DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BT TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PRICE FIXING

WELLINGTON, February 23

The Committee of Enquiry set up by the Government regarding the P.A.T.A. resumed its sittings this morning. Further evidence from Air De Feng (organiser of the P.A.T.A.) was heard, also from J. P. Page (representative of Potter, Birkes and Co., London), and from A. G. Casey, grocer, of Oamaru.

The enquiry is attracting a good deal of interest amongst the parties concerned. It is probable that the taking of evidence will occupy all tins week. Some evidence from Christchurch and Auckland witnesses will be tendered towards the week-end.

MORE BURGLARIES

WELLINGTON, February 23

The residence of Air E. J. I [yarns, who is about to leave for England, was entered on Tuesday night and goods and valuables, said to be in the vicinity of £3OO worth, were stolen. NEW JAVELIN RECORD. lIAWTCRA. February 23. Stanley Lay threw the javelin 205 ft 11] inches against a light breeze, at Hawcra Club’s evening sports meeting. With a steel tape the throw was measured by a surveyor. It exceeded Lay’s own Australian and New Zealand record of IDS feet 71 inches. A New Zealand record will be applied for.

BX-SOLDI Eft’S BIGAMY. WELLINGTON. February ‘23. Bigamy was admitted by John Henry James Allan, labourer, aged 3|>, before Ah- Page. S.Af. Allan, when a gunner in New Zealand Expeditionary Force, met bis lawful wife in England and was married on January 19, 1918. They came to New Zealand and resided at Port Chalmers. In 1920 they agreed to return to England. 111 London in 1922 Allan disappeared, and for two years Airs Allan bad received help from the West Ham Guardians. Allan came to New Zealand, met a girl in Wellington, and went through a form ol marriage in February. 1921. They bad been living together ever since. Accused. to the police, said lie lett his wife because she liad been guilty of misconduct. He wanted to forget bis first marriage and make a iresli start. He was committed for sentence. Bail was not asked lor.

MORE BURGLARIES

WELLINGTON. February 23

George Curtis Coleord, George Fluia Brewer, and Edgar Arthur Petersen, appeared for .sentence in the Supreme Court for breaking, entry and theft. For breaking and entry, each of the accused was sentenced to three years’ and six months’ hard labour, and for theft, a sentence of two years’ hard labour was imposed on each of the accused. the sentences to be concurrent. “ | have been compelled to treat you three young men as incorrigible,” said Sir ('. P. Skerrett. Chief Justice. “ Since youth, von have embarked on crime as a business.” Peterson bad been twice sentenced to three years’ reformative detention, Curtis bad been sentenced to a similar term once, and Brewer bad been sentenced to threo years’ detention at a Borstal Institution. “No sooner did you come out of the Institute than you commenced a career of crime.” said His Honour. ‘‘Throughout the whole of the North Island, von committed thefts and have broken and entered business places and warehouses. I regard breaking and entry by night as a very serious crime. It is very apt to lead to violence and loss of life, and there is far too much going on in this country.” ROYAL VISIT INCIDENTS AUCKLAND, February 23. Patrick Michael Hannan, a seaman, off the Port Brisbane, was seen before a crowd in Queen Street shadow boxing in front of a large mirror. A constable later found accused in Queen Street, crawling along on his hands and knees, and growling at people like a dog. " Have you anything to say?” said the .Magistrate. “1 just had a drink with the Duke yesterday ; that’s nil.” said Hannan, who was fined Cl, or 48 hours’ imprisonment.

THIEVES SENTENCED. WELLINGTON, February 23

For the tlielt of tools, the property of various tradesmen and builders engaged in erecting houses in the settlement at the Hntt, the value of the stolen property being £3l Bs, Arthur George Hugh Hughes, a carpenter, and Norman Binns, a labourer, both of Petone. were dealt with by Mr Page. S.M.. to-day. Hughes, who is living apart from bis wife, and lias a number of previous convictions, got a month’s hard. Binns had not been iti trouble before and was placed on two years’ probation, and ordered to make restitution of £9 10s at the rate of 10s a week.

FIRE ENGINE AND BUS COLLIDE

PASSENGERS ESCAPE INJURY

AUCKLAND, Feb. 23

A sensational collision between a fire brigade engine and a City Council m<itor-bus occurred in the city tonight. Although the bus was lull at the time none of the passengers were injured,! though 'one fndy* .received slight cuts from flying glass. The bus was scarcely damaged but the fire engine fared worse, the front portion being severely damaged. None of the firemen were hurt.

FISHER MAN DROAYNED. DUNEDIN, February 23

Join! Noble, a fisherman, over 60 years of age, fell overboard from bis fishing launch to-night, and was drowned. In shipping the tiller he had lost his balance, and after swimming a few strokes scorned to collapse, and then floated face downwards. Restorative measures were applied as soon as he was brought ashore, but without avail. An inquest will be held to-morrow. RELEASED MAX'S THEFTS. WELLINGTON. February 23. Discharged from Invercargill Prison a month ago after serving half of a five years’ reformative sentence imposed for theft, Cyril Thomas Aliller (18) pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to-day to two charges of theft from Euphemia McLeod. It was stated that accused came to AVellington and took a room from complainant, who kept a shop and let rooms in Vivian street. He twice entered the shop, taking £3 and £8 from the till. A term of six months’ hard labour was imposed. EXPRESS HTTS AIOTOR-CAR. INVERCARGILL. February 23. The Christehureh-Invercargill express collided with a motor-car at the Edendalc crossing last night. The car was smashed practically beyond repair, but the driver, C. Leonard, escaped with a severe shaking and cuts. FRANCONIA AT WELLINGTON. AVELLINGTON. February 23. The Franconia berthed to-day with 400 wealthy Americans, who were conveyed round the City and suburbs in a fleet of about 70 motor-cars. !

SEAMAN’S WAR LOSSES

£SO AWARDED ON CLAIAI

DUNEDIN, February 23. j 11 two ships which were tor-

pedoed by German submarines during > tlic Great War, a seaman, now resident j in Port Chalmers, was fortunate enough . to be rescued on both occasions, but , each time he lost his kit and all bis belongings. Now. ten years after, he lias been recouped by the Imperial Government for bis losses. Towards the end of the Mur the British Government allocated a sum ot j £5,000.000 for damage, injury, or loss ; sustained by British nationals as the . result of the enemy action. In 1920 a further sum oT £300.000 "'as voted j to augment the original sum. and the ] period for the acceptance of belated j claims was extended to June, 1921. j

At about that time the seaman men-; tinned above applied for » grant 011 ; account of his loss. Owing to Ins frequent change of address the correct form of application did not reach him, and in 1925 the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, at his request, took up the matter with the Reparation Claims section of the Board of ia< e Advice was received the other day that the claim has been recognised and the sum of £SO awarded to the applicant.

NEW GAMING SUIT. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 23. For the first time in New Zealand, the police have moved under the Gamin, r \ct to secure a declaration from the Supreme Court that certain premises are a common gaming house. The. effect of such a declaration is to closo the premises against use for any purp.,ve •whatsoever, until the declaration is removed. The applications, which concerned certain promises, Nos. 1,1—173, in Madras Street, came before Justice Adams to-day. The front room of No. 171 was occupied as a bookshop, and a room at flic back was used by bookmakers. In No. 173, the owner, Walter Hulston, the respondent in the application, had a tobacconist’s shop. In June of last year, the police raided the premises 'and two men were fined £IOO. In January the police raided again, and found betting going on, under new management. Prosecutions and fines followed. A charge against Hulston of ponnitiing the premises lo he used as a common reaming house was dismissed l>y the Magistrate. The defence to the present application was that Hulston "'as not aware of lhe business carried on in the back room.

The Judge reserved his decision. KING SOLOMON MINING CO. DUNEDIN- Feb. 21. Dissatisfaction exists, hath in Gore and Dunedin, with respect 1o the affairs of the King Solomon Mining Coy. Tlic property is situated at A) aikaia. near Gore, and although a largo portion of the share capital is held in the south, the directorate is located in Auckland, which, it is maintained is too far from the seal, of operations. At, a meeting of the Dunedin shareholders, it was agreed that the Auckland directors be asked lo resign, and that a new directorate lie formed at Gore. BLACK DIA.AIONI) .MINE DISPUTE. BLACKBALL, Fell. 21. The West Coast Aimers’ Council lias received advice of the settlement today of the very lengthy dispute a.t the Black Diamond Aline in the Nightcaps district, Southland. This mine has been idle for 110 less than 28 weeks. A settlement, satisfactory to the workers lias been agreed on. The mine resumes production to-niomnv (Friday). It'"is worthy of note that this fight lias cost the United Aline Workers of Now Zealand and the Black Diamond miners between £2001) and £3OOO. CHIROPRACTOR ACQ UITTED. HAAHLTON, Fob. 21. VI the Supreme Court, Cyril Gervll ise Gould Long, chiropractor, of Hamilton was tried on three charges of attempted indecent assault on his female patients. The jury returned a verdict, of not guilty.