DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. THE A AVARUA. WELLINGTON, September 29. Looking none the worse after her experiences, the Awarua arrived at Wellington (early this morning from Napier. Since berthing at the Queen’s wharf, tbe captain and crew have received many greetings and congratulations. The captain said that none of the crew suffered any great privation. It was tbe mental anguish of tbe affair which affected them most. No one lias short of food. In reply to a question, be said that when sighted by the Alakura. the coal supplies were low, but were not ex hausted completely. The Secretary of the -Marine Department, Air G. C. Godfrey, lias been advised that but for the damage caused when the H.M.S. Dunedin bumped tbe vessel, tbe Awarua is seaworthy. THE UXEMPUOYED. CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 23. The weekly employment report issued by the Government Labour Bureau shows that the total, liumlier of men registered at the Bureau was, 357, a decrease of 23 since .Monday of last. week. During the week, the names of all men who bad obtained' employment, or who bad not reported ut the Bureau for a fortnight, were removed from the register. The nuiiiber of new applications recbivcil at the Bureau during the week was 121. this being the lowest total for several weeks. Tbe number has been steadily decreasing since the end of August, ns indicated "by. the fo lowing figures: Week ending August 30. 180; Sept. 6, 172; Sept. 13. 172; Sept. 20. 147: East week, 51 men were assisted by the Bureau .to obtain employment. JUNIOR. HIGH SCHOOLS. BLENHEIM, Sept. 29. In reply to a deputation regarding the difficulties surrounding the introduction of tlie .Junior High Schools system in Marlborough, Hon. R. A. Wright (.Minister of Education )said lie ■did not wonder that the School Committees found themselves in dilliculties in regard to the proposed Junior High School, for, after all, it was a new proposition in New Zealand, and it was just as well to admit, at tbe outset, that probably no one in the Dominion knew much about it, except for wliat they bad read in books in regard to the operation of tlie system in the United States, and in Canada. The whole tiling, lie said, was largely experimental as i far as New Zealand was concerned, so That it was no wonder difficulties had arisen. It. wns quite obvious, from wliat bad been said, that this scheme was going seriously to- interfere with soine of the smaller schools, taking Standards A and VI from some of them. It. practically meant that they would be wrecked. That was a point which would have to be considered, and the only escape that lie cbuld see was that there must be a concentration of the pupils left behind at Central Schools. He mis not going to commit himself and declare that that was the policy which would be followed. But lie would say that, pcrsosall.v. in- could see nothing c'sc lor it. It means that, there would bo on decent school in •4ace of three or four small ones. Phe .Minister concluded: "II tlie Kiiior High School system proves unv.nrkablc. here, we dm soon return to the present system.” TRAM P Ull CH ASB DECISION. AUCKLAND, Sept. 30. • Takapuiia Borough Council by 7 votes to 3 decided to exercise tiie option to purchase the tram and ferry service for £65,000 sterling, subject to a poll of the ratepayers. loan poll carried. HASTINGS, Sept. 30. A poll of ratepayers yesterday, on (our proposals to borrow tile total ol £589,000 sterling for bitumen loading, footpath, etc., electrical appliances and operations,” piping open drains gild sewerage and waterworks, as carried by substantial inajoiiLics. AN HONOUR CONFERRED. AA’ELLINGTOX, Sept. 30. The Governor-General lias notified Mr AA r . B. Fisher Honorary Secretary if the Dominion Executive of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, that the King has .sanctioned his appointment as Knight of Grlne of the Ven-n-able Order of St. John of Jerusalem, within the British realm. Mr lasher is tlie eighth in New Zealand to receive this honour. OBITUARY. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 30. Obituary—George Slieat, aged 69, v prominent member of the lai mers Union. SUICIDE VERDICT. AUCKLAND. Sept. 30. At tilt inquest on Hassel George do T. Garland, found (lead in his office oii September 14th. the day before lie died Garland failed to keep several business appointments, and went motoring all day. In hra car was found a copy of “Tales of Illusion,” and on the leaf was the .following note in his writing: “To many I must be a disappointment. to none moro than to myself. I do hot know why I could not have been taken during the war instead of being left to bring misery to many as a result of my folly ■ Knight (public accountant) said that three months’ ago Garland asked him to establish for him a system of keeping accounts, previously lie had not even a cash book. He had a laige overdraft but that was guaranteed laone of his friends. He was not solvent, and must have had considera de 11,mineral worry.” Witness knew one association entrusted Garland with £5.000 for investment in debentures. Ho’ used that to take the place of capital .lie did not possess. There was also a sum of £IOOO which witness believed was the cause of his last act. It " as given to him to invest in inscribed stock which he did not do. iliat. together with the • fact that the bank was pressing him to reduce the oreiJraft or lodge security against it, and that the guarantor had asked for Garland’s guarantee to lie withdrawn, was tlie immediate cause ol Garland s financial worries. His stoekbroking papers showed lie was £3.300 out, exclusive of private dghts and liabilities. The Coroner found a verdict of suicide.