DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

(by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

VALUABLE AUCKLAND SECTION AUCKLAND. Januarv 20.

A freehold section iiiih a frontage of 158 feet to Victoria Street East, 9? feet to High Street, and lOp feet to Kitchener Street has been acquired from the Outhwaite Estate by the Unique Properties Limited, which previously held one hundred years’ lease of the land. The price paid for the conversion of the lease into tiie freehold was €'2,500, this being additional to what v - previously paid for tiie lease. Ii proposed .o erect on tiie area a .orey hotel. THE MA I! AAIA TRAGEDY. PA 111 AIT A, J anuarv 20. I A search for the body of AI. T. Ifoyu well-known in farming and stock circles the victim of tiie .Mamma tragedy tins week, is being continued. Settlers were watching the Alangaho river today. A search party will be out again to-morrow.

INTIMIDATION CHARGE. TAUMAKAN*!. Jan. 20

At the Police Court to-day. John Henry Blanc, on a charge of discharging a firearm with intent to intimidate and annoy Andrew Russel! Aitken, and Agnes Ailkcn at their dwelling house, on January 1 11 h.. pleaded not guilty. He was committed to the Supreme Court at Hamilton for trial.

Sergeant O'Brien, in outlining the ease, said that Blanc went home to Rangaroa on January I I Hi., in his motor ear and lie met the Aitkens’ (wo boys, who were on (heir way home, ami after some talk, ho discharged a fiiciiriii twice in their direction. He also threatened Air and .Mrs Ailkcn, and fired a short which struck their house. Bail was allowed in self cf £IOO and one surotv of £IOO.

THEFT OF LODGE, FUNDS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. Tiie (heft of €29, the property of Lodge No. .|.|2B of the New Zealand Royal Order of Buffaloes, at Auckland on December .'list, was admitted by Ernest Wright, aged 31. in the Police Court. Senior-Detective Hammond mentioned that Wright, had been arrested at Wellington, lie was formerly Secretary of the Lodge and was about to leave for Kngland. In order that, further inquiries might he made about the accused, lie was remanded to appear on Aloud ay next.

PROBATION- OFFICERS’ WORK WELLINGTON, Jan. 20.

In accordance with the recent de-c-ison that the Probation Officers of the four centres are to give‘their whole time to the probation work of tiie Prisons Department. Afr T. I’. Mills, who lias Ik'ou. acting in the Wellington district, lias received notice of his permanent appointment lo the Department for that purpose.

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION. eiIRSJT( MURCII. January 21. Magistrate Mosley gave his reserved judgment to-day in a prosecution brought hy the Health Department against the Dominion Compressed Yeast Company Ltd., holding that vinegar made from tapioca was not malt vinegar and convicting the Company without imposing a penalty for selling the product as malt vinegar. A FIRE. WAIPUKURAU, Jan. 21. About three this morning, a seven roomed dwelling occupied hy Mrs M. Wall 'and private boarders, was roinp'.etely gutted. The Brigade was promptly on the .scene but little of the contents were saved. It is thought the lire originated in the dining room. The building was owned by the trustees in the estate of the late Rupulia ThiUingo. 'file building was worth about twelve hundred and was insured iii the State Office for .£BSO. Particulars of tiie furniture ore unavailable. SHOW OPENS. WAIPUKURAU. Jan. 21. The seventeenth anni! il show of the Waipukurau Agriculture and Pastoral Association opened this morning in fine, dull weather and record entries. There is an exec? cut display of stock ■and it is expected it. will be a record sue cess.

BOOK IE PROSECUTED. DUNEDIN. Jan. 21. AVhon bookmakers carry on operations openly, it is < r i little liarsli that a. man like this should lie charged, commented AH Bundle. S.AL, in the Police Court, when ordering James St. Clair Oughton to come up for sentence when called upon, on ,u charge of bookmaking at Wingatui on December 27th. Air Irwin for the accused, stated lie ran a smut' double among liis friends, no more. He was .a married man in permanent employment.

DRUNKEN DRIVER

INVERCARGILL. Jam 21. Donald O’Flare, a motor salesman, was fined £9 and prohibited from diving for six months, for being intoxiriited Avlien in charge of a car. In answer to a plea for leniency, the Magistrate said the offence was aggravated by the fact tint defendants occupation was selling cars, which involved much driving. It was a question of public safety and no leniency could ho shown. RADIO CONCERT. HASTINGS, Jan. 21. The first open air broadcasted concert said to have been held in the Dominion was given by the Radio Society in Victoria Square vesterdav evening in the presence of about 1000 people. Ihe conditions were fairly good, vocal, instrumental. elocutionary items and addresses being received from Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch.

A FIRE. TE KIT ITT. Jan. 21. Two shops occupied by Airs AT. Gascoigne. restaurant-keeper and A. C.. Mercer, tobacconist, were almost completely destroyed by fire at 4 o’clock this morning. A hoarder, sleeping in a detached building at the hack of the restaurant, noticed the fire and giiAO the alarm. The fire had a good hold on the building, which Avas old and very dry and it burnt fiercely. The upper storey of the building, next door, occupied hv Air A. A\ . Kelly, confectioner, Avas scorched, hut the efforts of the Brigade and absence of wind prevented the spread. Mercer's stock "'as insured ill the National Office for £425 and is a total loss, also Gascoigne’s furniture and effects in the State Offices for £450. In addition ATrs Gascoigne lost £IOO in cash, which was kept on the premises. She had a narrow escape in her night attire, ihe building was reduced to a charred" shell. It was owmed by Afr E. Gough, a builder. The insurances are unavailable. CONSTABLE CHARGED. DUNEDIN. January 21.

Perjury charges against Constable George Macartney were taken at the Police Court. This action is a sequel to a Supreme Court action in November, when a man Lockett was awarded substantial damages against JLicartney for assault and Avrongful arrest. The charges are that AFaeartney falsely swore that lie had never struck him. The evidence Avas practically identical with that given before. Mnrartney lias been in the force 28 years. Afr Hanlon is defending. N.Z. CROQUET TOURNAMENT. PALMERSTON N.. Jan. 21. The New Zealand croquet tournament was opened this morning in ideal summer Aventher. with play on lawns of three local clubs, The official open-

ing was performed hy Afr Gaughfey, President of tiie New Zealand Croquet Association who welcomed tiie competitors. He alluded to tiie fact that record cullies had been received. He expressed his indebtedness to tiie Htlmerston North Clubs which placed such excellent greens at tiie disposal of the tournament committee. Afr Radford. President of the Alanawatu Croquet Club, also spoke and mentioned the special efforts made to have the. greens well conditioned, lie welcomed the visiting competitors to this centre. Entries total 214. The holders of Dominion honours are defending their titles at tho tournament. Tiie other competitors are from Christchurch, Hastings, Patou. Hamilton, Wungaiini. Wellington and Dunedin. A I 'M! E. TE KUITf. •fa mi ary 21. A fire last night destroyed a fourroomed residence, and outbuildingowned by A. Venn and A. Laidvaie. No water was available and the brigade could do nothing. The cause of tinlire is unknown. Insurances on the house are €390 in State Office and on fill'll it are €250 in Southern Union.