DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRATH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] ! CORONER’S FINDING. !

PUKEKOHE, Apri 4. An inquest concerning the dentil of Lily Isabella Reid, 14, a High School girl, killed by a tail from a railway train on March 41. was held to-day b\ E. Tv. Lawrie (Coroner), who returned a verdict of accidental death. The Coroner remarked that he was satisfied ibe Railway Department had done their best to warn children ot the evil of riding on platforms. Only a few days ago before the accident the traflic inspector reported to the S.M. on the conduct of school children travelling | from Pukekoho by the Thallies-.Vucrk-J.ind express. He felt parents should warn their children of the danger of plat form riding. The Coroner band railway representatives extended sympathy to the parents of deceased. .1 V St RPLI'S YEAR. WELLINGTON, April 4. The Wellington City Council finances . ' according to a statement hv .Mayor Norwood show a gloss surplus for the year lust dosed amounting to L‘38,210. . This is made possible by the balance brought forward from last year ot . i URL Kid. and the sum of £20,00;) bor- , ' rowed from the Electric Lighting L’ct ' partineiit for general purposes in 102. T, 1 I Willi those amounts accounted lor tin _! net surplus for 1020-27 was Cl.co.'f . i which .Mr Norwood considers good in v .! view of the many and varied calls tipot 'I (lie Council. The Trading Depart ..’merit's figures are not yet available s : but each Department is in a sound fill o ic 't if ;t o n ii )0 S—\v 0. 10 ly s. llsv in ks lie T. >iOQ nhc oo lc v x<>r ml to, ot. I 111 if nn >2)l of on >r, t 1) tit

ftiicmi' position. APPEAL COURT DECISION. WELLINGTON. April The Court of Appeal gave judgment in the ease Oliver v. Dickinson. Mr llerilniaii said the respondent. was instrumental in bringing about a sale between the appellant and the other party. The main question was whether a land agent was entitled to commission. there being no written authority within Section till of the Land Agents Act. The Court held that even without written authority a land agent was entitled to his commission where ho had brought about a sale that had been carried to completion. Mr Justice Adams, Mr Justice Reed and Mr Justice Ostler concurred. The appeal was dismissed with costs.

A CHARGE DISMISSED. AUCKLAND, April 2. At a sitting ot the Children’s Court a youth of eighteen pleaded not guilty to a charge of earnali'y knowing a girl of fifteen years. A medical witness said that, had he not known her age lie would have judged her to he a young woman of twenty years. Counsel drew attention to this evidence. and asked the Magistrate to consider whether the ease should he sent along to the Supreme Court, lfe emphasised the fact that accused was under twenty-one. Mr Cuttcn. after considering the matter, said the circumstances were unusual, and lie felt certain no jury would ever convict. Hie accused. He did not think it was worth while putting the country to the expense of a trial, and in view of the injury that would he done to both parties lie would dismiss the ease. THE RAILWAYS. NO CHANGE IN CONTROL? WELLINGTON. April 2. Persl-dent rummirs have been circulated lately that the Government antiiij'at"S making a change of policy in regard In the management oi the railway-. It has been hinted that it is the- intention of the Government to do away with the I‘oard oi Management:, and revert to the old system o! control by a genera! manager. The, matter was raised with the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. .1. G. Coates) to-day. In reply. Mr Coates said, that he did not listen to rumours, and for that reason lie did not want to j discuss the matter. He added:— So far as T am concerned. Lho RailI wav Board has done, and is doing exI eeilent wind;. That dees not look as ! if a. change is in prospect, does it? ” 1 '• It is not likely that any change : will lie effected, then? ” he was asked. ; “ 1 am not inclined to discuss the : matter at all,” said Air Coates.

MAN DISAPPEARS. WELLINGTON. April 2. A man giving his name as John Sim-on. Dunedin, who purchased a ticket at Lyttelton wharf and was allotted a berth on the Maori last night, was missing on the arrival of the steamer to-day. The steward, on taking a cup of tea to liis cabin, found the bed had not been slop! in. Ihiggage and shoes were left. When ihe baggage was searched a letter was found in the overcoat pocket, addressed to his wife. This lias not been opened. CHINESE ASSAULTED. WELLINGTON. April 2. Joe Clio.v ICimi, gloomily exhibited a black eye in Court to-day when, on his information. Ernest Walter Johnstone, aged eighteen, appeared on a charge of assault. “ Guilty, under provocation,” said accused.

Kiim said that Johnstone picked up a pear from a box outside the shop. Witness went after him and told him two or three times, to put it hack. He refused, and complainant then tried to hold him. Accused promptly hit him twice on the eye. Witness hold on till the police arrived. ‘‘Whore is tin* provocation?” asked Mr Salmon of accused. “If lie hadn’t boon abusive’! would not. have hit him.” said accused. “Yes. and if you hadn’t taken the pear lie wouldn’t have needed to lie abusive,” retorted Mr Salmon. “He had a perfect right to apprehend yon for taking his property, no matter how trivial the article might lie. “ Johnstone has never been in trouble before,” said inspector Harvey.

“ T think lie is a Hit cheeky.” Johnstone was lined €3. half to ho paid to Kum. in default fourteen days.

ALEXANDER MIXES. ’ REEFTOX, April 4. Alexander Mines. Ltd., gold returns for month of .March : Battery 91 ox. 12dwt. Ogrs. 100. SO, £lf)s, ‘ melted gold from 95 tons of quartz, crushed, valued at £7BO. Cyanide: 250 z. lldwt. of bullion from 70 tons of sands treated, valued at £B<s, total estimated value £865. STOCKS AND SHARES. AUCKLAND, April 4. Lucky Shot eon 2s 7d. Albumin 3s sd. Northern Steam 12s 9d.’ FERRY STEAMER’S LIGHTS GO OUT. WELLINGTON, April 4. Owing to the failure of the auxiliary engines, when in the vicinity of Karon Rock light, at 8.20 last night, the Tamahinc; hound from Picton to Wellington proceeded in total darkness. Speed had to le reduced and owing to a south-east swell the conditions were none too comfortable for the passengers. Temporary lights were hoisted and hand-steering brought into tommission, the vessel proceeding under reduced steam and arriving at 1.20 arjn!

CAR ACCIDENT. WELLINGTON, April 4. A motor car burst into flames at Petone on Saturday night while being driven along Jackson St. The occupants jumped out, and the car crashed through a verandah post into a plate glass window of Pratey’s grocery shop. With the assistance of residents it was pushed away and the fire extinguished by garden hoses and extinguishers.

Some fault in the alarm system caused the brigade to go to the Gear Afoot

forks, and the firemen did not arrive 11 later.

TEACHERS’ OBJECTION TO GRADING.

PAHIATFA, April I

At their annual meeting the local branch of the Tvclueation Institute supported remits for (ho annual conference in May. opposing biennial grading. and stating it views with alarm the tendency of certain Education Boards to discriminate on appointments as between married and single women in eases where sudli. discrimination has nullified the grading list.