DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[uv TELEGRAPH PF.U VILF.SB ASSOCIATION.}

KAITAXGATA .MINE IDLE.

DUNEDIN, Jail. 27

There is still no work available for miners at the Kaitangata coal mine, and the position i.s now becoming acute, not only lor the unemployed men. but for the business people of the town. Only the safety men are l>eing employed at the mine to keep the underground fires iu cheek, hut. as there is no guarantee that their wages "ill he paid, i; is suggested that they may eease w r!; before long.

Pi i I. C.O.D. SYSTEM. V, ELLINGTON". Jan. 27

A delegation of business men waited on till' aeiing-l’rime .Minister and the I’ostmasli-i-Oeiteral to-day to protest against the assistance Icing, given by the Bust,ol Denartment to the cash-on-delivery system at present operating between Great Britain and New Zealand.

Ihe deputation .-insist ed of Messrs T. Forsyth M.P.. and T. O. Bishop (representing the .Yea Zealand Drapers’ Federation). D. A. Exxon (New Zealand Warehousemen's Assn.), M. M. Aleineinantt (Watchmakers’ anil Jewellers’ Association). [|. S. South (Booksellers’ Association), and J. R. Simpson and A. MacKenzio (Wellington Chamber of Commerce).

The objections of retail dealers to the Post Office giving special facilities to the overseas manufacturers and sellers to the detriment of the New Zealand shop-keepers were emphasised by the members of the deputation. The general arguments were similar to those advanced by a recent deputation to tho Ministers on the same subject. The Ministers promised to consider the points raised by the deputation, and to furnish a reply in writing.

N.Z. RESEARCH. WELLINGTON, Jan. 27

It xvas resolved (almost unanimously at a meeting of tho Nexv Zealand [tistituto to establish a National Research Council for Nexv Zealuul as part of tho Institute, fo consider matters of research in New Zealand, to make recommendations to the Institute of RcsOiireh, and to advise the Government on the personnel of the Council to administer Government research grants of the Institute. The members of the Council will not necessarily be members of the Institute, but will be appointed for four years by the Board of Government of the Institute, onefourth of the. total retiring annually in rotation, but being eligible for reelection. The scheme is to be submitted to the National Research Council, and its ultimate adoption will be contingent on tho provision by the Government of the necessary iiniince.

A FIRE. DUNEDIN,, Jain. 27

The Dunedin tourist office is advised that Sandfly Hut, Milford Sound, has been gutted bv fire. ’I be headquarters for tho walk will now be Quenlon Hut. WARNING TO PARENTS. HAMILTON, Jan. 27. At the inquest on the boy Patrick Vernon Cassia, xvho xx'as drowned in the Hamilton Lake on Wednesday, the Coroner.-Mr AVvvern Wilson, returned a verdict of incidental drowning. The Coroner warned parents that unless they taught their children to swim they took a. 'great risk. INFANT’S SUDDEN DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 27. A four-year-old child, named Harold Foster, died suddenly at his parents’ home in Sprevdott to-day'. The child had apparently been in good health. It is thought that death xvas due to haemorrhage. BODY RECOVERED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 27. The body of Robert Fraser was found by two days near the scene of the tragedy at 3.30 this afternoon. BAND CONTEST. CHRISTCHURCH. January 28. That a contest for A and B grade hands be held in Christchurch in February, 1928, was the decision of a meeting of tlio.se interested last night. It xvas decided to approach the public for guarantees, subject to receiving a permit from the South Island Bands Association.

ELDERLY WOMAN MISSING. CHRISTCHURCH. January 28. Airs Christina Smith, an inmate of the Jubilee Home left Christchurch on Tuesday to visit friends at Ashburton, but has not arrived there and no trace can be found ol her.

SIR HENRY BRETT ILL

ROTORUA. January 28,

Sir Henry Brett was taken seriously ill and removed to George A Hospital, where he was operated upon for an abdominal trouble. This morning the patient is conscious. He spent a lair night and the operation was completely successful, but his. age and strength are the determining factors in the fight for life.

DKEP SEA FISHING. AUCKLAND, January 28

The danger of the depletion of swordfish in New Zealand waters was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. T. S. AA ithers said the capture of ' great numbers of fish from the fishing grounds would probably ( result in the supply becoming exhausted. The Government had no jurisdiction outside the three miles limit. He suggested that deep sea clubs should make it a rule that uo member should kill more than a certain number of fish. Exceptionally large fish could be retained as trophies and all others freed after being brought to the boat. The matter was referred to a special committee.

HEAVY FINK. AUCKLAND. January 28. As a sequel to the police raid on a dingy, opium den in Grey Street. Ah Tong to-day was fined £SO and Ah Along £10; two others of lesser amounts. Pipes, scales, lamps and other paraphernalia used hy the opium smokers, were produced in Court. TROTTING ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, January 28. At the monthly meeting of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association an application hy the Canterbury Jockey Club to include a first ejass trotting race at the Royal meeting was refused. Consideration of the Shanghai case was postponed for a month. One hundred pound sterling was granted to the widow of Archie Miehsok, trainer, killed on the Southland course. The application of the Cambridge Club to increase the stakes to £I2OO for the May meeting was granted. The Board declined to confirm the registration of the names of Janietto and Sweet Melody (same names as gallopers).

A BANKRUPTCY. AUCKLAND, Jan. 28. At a meeting of creditors of Stanley Reynolds and Mrs Ray Williamson (principals in n box luncheon business) yesterday, a witness Evpn Chamberlain stated Williamson induced him to join them in a roll down parlour game. They netted (about four hundred pounds of winch £2OO went to settle debts. He put £204 into the l>ox luncheon business, but objecting to Williamson's methods severed his connection with the business on November 20. The creditors expressed sympathy with Chamberlain and requested that he should not file a petition. The male bankrupt bad been ex-

tradictcd to Australia. There was no appearance of the other party. The meeting resolved to urge -an amendment to the Bankruptcy Act to empower the Official Assignee to restrain the bankrupt from leaving the Dominion until three months after Ins bankruptcy.

FARMERS’ DECISION. DUNEDIN. Jan. 2.3

Tin- exmessed policy of the Dominion headquarters of the Farmers’ L nion aainst Mr Sidoy’s Summer Time Hill xvas rejected by the local branch yesterday which resolved to inform headquarters that the branch favours the proposals. At the same meeting it xvas resolx'ed to forward to the Dominion Secretary a recommendation that the capitation levy lie reduced from 7s 0(1 to As. It, was stated that while branches starved for money for dex'elopment xyork. headquarters had an a maxi ugly large fund. ARAB UN I BOWER. HAMILTON. .Jan. 23. The flooding of the foundations at (he Power House site at Arapuni through the river breaking through during the October floods, will mean a delay in the completion of the main scheme. The three year contract expires next August, but an extension of time for probably six months will ' • sought. Other xvork in connection with this big undertaking is well advanced. LOST RADIUM RECOVERED. DUNEDIN, Jan. 23. Txvo years ago a radium tube containing 8.97 milligrams, valued at £ll7 was lost iu ashes thrown from the Dunedin Hospital. Five sacks of rubbish showing radium activity xvere sent to an Antwerp Company, which now announces it lias recovered C.O milligrams. worth about £9O.