DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A LIRE. (.TIRISTCnrHCiI. May 23. A lire in Bowhill Road, North Beach, destroyed a shop and dwelling yesterday, owned by Airs E. A. Cooke, and insured for £O3O. A HER lOCS LOSS. A I CELAND, .May ‘2l. Dinin'/, a working gallop at Kllcrslii* This morning, Chnmotir, a chestnut gelding hv Catniint-Lolonia, three years old, faltered. His rider dismounted and f >!■::-! bo bad broken a fetlock. The horse v. a -desir noil. ('humour was l-'irchu.- - I elore the A.R.C. Summer' meeting by Ji. Gold water for ICO') guineas.

BANKING ALLTIRS. CHRISTCHURCH. .Mav 23.

In a speech at a public function on Saturday. J. AlaeGibbon, Christehiireli manager of the Hank of New Zealand, said that there were hundreds of amateur financiers in New Zealand who thought that they could run the banks a long way better than tiie directors could. The would-be critics complained that tbe banks had enornimirs reserves, but what would have happened in 1921 if New Zealand banks had not been as strong as they were. It tho banns increased the rate 1 per cent it was alisoltely necessary to do so. The main reason was that deposits had fallen off largely. Foi years the hanks had to use the deposits and il the deposits shrank the money the banks bad to lend naturally shrank also.

RAILWAY DEVIATION. WELLINGTON. Ala.v 23,

Ah' Field. ALP., speaking at a local function said be was in a position- to state tlmt either the Railways or Public Works Statement would make a definite pronouncement on Tawa Flat railway deviation. The work would be in progress within a year, and possibly this year. ATnoli comment was expressed, lately by Government’s silence re this prospect, which was announced some two years ago, and involves a two-inib* Hume! to get. rid of heavy grades leading out of tbe city on tbe old .Waiiawalii Line.

REAM ERS FOR ENGLAND. A l 'OK LA ND. A lay 23. Senior players ol the City League Tilth discussed, over the week-end. applications by ('. Davidson and L. Brown (ol the New Zealand team which toured England) for transfers to AVigaii. Brown said ho proposed to stay i" England two years, really lo eomI’lete a three years’ contract partly fulfilled a couple of seasons ago. Davidson announced he had signed a contract with AVigan. anil would return ill two years and would be keen to impart to the Citv any English knowledge and conditions of I lie engagements.

-It was discussed in committee. Ti was made clear that no transfer fee would be paid to the players concerned. Alter a lengthy meeting the motion was carried that the City Club approves of an open clearance. This recommendation will be forwarded from the New Zealand Council through the Auckland League. Davidson and Brown iiiloml In lean.* early in February.

TRAiAC AND CAR COLLIDE CHRI.STCHrR.Cir. Ala.v 23.

I lirongh a. collision between a train and a motor at the corner of SLanmore Road and Gloucester Street yesterday four women occupants of the car had to bo hospitalled all suffering from injuries and shock. One, Airs Hart, el Tiniarii. has a fractured foimie and Airs Marshall a broken collarbone. Tbe driver of tho car was sliglity hurt. His machine was hit broadside on and carried fifteen yards and almost turned over.

SHOOTING FATALITY CHRISTCHURCH, May 23

Leonard Gabites, a voting married man, died in the hospital last evening as the result of gunshot wounds. The gun bad been fired by a neighbour George W. Cox at deceased's request, at a cow which went mad. The cow charged Cox and as he fell, the gun went off.

FORGER SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, May 23

William Clifford Ballam. aged 20, for forgery and uttering, at Ha worn, was sentenced by Justice Heidman to 18 months’ imprisonment. The prisoner was already on three years’ probation for a similar crime at Wellington.

I NS I> EC IT ING EXGTX GER. GISBORNE. May 23

Mr F. W. Fufkert, Engineer-in-Chief visits Gisborne this week to inspect the Harbour Works and advise the Board on future operations.

MAORI GORED BY BULL. GISBORNE. May 23.

Ihuka Awalii was gored by a hull at Manntuke on Saturday, and seriously injured. He knew the hull was dangerous, and was proceeding cautiously across a paddock when the animal rushed him. He waved his overcoat in an effort to frighten it, hut it had the opposite effect. The hull knocked him down, and stood with one foot on hi.s chest. Other natives rushed to the rescue and dragged the injured man a wav. UNIQUE BANKRUPTCY. DAXXEVIRKE. May 21. When the financial affairs of Thomas Montgomery Webb, farmer and cornmission agent, were placed before his creditors to-day. an apparent deficiency of C 0.148 3s 8d was disclosed. The debts to unsecured creditors were £8,979 18s fid, and the assets £.‘is; J , 15s. The Deputy Official Assignee, Mr ltuneiman, said this bankruptcy was rather unique. During one year hanknipt had earned an income of something like £10.(101) to £12.000, on which the Commissioner of Taxes had assessed him for income tax at £4,900. Yet, apparently, the bankrupt was unable to pay his debts. In 1919, the bankrupt had earned at least £IO,OOO, and had raised £2.000 on his property, and run up debts to unsecured creditors to the extent apparently of £9.000. In a period of eight years lie had gone back to the extent of over £20.000. which seemed an extraordinary state at alfairs. Bankrupt had been losing at the rate of £2,500 a year. He could understand that the bankrupt had lost something, blit lie could not understand where the .£20,000 had gone to. Deducting the amount due to the Commissioner of Taxes, there still was £15,000 to lie accounted for.

Bankrupt, in reply, said he lost heavily in lending money, and also on stud cattle.

The Deput'v Official Assignee said that, even so. putting these losses at £5.000. there still was a heavy sum which had “gone west.”

Questioning failed to got any information as to where the C 20.000 had disappeared to • Tho Assignee said that, on the face of it. the position looked bad. and it would he more satisfactory to all concerned if it could lie shown where the money lino gone to.

The creditors eventually decided to ask the bankrupt to submit a statement of his receipts and expenditure from Ist April. 1919.

COMPENSATION GRANTED. AUCKLAND, May 21. Tiie jury yesterday awarded C 23 (liosjiital expenses and £127 loss of napes to Clement Archibald Hulse. clerk in the Forestry Department, \vlr> I sustained a fracture of the base of | the skull in a collision between his I motor cycle and a car driven by Francis Alexander Ralvney, carrier, The. accident occurred in November, since then Hulso has been totally disabled, and it was stated that he 0 would he incapacitated for a further live The claim was for Clo7(i in all. CARS COLLIDE. ‘ OTAKI, May 23. Cars driven by .foe Cooksley of Otaki and Lynn MeKellvie, collid.'d at Otyki on Saturday evening. Coaksley’s car containing several passengers capsized but they luckily escaped with minor injuries. Mclvellvie was taken in charge by the police and the case called on to-day and remanded till Wednesday. This morning. Arthur Thomson’s lorry and a car driven by Goldingham of Palmerston North collided. Thon son was taken to the hospital wit cuts on the bead and leg. but not sei ions. The four cars were badly dan: aged.

Til EFT OF CATTLE. AUCKLAND, May 23

The theft of cuttle mined at £2OO and the disposal of tliem at saleyards without even troubling to remove the brands accounted for the appearance of .John Cnughey, 03 a share milker, before Justice flerdihan at the Supreme Court. He had admitted the theft at Hamilton Court. Counsel for prisoner asked for probation urging his client was not normal at the time, and practically all the stolen cattle had been returned. Counsel for the Crnivn stated tlio manner in which Cnughey carried out the thefts showed he was not normal. I<e drove the cattle straight to the sale, yards without removing the brands. That was done three times. His Honour remanded accused in custody for a week to allow of further inquiries regarding the case iiv the Probation Officer.

OPfUM FIXE. duxedin, May 23. At the Police Court. Sue Ham. for being in possession of opium suitable lor smoking, was lined £2o sterling. PRICES KOI!. RAIIHITSKIXS. DUNEDIN, May 23. Otago Central district is being engerlv canvassed by rahhitskin buyers offering high prices. Some rahbiters are making CtiO sterling weekly. A Fllffi. GTSBORXE. May 22. A tire at Toko’.llaru Tinv destroyed the general store owned by S. McKee.