DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1927, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

A WELLINGTON MYSTERY. WELLINGTON, May 10.

1 1 was a perfectly innocent-looking premises that the Hotel Workers’ Union bought recently in Edward St. with the idea of converting the building to suit their requirements, and even when two carpenters arrived early in the week, equipped , with tools to repair the floor the interior of the place appeared perfectly harmless. ft was while rummaging about looking for loose boards that one of the workmen discovered a ring bolt in the floor, and instead of calling “Open Sesame” and waiting for things to happen, he pursued his own inquiries. * The ring bolt held in place a trapdoor, which, when lifted, revealed a dark and dismal-looking vault with concrete steps leading from the healthy daylight of the ground floor to the unknown blackness of subterranean depths.

However, leaving his tools on the top. and, taking his courage in both hands, the carpenter entered.

At the bottom of the concrete stairway, he found not accumulated treasure of a forgotten age, but an unimpressive concrete bath, while away from ibis bath oil the other side led iinother flight of concrete steps. Subsequent investigations revealed that- the premises, that will now be used by the members of the Hotel Workers’ Union, was 40 years ago in full swing as a Baptist Church, and, where at one time converts to the flock were iinmciised in clear, cold water, there will now flourish an or<ruuise k <l Ljiikl of those wlio derive tlieir means of existence, not from cold water, but from something with greater kick and .something loss plentiful and more expensive.

'flie question us to whether the fact of the ancient immersion of their predecessors on the premises will prove an edification to the present-day occupants lias not, and probably will not be discussed bv the union.

GIRL'S GRATITUDE. WELLINGTON, May 10

The advertisement, “ Lost by poor woman, sum of 220.” is usually accepted with a disbelieving shrug by those who are .sufficiently fortunate to recover such a large sum from street pavements, and ninety-nine people would consider that possession is nine points of the law and leave it at that. The hundredth man turned up here the other daw

A girl employed as a hotel worker met with an accident six months ago. and on coining out of hospital recently received £2O compensation. As soon as she left the insurance office she lost the money in the street. The usual advertisement followed, and. she received a telegram to go to a fish shop in Cuba street, where a man handed her the bank-roll. She offered him Co, and be relused, whereat she threw five notes at bis feet and lied.

This practical gratitude of the young woman was appreciated by the finder after be recovered from bis amazement.

BAILWAY FATALITY. 'ITAfARU. Alay 17

An accident in the railway yard occurred here this evening, when AFr ,Samson David, aged 77 years, a superannuated railway bridge inspector, was struck by a special train and killed almost instantly.

ELECTROCUTED. GORE, May 17

William George Love,jav, 17.} years, a mechanic at Ford’s Garage at Gore, was working in a damp pit this evening when the lamp lie was using shortcircuited, resulting in his electrocution. Doctors were immediately summoned, but artificial respiration failed, an oxygen cylinder being used for 21 hours without avail.

dental conferexce. WELLINGTON, May 17

The annual conference of the New Zealand Dental Conference has opened with Mr G. Lawrence Taylor (Auckaliul) in the chair. The delegates were welcomed by Mayor Troup.

In his presidential address, Mr Taylor paid a warm tribute to flic work being carried out in schools in connection with dental hygiene. Ho stressed the importance of diet, in regard to the well being of teeth and the health of mankind, and said he would like to see a small committee from the Association bring before the Government, the necessity of more propaganda on the subject. Newspapers should he induced to lake up the matter in a prominent way. and the subject of dietetics should be taught in every school, ft ivn;. no use ih uouneing the miller v.ho makes refined white flour, the linker who bakes white bread or the confectioner who sells a variety of enticing sweets. They must educate the public to know what form of manufactured goods are good for the system, and then, the merchant will soon supply them.

CHIME: WAVE PKEVKNTTON. WELLINGTON. May 18. Owing to tlie increase in. crime in Auckland, the following detectives are being added to the existing staff: Detective-Scrgeant iiickerilike (Christchurch); Detectives Alien (Christchurch), Hunt and Sinclair (Wellington!, and Itoycroft (Dunedin). Commissioner Mcllveney states he is determined the wave of crime in Auckland shall' he decreased.

NOW ZEALAND FILMS. ■WELLINGTON. A fay IS

Owing to the increasing demand for New Zealand films aboard, this branch has become an important chain of Government Publicity Offices’ work. A five years’ contract has been let and a. sneeial laboratory, studio, drying rooms etc. will be erected on an acre of ground at Miramar. Ibe actual taking of films will still be done by Government cameramen. During the tourist season daily screenings nill he shown for the benefit of visitors in a projection theatre at Lambton Quay.

NEW TRAINING COLLEGE CHRISTCHURCH. May 18

‘•lf ] could only succeed in ■ etting, instead of four millions a year, ten millions a year, nobody would lo more happy than I would he in dispensing it.” said Hon. H. A. Wright (Minister of Education) in' referring to the demands made on behalf of education, when he was declaring the new Christchurch Training College open yesterday afternoon. “There are some people in New Zealand,” he added “wlio' seem to think that the Government- is able to go to some mountain of sovereigns that it has hidden away somewhere,' and just shovel them out.” The ceremony of the opening of the new building was attended by a large number of people.