DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELCO RATH per PRESS ASSOCIATION j DEMENTED SOLDIER. * AUCKLAND, April 22. A demented returned soldier. Id, ar. inmate of the Salvation Army Home at Epsom for the past, thirteen months attacked the night watchman there at ti.SO this morning striking him on the head with an axe. One inmate said the two came to grips and the demented man would have strangled the "atcliman It help had not come. I lie watchman was cut over the eve but tin* inj.ivs are not serious. 1• j s assailant subsequently committed to a mi ,■! hospital. ( - • BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. M I*.I.LIXG I ON, April 21. ! -Mole extended use ot New Zealand ordinary building timber by the Stale Advances, Public Works and other Departments is a question wliiih lias been occupying the attention of the Government lately. Following a recent deputation to .Ministers of the ( rrnvn, the whole question was discussed hy a committee ot Cabinet with various departmental beads, and a sub-committee consisting of representatives ol the Valuation. Public Works, Industries and Commerce and Ferostrv Departments was appointed to inquire into the matter and submit a report to tlie Government.

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the lion. A. I). M'Leodl, in reply to a question by a representative stated that the sub-committee bad now brought down the report of its findings, which took the form of several resolutions, and these will lie considered at the sawmillers’ conference, to be held in Wellington on Friday. In the opinion ol the committee, more New Zealand ordinary building timber could lie used, provided it was allowed first to thoroughly season, and also on condition that the sawmillers gave an undertaking that they would he responsible for seeing that the timber supplied was kept up to given ards. ’I he Minister added that, provided the conditions stated could no complied with, the Government Departments affected would he instru: ted to tuili.se New Zealand timbers t> as great an extent as possible. Mi M'Lcod staled that an officer from (lie Industries and Commerce Department bad been invited to attend to-morrow'.*) conference.

WEBBER MILLIONS. AUCKLAND, Apr! 21

A crop of claimants to the* Webber millions lias sprung up in New Zealand since the announcement, a week ago, that several Auckland families were interested in the* disposition of this great fortune of l'100.000,(100. In the past few days Mr Luke Webber, of Newton, has iccieved many letters from all parts of the Dominion from people claiming descent from the original Edward Webber, of Holland, anil New York. As Mr Webber Inis nothing new to communicate, he has decided to take no action until he obtains definite advice from abroad, when he will probably call a meeting of the New Zealand claimants. It seems possible that there "ill prove to he as many of these as there are in Australia, where there are at least 200 with claims to .fliare in the Webber millions. BOWER FUL RADIO. WELLINGTON. April 2.1. Tlu* new Wellington' broadcasting station, overlooking the city on the top of Mount Victoria, is nearing completion. The tno steel latticework towers will be llOOft apart and 15-lft high. The flvi kilowatt broadcasting set. destined lo i -place the present 2YK Wellington, has been made by the Standard Cubic Co., and is the second most powerful made ill England, the Daventry set holding premier position. The new station will rank amongst the wot most powerful. Its rating applies „o its aerial power and places .1 ahead of the large Australian equipments. and it. "ill he ten times as powerful as the stations recently erected in Auckland and Christchurch. The studio in the city will he connected with the transmitting station hy telephone lines. STORY Of STOLEN CAR. WELLINGTON, April 21. “This young man took the ear from a parking place in a City street and drove it to Hamilton, where lie wnssuhsequentlv arrested,” said ClnelDetective Ward of Leslie Charles Burke, a labourer, aged 20 years, who admitted in the Magistrate’s Court toil :i \- having converted to his own use a motor ear worth £l5O. belonging to Denis Multham*. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a motor-ear tyre valued at £1 Jos. also the property of Mulliane.

“The accused.”'continued the ChiefDetective, “got as far as Levin, where he ran short of benzine. To obtain mdre ho sold tin* spare tyro. Eventually lie got-to Hamilton, where he committed a theft which resulted in his being sentenced to two years’ reformative detention. As lie is now on his way to the Borstal Institution, perhaps it would meet the case if lie were convicted and discharged on the present

charges.” 'lhe Bench (Messrs T. M. Coltaiac and C, A. Clarke, ./.P.’s) adopted Mr Ward's suggestion. The return of the tyre to its owner was ordered. TRAVELLER FOUND DEAD.' WHANGARET. April 21. A man of 43 or 30 years, named M. Horne, a traveller for Messrs Smith and Caugliey, of Auckland, was found dead in a paddock between Oliaeawai and Ivaeo yesterday evening. It is apparent'that Horne’s car became stuck on the road, and Home was on his way to a customer when he collapsed and died. It is not known whether Horne had anv relatives in New Zealand. YOUTH BEFORE COURT. AUCKLAND. April 21. A youth of 19. George Cecil Horry, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on charges of breakim: and entering three dwelling houses and stealing T 3 odd. Accused watched till the residents left their homes, lorn ted the keys in secreted places and ransacked the premises. On leaving he locked the doors and replaced llie keys. IN ARBITRATION COURT. NEW PLYMOUTH. April 22. In the Arbitration Court. Mr B. T.. Hammond replied to a personal attack bv Mr Monteitli in the course of a dissenting judgment at Palmerston North affecting Kairanga County Council drivers. Air Hammond bad asserted that the signatures to the petition were obtained by misrepresentation. and because he did not substantiate it. by sworn evidence. Air Aloiite.ith hail characterised the attempt as wild and imaginary, and Air Hammond assured the Court the statement was true and that the union advocate ill the ease subsequently admitted lie could take no exception. The Court 1 was adjourned on the application o c the Union advocate on the ground that 1 the Kairanga award had disorganised the affairs of the local union.

SEARCH PARTIES STILL OUT. WELLINGTON. April 22. No tidings of the two youths, Desmond Scanlon and Roy Reidriih, who set out from Levin on last Thursday week in an attempt to cross the Tararun Range to the AVairarapa Range.

but have not since been heard of, had been received at a late hour to-night. Those already searching will be supplemented to-morrow morning by strong parties on the Eastern and Western sides of the Range. It is now estimated that close on sixty experienced trampers are engaged in the search. GHASTLY TRAGEDY. WHAXGAREI, April 22. A ghastly tragedy presented itself to the horrified eyes of searchers for a missing young man this evening at five o’clock. Francis Daniel Rumlial. aged 27, employed as a porter at the \\ hangarei Hospital, was reported missing at 10. T) o’clock last, night. The young fellow was last seen alive oil the Man mi Road, hy which the hospital i.s approached, by another memi her of the hospital stall'. Miss Jessie Brice, some 7! hours earlier. Il is apparent that Rumbal's intentions were suspected by his father, who stated early this morning to a newspaper man that ho did not expert to Find his son alive. That fear was cnntinn'ed hy the arrival, with the 1 mail, to .Mr I). T. Rumbal’s house fit Kamo, of a letter v.'Vitten to his s n the previous day. which intimated that he intended to commit suicide. A search party, which included the father, came on the body in some hush off Mnunu Road, and only n short distance from the hospital < grounds. The body was found with t practically cverv stitch of clothing burned off the trunk. Nearby was an empty bottle of kerosene, a box of matches and a razor. tl is evident that, the unfortunate young man had poured the kerosene over his clothes, and had set fire to himself, allowing himself to he burnt to death as lie lay on his hack in the scrub.

Tin* body was brought to the Morgue and an inquest " ill he held this mnrii-

It is slated that lhe deceased, who for some six or seven years past had suffered from epileptic fits, and had not been happy in hi-, surroundings.

WHITE NEW ZEALAND. WELLINGTON, April 22

An assurance that the Government is not relaxing the restrictions upon the entry of Asiatics was given to-day to a large deputation from the White New Zealand League. I mil dealers, grocers, ami other interests, which waited on Mr Dmvnie Stewart. Customs .Minister, and Mr Coates. The Secretary of the Wellington Branch of the League. Mr Groves, said the deputation wished to protect emphatically against the entry ol thirtyfour Chinese who arrived at Auckland reeentlv.

The Minister of Customs had given an assurance last year that no more Chinese or Hindoos would he permitted to come into the country. They wished to know why this pledge had not. been kept.

Various speakers stressed that thorn was Chinese competition in the Iruil and other businesses. I hey characterised some of the shops as eamoullaged gambling delis, alleging also a Idg trade in tobacco and cigarettes after hours was done, and other abuses. Mr Downio Stewart said that there had been no increase in the Chinese population hy the recent arrivals. He had not broken any promises. On the contrary, the embargo upon the entry <if Chinese was more complete than In anv other Dominion in the British Empire. The recent arrivals comprised onlv Chinese returning and others who

Mr Coates sniil be would discuss with the Minister of Labour the nri'“ tion of labour laws with a view to legislation in this matter.

N.Z. FLOUR MILLERS. CHRISTCHURCH. April 22. A meeting of some thirty members of the* Hour milling industry, held yrsterdav. the following resolution was ,-issed: “ That this meeting of millers agrees whole-heartedly to co-operate with the growers to secure the best, possible price that can be obtained to protect the wheat growing industry. It wrs also resolved that, provided a satisfactory assurance is given by the Government that oUcctivc steps "id be taken to protect tin* market against importation of Hour, this meeting ol millers approves ol the scheme as outlined by the Conference.

negligent driving charge NELSON, April 2:1

An adjourned inquest on Rolando Murphy, aged 19, a married woman, who died as the result of injuries sustained b.v being knocked down by a motor ear near Molneka. driven by Edward Car! Smith, a verdict was returned that death was due to negligent driving. Smith was subspquentlv charged under the Motor Vehicles Act with negligent, driving and committed for trial. Bail was allowed.