DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph— pF.n press association,]

BODY FOUND

AUCKLAND, January 20.

A body washed ashore on Waiheke Island is believed to lie Harold Tidd, lost from a pleasure boat off .Motuihi Island oil January Sth. .Held had stripped when the boat capsized. The body found was unclothed. DROWNING FATALITY. GISBORNE, January 20. While ids two cider brothers were swimming in the river .Muruwai, Janies. .• child was playing on the hank, : ■ st have fallen into the water. Ti brothers, aged twelve and seven, i n >ed him when they left the water, but thinking be bad gone back to the ljnu.se. wont through the puddock. and played. Alter they had been playing for some time they began to wonder where the young brother was. Eventually they saw the body caught in a snag in the creek. The body was secured hut life was extinct. The fatality occurred in R. K. Murphy’s property near Murawai. where the parents of the children are living. .Mr McCabe was working out on the property at the time. -Mrs McCabe in the I house was totally unaware that anything was amiss.

THE BLUEBERRY

INVERCARGILL. January 29. Regarding the cultivation of the blueberry hv Dr Tillyanl of Cawthron Institute, there is much interest in Invercargill as a resident has three varieties she imported from America three years ago growing splendidly in a garden and giving every indication ol a line crop of fruit. The varieties .selected by her were Ruhcl. Harding and Sam. Great interest is taken in tho trees for the growth of which Southland appears to he specially adopted. The lady intends to propagate plants and start an,orchard for commercial purposes, and as the fruit is as much appreciated as the strawberry there will be an assured market. A BURGLARY. WELLINGTON. Jam 20. On Tuesday night burglars entered the shop of Norman E. Aitken, bookseller of Courtenay Place and look with them, goods and money to the value of £8 and started fires in live different places on the premises. Knfranee was gained l>,v taking suit a window which faces the hack yard of an adjoining fruit shop. Small sums ol silver kept, in various drawers for early morning change were taken, also a quantity of tobacco and perfumery. Thirty shillings worth of stamps were taken and then burnt on a hookledge at the opposite side of tlie shop. Another lire was started near dozens of boxes of matches. A third fire burnt a big hole in a counter and it was hv good luck more than anything else that tho whole shop was not burnt.

CYCLING. WELLINGTON, Jan. 20

The cream of cycling talent of New Zealand was seen in action at the Basin. Reserve last night when Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A. held another successful meeting. Making his second and' last appearance on a truck in Wellington. R. J. Lamb, the crack Australian rider, carried olf the Three Mile Invitation Race after a most thrilling race. Another particularly fine finish was provided by tlie Out ternary champion, F. Grose, in the One Mile Invitation Race in which Lamb secured third place.

INJURED BY EXPLOSION. TAUAIA.RUXUT, Jan. 20. Dining Wasting operations yesterday afternoon at Egmont Box Company’s Mill at Torena near Kakahi, a workman Aliehae' Ilesketh, age 35. went to see why the second charge did not explode. Just as he reached the spot where, the charge was put in. un explosion occurred and Hesketli was blown about thirty feet. The skin on his face was scorched and he was rendered unconscious but no hones were broken. He received medical attention and was removed to the Tatimariniui hospital, where he Is making intisfactorv progress. DAIRY PRODUCE. AUCKLAND. J/n. 20. Cheques for (approximately £BBO.OOO were ' distributed among dairy farmers in Auckland province to-day. representing the amount that will be advanced against butter and cheese received into the grading store at Auckland during December. The amount is about forty thousa.ud less than the total distributed on Jf.imiary 20tli last year, when prices for dairy produce were higher than now ruling. The calculation for tho month's pay-out is based on butter fat payments of Is lid for blitter, and Is 3d to factories for first grade butter and G]d for first grade cheese.

CUSTOMS DUTIES. AUCKLAND. Jan. 20.

A resolution on the subject of pro- ‘ teetive customs duties framed by a ’ committee especially appointed to in- * vestigate the matter was adopted by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce < and will be presented to tho Tariff .1 Revision Commission, was set up as 1 a. result fo a strong objection by maim- 1 factoring interest to a resolution passed some months ago, opposing the imposition of further duties. It was reported that G. Finn had submitted • comprehensive statements supporting the ease for protection and in conclusion stated that after further discus 1 siou wherein the majority concuiied * in the view tha New Zealand having < already proceeded along the path of protection in certain directions could not now, without causing serious economic dislocation, not to mention injustice, retrace its steps. 1 he following resolution moved by H. 1. - uc ‘- ritt, was unanimously adoptedAs the prosperity of New Zealand depends mainly upon increased primary production, any change in Y" sto ™ tariffs which would tend to lnciea o the cost of production should bo avoided. TABUET.FS3 CHKQUES. AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. John Albert Roberts was sentenced at the Police Court to six months’ imprisonment. cumulative on each ot two charges of issuing valueless cheques, totalling £SO 18. s and unlawfully converting to his own use the property of Williams’ Rental Cars Ltd. Accused h a d previously lieen on. probation for two years and had received two years' prison for false? pretences. £4OOO TO HOSPITAL- BOARD. NAPIER, Jan. 20. The late J. AV. Coles, of Hastings, who died at the Napier Hospital on Dee. 21th. left the whole of his estate, valued at £4OOO to the Napier Hospital Board. MURDER CHARGE. OPOTTKI, Jan. 27. An inquest concerning the death of Jeremiah AA'iliiamson. near Torero on Ist. December, was concluded with a verdict of murder. Ttie trial of John' Sullivan on a charge of murder, opened to-day before -Magistrate Kenrick. 1 Evidence for the Crown is proceeding. Nolan. Crown Prosecutor. represents the police and Hodgson appears for the prisoner. A NFAV THF a TRE. AUCKLAND. January 18. Mr John Fuller arrived to-day by tile Mamma. It is his intention to make arrangements for the erection of the Opera House, which was partially ’ destroyed by fire in December. Mr Fuller stated that he did noi know where the proposed’theatre would

be built. Tt was possible, he said, that tho old site in Wellesley street might he used. In any case he had come to Auckland to make the fullest investigations and no decision would he made until he had gone into the matter thoroughly.

A rumour has gained tendency in the city that Mr Fuller intended to negotiate with the City Council for the purchase of the civic square, hut there is no official confirmation of this.