DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

MAORI CLAIMS. WAI.TARA, February 16. The Royal Commission investigating native land confiscation claims heard evidence this morning in regard to canoe landing places, lamprey weirs and mussel beds, which the natives either wanted returned or compensation paid. One .Maori giving evidence was tin old woman named Momiri, who was horn near Wellington, and said to he 100 years old. She can remem hoi as a child Wakefield coming to New Zealand and sitting in Taranaki. The hearing is expected to conclude about Saturday, the Commission then proceeding to Wellington.

EMPIRE PRESS UNIOX. WELLINGTON, February If,. In bis address to the Empire Press Union member's, Sir George Fenwick made allusion to the good work of the union in obtaining reductions in cable tariffs, thus allowing a larger quantity of news to he published. He stated the New Zealand branch had sixtv-live members, a very large number in proportion to other countries, a feature of which has been frequently commented upon with admiration by overseas members. lie made a feeling reference! to the death of Sir Henry Brett, who was not only a very old friend of his own. but also a member of the branch for many years. He alluded with regret to the demise of the “ New Zealand Times,” which appeared to indicate that we could not support two morning papers. He concluded by saying that he had been Chairman for seventeen years and had proposed to retire this year, hut in response to pressing requests to reconsider his decision, ho had agreed to allow himself to be nominated again, hut only the understanding that it was to give time to prepare the way for a successor next year.

Messrs Selig and Horton spoke warmly of the interest taken by Homo members of the union in visiting members from overseas and of the good effect the recent conference in Australia had produced.

AGRICULTURE. UNIVERSITY COUNCIL’S ACTION. AUCKLAND, February 16. The New Zealand Universify Council’s session opened tin summing. Prolessor MacMillan Brown was appointed Chancellor for a three years’ term. He renewed his offer to give C2OOO for the foundation of a scholarship in agriculture. which ho made prior to the last Parliamentary session. Ho hoped the Council would accept it as a manifestation of his belief that the most important industry this countryhad to look after was that of agriculture. Ho made it on condition that the gift should bear a, subsidy of £1 l'or £l. The Chairman of the Canterbury University, at New Zealand University Council, said that, clearly the whole matter of the Agricultural College and the status of Lincoln College demanded the most careful consideration. At present it certainly appeared that an Agricultural University was being established. The Act would need a great deal of amemlinent.

Tn regard to this matter, the Chancellor said something would lie done, and the Council would receive recommendations from a Committee to which was proposed to refer the whole question.

Professor Hunter said Lincoln College was not recognised as a School of Agriculture under the Act. That was apparently a blunder in the Act, and the Committee must be called upon to put it right. •Sir R. Stout: “This comes of university commissions and other things. You ought never to have had just another instance that the evil men do lives after them.” A Committee was appointed to consider the position of the New- Zealan Agricultural College and Lincoln College under the University Act.

EX AMI NATIONS LOOPIIOT/E. •AUCKLAND, February 10. At the New Zealand University Council, the Wellington Recess Com mitlcc, reporting regarding the December entrance examinations, saiT—. “ The Committee feel it is its duty to report to the Council the possible effect on the application of the new system of lenient marking in any one subject. There is clear evidence that high marks awarded in one subject in last examation have contributed materially towards increased percentage of passes. Some safeguard appears to he no cos-.

The danse- was referred to a Special Committee. A summary of accounts for 1020 were presented by the Wellington Committee, and showed the receipts at £35,34ft 10s 9d, and the payments as £32,989 17s Bd. leaving a surplus of £2,346 8s 9d. The assets at the end of the year were: General account. £0,497 10s 9d ; ordinary scholarship account, £40,913 19s. The statement was referred to the Finance Committee. Air Alilncr was appointed to represent the Council on the New Zealand Central Executive of the International Student Service during the absence of Dr ,1. [light from New Zealand. No decision was made by the Council in regard to the appointment of a Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the whole question being referred to a Special Committee. The election of a co-opted member of the Council was postponed till Friday.

AIOJI.H INSVIhFF SHAKEN. HAMILTON. February 16. Arorriusville was shaken by two earth tremors this morning, there being a fairly sharp shock at 9.15 o’clock, and another quite as severe an hour later.

TAYLOR- ACQUITTED. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 16. At the Supreme Court, Stanley Emerson Carlyle Taylor, was acquitted on a charge of causing bodily harm to James Farrelly. at Tangarakau, on November 12th. The grand jury had already thrown out two charges of attempted murder, and of shooting Farrelly. SAWMILL CLERK IN TROUBLE HAMILTON, Feb. 16. A young Tuan named James Leslie Rayson, employed hv the Government at the Frankton Railway Sawmills, was charged to-day with the theft of £2O. It was stated the money had lieen expended in connection with accused’s association with a girl. Sentence was postponed till Friday.

JURY DISAGREE. WANGANUI. Fob. TO. At the Supreme Court to-day. the trial of Frank Hedgman, an ox-con-stable, charged with forgery in Iris dealings with a man named J. J. Stuart, ended in t-lie jury's disagreeing after a retirement of 41 hours. A retrial for the Afay sessions of the Supreme Court was ordered. John "William Mahoney, n motorist, charged with manslaughter arising from the death of George Sutherland at Taihape on December lltlr., was acquitted.