Nations, a subject in which he takes the keenest interest. and in connection with which he has played a prom incut part. Sir James remarked that he was not anxious to say lnrieli in regard to that subject, because lie had been asked to deliver public addresses on it, and he desired to give it most careful consideration before he spoke. He added that lie liad taken a very active part in the work of the League for the past seven years. He was a member of the committee which reorganised the finances of the League. He was appointed to that position l>v the British delegation, and for a time during the illness of the chairman was aotingeliairmau. The finances were put on a sound looting. The committee devoted a great deal of time to this work.

"The meeting of representatives of dirffeent nations round* the committeeroom tallies at Genova.” he said, “is certainly resulting in the peoples getting to know one, another. The more such meetings are held the better it will be for all. That is the only thing as far as I can see that will ultimately remove the suspicion that still exists between the peoples. The national spirit is ns alive as ever.” HERD TESTING. WELLINGTON. Sept. 14. Mr’ Hon O. J. Hnwkcn has notified tiie Wellington Chamber,of Commerce that the Government will not subsidise herd-testing this year. M her. this letter was rereived this evening, the Council of the Chamber decided, on flic motion of Mr A. L. Limit, to forward a remit to the Associated Chambers, pressing further for Government •assistance to herd-testing. NEW TRIAL REFUSED. DUNEDIN. Sept. 14. Mr Justice Sim refused an application by George M’Tvav Pol worth and Sidney Harris sentenced at the May sessions for robbery, violence and theftfor a now trial on the ground that the verdict was against the weight, of the evidence A CHARGE DENIED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 14. Members of the Labour Dirty spent a good deal of time during the session just closed over allegations that migrants to New Zealand from the Old Country were supplied with misleading information by officials at Home. A

first-hand denial, as far ‘as his office was concerned, was given to the statements to-day by New Zealand’s former High Commissioner (Sir James Allen). “I give an absolute denial to any statement that misleading information was issued by the High Commissioner’s Office,” said Sir James. “The j head of the immigration branch was ; extremely careful in that respect, and officers have very definite, instructions j in that connection. If misleading ■ facts were circulated they did not I cn( mates from my office.” Discussing the immigration question 1 in its general bearing, Sir James said that- the number of immigrants New j Zealand could absorb would depend on i the work that was available for them. , It was purely a matter for the authori- • ties in the Dominion to determine how many migrants could be successfully ; absorbed, and to what extent the , scheme could he developed. ’

struggle with burglar. WELLINGTON, Kept. 14. A hand-to-hand struggle with a powerful burglar whom he caught rediuuideil was the experience of John Shcedy, a private night watchman patrol man who met a man about to escape from the King’s Theatre at 3 a.m. yesterday with nearly £IOO in (ash. Although Sheecly dealt the burglar a blow on the head with a heavy electric torch, which was shattered to pieces, the burglar managed to free himself from Sheefly’s hold. As the men rolled over and over, in the dark, the burglar got away, but dropped his loot in his anxietV to escape. The encounter took place nc::ir the manager’s office, opening from the entrance gates. As Shcedy approached the office the man dashed out to the _ attack. ,Sheecly struck him a blow with the torch and the men closed, a desperate struggle ensuing. The burglar was four inches taller tuul much heavier and eventually wrestled himself free and dashed out up a small lane, tac "T 1 ; 1 watchman in pursuit. He blew his police whistle, but despite a quick response from the Mount Cook station, no capture was effected. The money, was Saturday night’s takings. L strong room was found intact Besn.ctho monev. the burglar left behind a torch and gloves used to prevent huger prints. NEW TRIAL ORDERED. ' AUCKLAND. Sept. L-L \ ,-eeent application made by Air Richmond, on behalf of William James Grcvatt and Charles Edward Grovatt, for a new trial, or in the alternative judgment for his clients against William Stephenson Johnson (Mr Nort lcrofl). who was awarded £IOSO damages for injuries received through a portion of a flagpole falling on him, «as the subject of reserved judgment delivered by Me Justice Herdimui this morning. . . 'll is Honour said there wa s no j list,i lic-ation for the claim that the verdict of the jury was defective. The issue o negligence was plainly raised and definitely dealt with hy the jury, and i 1 could not he forgotten that in proof o the fact'that- the time had arrived l'oi safeguarding the public, an attenip was made to show that Davis (tin plumber )wa.s doing work on a roof There were two questions to consider One was whether there was any evi deuce at all to go to the jury in sup port of plaintiff’s claim. If that epics lion was answered in the affirmative then the other question was, is the ver .diet of the jury against the weight o the evidence? “Some c.f the evidenei given to support plaintifl’.s ease is read; ef little value.” said lii.s Honor. “Tin evidence of witnesses called to provi how plaintiff was injured is quite do finite, but- upon the vital question ‘Had dismantling work commenced oi the Shnrtlund Street front ?’ their evi deuce is obscure. I fail to see that, t!f< fact of Davis going on to the roof prov cd that the work of demolition hat commenced. Of all the witnesses call

ed, Davis was best able to tell what happened, and there was no .reason to suspect hint of dishonesty or for disbelieving what his evidence implied, namely, that'he was not engaged in demolition work, and that an accident for which no one could be held to blame caused a piece of the flagpole to fall, f have come to the conclusion that the verdict of the jury is not a .satisfactory one. and 1 therefore order a new trial.”