DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION ]

BURGLARS DISTURBED. AUCKLAND. March 7

A. constable patrolling Albert •Street near midnight found evidence of an attempt to force, the front door ol .Malcolm Wiseman's Ltd., tobacconists and sports depot. A posse of police surrounded the building land the front door was forced open by a heavy weight. The policemen found an attempt- had been made to break in through the concrete wall of an adjoining building but had tailed. An attempt Lad also been made to use tho lift. There was no evidence of tho removal of any goods, indications pointing to the burglars having been distil rbed.

A YEAR’S RECEIPT. conscience money. WELLINGTON, .March 0. Quite a number of people in New Zealand harkened to the dictates of com science money -during the past eleven months of the current financial year according to the sums of money that Lave been forwarded to the State coffers between April Ist. 1926 and February 28th. 192". The total stands at tlio useful amount of £235 12s 5d which is a big increase on the £79 9s 3d received for the financial year which ended on March 31st. 1925. Tlio forwarding of conscience money to the authorities opens up a naive psychological question which need not be discussed here. Of course tlio amounts sent in cannot always be regarded as an infallible guide as to where the original shortages occurred, as is illustrated by the sum of £3 7s Gd forwarded to tho “Treasury.” an amount which cannot he traced. Tho call to do the right thing was well responded to in the cases of those individuals who are required to meet certain monetary obligations under the land and income tax legislation. More than half the total contributions fait under that heading. Imperial Supplies receive £59 of which may be intended to wipe off one net of dishonesty or several. The .Marine Department is the richer by three shillings although what this sum is intended to recompense is rather puzzling. Tin? amount received by the Defence Department might represent the value of equipment that has not been returned in accordance, with tlio regulations. At all events, whatever defalcation or act of minor or major dishonesty this conscience money is intended to cover its receipt indicated that right does triumph ill the. end.

The details of the amounts received for the period under review are: I’ost Office, £2 14s oil; Treasury, £3 7s Gd ; Land and Income Tax, £l-18 10s; Defence, £5 7s Gd ; Customs, 12s fid; Imperial Supplies, £SO; Lands and Surveys. 93; stamps. 10s, Marine, 3s; total £235 12s sd. N.Z. BETTER IN ENGLAND.

FERTHEII REDECTIONS. AUCKLAND, March 0Eurther reductions in. the controlled pi ices fur New Zealand butter on tlio Higlish. market aHe announced in \ cablegrams dated London, Friday, received by Auckland merchants during the week-end. New Zealand unsalted' is turlher reduced Gs, and suited -Is. Prices named h.v the Dairy Produce Board ate Hits for finest butter, and Jfi2s for first-grade, and new season's butter from New Zealand outside the control of llie Board is now quoted in j London at -Is to Gs below the named • pi ices. The cablegrams add that the market is stagnant. Up to the last week in February the named price for New Zealand finest j butter was 1765, blit slowness of sales j brought about a reduction on Febru- j ary 23rd of 8s in. price. The drop I in quotations evidently did not liijvc I the desired effect of stimulating con- ( sumption to such a degree as would I enable accumulated stocks to be cleared. and the latest decline may bo taken | as evidence of a further attempt on j tin* part of tile Board to clear the market to some extent. The latest quotations are equivalent to approxi- I mutely Is 3.55 d per pound for butter- I fat, equivalents being Ls 4.57(1 to suppliers of home-separated cream, and Ts 3.C5<1 to wliolo-milk suppliers. MORE IMMIGRANTS. AUCKLAND, .March G. Afore immigrants will arrive hero' to-morrow by tbe Tnmnroa from Eng- I land. The new settlers total 205, in- | eluding 40 domestic servants. A total of 103 will go to "Wellington, 51 for Auckland. 12 for Christchurch, and 26 for Dunedin.

BEPREME COURT. GISBORNE, March 7. Prisoners wore sentenced as fol

lows: Alfred Stanley Thorfiuni for theft as a servant to a year’s probation and to pay costs of tlio prosecution. T. IT. A. Rami, attempted carnal k’nowledge, a year’s probation. Tlie charge against John Sullivan for the murder of Jeremiah Williams, near Opotiki on Ist. Dee. is still proceeding. Tfie Grand Jury found no Dill against Garnet Wolseley McAfinn, indicted at the Supreme Court this morning, on a charge of murdering Robert Cecil Tbelwall who died from injuries received after being struck by McMiim and falling on tlie pavement. Justice Ostler said it was doubtful if McMinn could lie sent- to trial on any charge, let alone murder. The evidence showed he had been thrice struck by Tbelwall without retaliation, and he finally struck the deceased a light blow, but it is doubtful whether the fall was caused by this or bv stumbling over a kerb. To proceed with the trial would not only be a. waste of time of tbe court, but an outrage to the accused.