DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1927, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —rKIt PRESS association.]

LOCAL BODY LOANS

NEAV PLYMOUTH, Jan. 15

Whether borrowing should be restricted to New Zealand or whether a more favourable offer from an Australian firm should be accepted was a question which arose at the meeting of tho Taranaki County Council last week. l‘or seven small road loans totalling £9020, two sources were open, the Public Trust Office, which would charge G per cent, interest, and a firm in Australia, which offered terms that would show a saving of about £2OO as compared with the other. Some division of opinion among the councillors was shown, one member raising the point that the Council should not borrow outside New Zealand. It was eventually agreed, however, that the Australian offer should be investigated to sec if the terms were actually as favourable as appeared. The chairman, Mr J. S. Connett. said that the essential point was whether the firm would agree to the loans being granted separately, requiring seven different procedures. Information on this point had been asked for, and the Council decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and the clerk.

SERIOUS CHARGES. AUCKLAND, Jan. 17

Almar Leif Anderson, aged 38 years, a. Norwegian, and the second mate of tho novelist Zano Grey’s schooner “Fisherman.” was charged at the Police Court on the following counts: Theft of seventy-four pounds in English money, and of twenty-five dollars in American currency; rape; attempted rape; and aggravated assault on a female.

Tho accused pj'cnded “guilty” to the theft of tho money, and “not guilty” to tho other charges. The Master of the schooner gave evidence that he left the money in the chartroom on December 31st, and it was missing on tho following day. Subsequently, the accused had admitted stealing it. The Harbour Board gatekeeper said that when the accused went ashore on the evening of December 31st. he pulled two rolls of pound notes from his pocket, adding that he was a “movie man.” and that he was going to have a good time. A. young married woman said that the accused spoke to her in the city on New Year’s Eve. and then they walked to Albert Park, where tho accused caught her and thumped her several times on tho head. Fie toie her clothing form her. and in the struggle a tooth was broken, while she also received severe injuries to her eye. Evidence was given that the accused had admitted that a bloodstained handkerchief. with the initial “A.” in one corner, which was found in Albeit Park next morning was his. When arrested. the accused had said that lie could not, remember what had happened on New Year’s Eve. as ho was very drunk.

FIRE AT WATMATE. ' AY AIM ATE, Jan. 17

\ fire broke out in an old empty wooden shop before one o'clock on Sundae morning, but the Eire Brigade bein,V called pronmtly. little damage was done. The building was insured lor approximately £IOO. INFANT’S BODY FOUND. W AIM ATE. Jan. 17. The bodv of a newly-born male child was found' in the dry river bed near the town this morning. An inquest will be held to-morrow. WATERSIDE TROUBLE. WANGANUI. Jan. 17. Trouble oil the waterside has been referred to the Disputes Committee, and in the meantime the men have resumed. At 1.20 this afternoon AY. J. Rogers, Secretary of the Union, stated that the action of the men was duo to what, they considered arbitrary treatment to the watersider on the part of the wharfinger.

.MINE TRAWLER ARRIVESAUCKLAND, .Jan. 17

The AVhukura, a mine sweeping trawler, arrived to-day from nglanci after seven months at. sea. Her engines have given trouble practically during the wiholc trip. When half way between San. Diego and Honolulu she broke down and had to be towed into port by a U.S. battleship. AIR GUN MENACE. NELSON, January 17. “ The police have had quite a. number of complaints about boys using airguns during ttlie holiday season,” remarked plain elothes Constable Hall in the Juvenile Court to-day, when two lads were charged with assaulting other lads by firing an air rifle at them. “It seems to lie the custom of parents about Christmas time,” added the police representative, “to buy air joins for I heir children without seem-

ing quite to realise they are committing an offence.” The evidence showed that pellets from the air gun struck the lads aimed at. but did not inflict any injury to speak of. In answer to the Magistrate the defendants said that they did not realise the seriousness of what they were tilling. The Magistrate remarked that this showed how essential it was that the law should be strictly enforced. Irresponsible youths like those before him were a menace to tilie community. In answer to the Magistrate, Plain-

. lothes Constable Hall said that no serious injury was inflicted, but if the pellets had struck a vital spot, the parents of the accused might have had to pay heavy damages. There was an instance on record where the father of a lad had to pay £2OO or £3OO compensation.

Each of the huts was fined £3, on a further charge of unlawfully using an airgmi. the informations were dismissed. The salesman who sold the air gun to one of the lads, aged 15 years and 9 months was fined a fill and costs 7s. In answer to the Magistrate, lie said that he did not doubt for a moment that the lad was over 1G years of age. WOOL MARKET. NAPIER SALES. NAPIER, January 17. The third Napier wool sale of the season commenced to-night, when a representative catalogue was placed before a full bench of buyers. The sale so far is the most satisfactory held this season. Competition was exceedingly brisk, and at no time did the bidding ease up. every section of the trade being anxious to secure wool, bidding no fully on to their limits, with the result that the passings were practically nil. Bradford lilted the greatest weight of wool, and Continental buyers were a close second. There was a small amount of super for America, and this was taken at good prices. There was apparent a very substantial advance in line wools and lambs, anything from a half penny to a penny. The advance on crossbred was not so great, being from a farthing to a hallpenny for coarse and low grade wools showed little or lio improvement, though the market was firm, and the same applies to inferior qualities. Pieces and hollies sold very well but prices for neck pieces were not so good as in December. A GIRL’S DEATH AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. An inquest regarding the death of Miss Myrtle Spanhake, aged 21 years who was admitted to the Auckland Ilos pitni! on Friday evening, with symptoms which suggested food poisoning, and who died a few hours later, was opened to-day.

Airs Alice Spanhake, mother of the deceased, said that her daughter had suffered from haemorrhage of the kidneys three months ago, and was laid up for a week. Cyril Holmes, a labourer, said that he was with deceased oil Friday evening, when she slipped and fell. About twenty minutes later she said that she did not feel well. A doctor was called, and he ordered her removal to the hospital. She died about one o'clock next morning. Tho inquest was then adjourned to obtain the evidence of the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination.

VALUELESS CHEQUES. AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. Tins conversion of a hired motor car, valued at £229, the theft of accessories valued at £6 19s 6d, and the cashing of numerous vallueless cheques at townships between Auckland and Putaruru, were admitted by John Albert Roberts, aged 23 years, in the Police Court to-day. Evidence was given that the accused had hired a car front the Williams Rental Cars, and, after using it for some weeks, he paid for it by means of a, valueless cheque. Tie applied for a car for another week, but he was asked for payment in advance, and then ho gave another valueless cheque. In the meantime, the accused had driven the car to tho Waikato district, cashing more valueless cheques on the way. Tho accused was eventually arrested at Putaruru. He had previously been fined £2O for a false declaration under the Marriages Act, and he had received two years’ probation for forging and uttering. Tho Magistrate remanded accused for sentence until Thursday. KNIFING AFFRAY. WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. Ernest Ditleve Pederson was admitted to 12 months’ probation for stabbing Stanley John Wells, trainer of to boxer. Jamito. Evidence was given that Pederson was having an altercation with a friend. Wells interfered and struck accused, who stabbed Wells with a pocket knife.