DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bt TELEGBAPH—PEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION-! -HEAIBER OE DAIRY BOARD. AUCKLAND EAST, Way 23. -Mr William Goodfellow, managing director of the New Zealand Co-oper-ative Dairy Coy., and a member of the Dairy Hoard, returned by the Niagara from London. Ho refused to discuss Control matters, stating that although he had a report ready it would not he made public till he gets to Wellington, whither he leaves to-morrow night to meet the Dairy Board.

BETTING FIXES. GISBORNE, May 23. Two charges of frequenting the street for the purpose of betting were preferred against Charles Croon, thirteen others being withdrawn by the police. Defendant pleaded guilty. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of £1.60 on the first charge and £26 on the second. Godfrey Wagner, whose counsel said he was putting on money for a friend was fined £2 for betting with a bookmaker. George, a Chinese, was similarly fined, for the same offence, but I Imv’nt collected yet remarked the defendant amidst, laughter. A widow woman who bet 5s was lined 16s, CANADIAN SOCCER, TEAM. AUCKLAND. May 23. The Canadian Soccer team arrived from Vancouver by the Niagara at

noon, and were accorded a civic reception. Alderman .Adams of Vancouver, who is accompanied by his wife is manager of the seventeen players, ami states the side is stronger than that which toured Australia a few

seasons hack, and played .Auckland going through. The party leave for New .Plymouth to-night.

LABOR AFFAIRS. DUNEDIN, May 23. A prominent supporter stated to-day that there .were too many .secretaries of unions in the Dominion, so that after payment little was left for active campaigning. He said that subscriptions collected were £24,066. hut only £4,060 was left after paying salaries, expenses etc. He suggested that all unions form one organisation like the

employees with one secretary in each conlre.

A FANTASTIC STORY. NEW PLYMOUTH. May 22. A decree nisi in favour of Albert Hayhaker, New Plymouth, against Olive Mary Sydney Hay. on the grounds of misconduct was granted in the Supreme Court on Saturday by Mr Justice MacGregor. Costs on the Ipg.hest scale were allowed against the co-respondent Montague Hartwell, labourer. Wanganui.

His Honor sternly criticised tin? evidence of both respondent and co-re-spondent. saying he was unable to believe their fantastic and rather extraordinari 1 stole ami that one witness at anv rate, had undoubtedly committed per jury, with rclerenee to a letter written by respondent to petitioner v hen she leit, him. Counsel for respondent -aid it was a beautiful letter l>.\ a woman in anguish. The .lodge said it was a false and cleverly concocted letter by a clever woman. The jury brought in a verdict <>l ‘‘Guilfv of misconduct’' alter threequarters of an hour retirement. BIG PROPERTY DEAL. WELLINGTON, May 21. One uf the largest (lea's yet recorded m city property was completed today, when Bond Street, Limited, acquired nearly all the properties in Old Customs Street and Parish Street. It

is the intention of the cunpany with the co-operation ol the City Count il. who will form wide streets and toolpaths .to convert, the area into a new fashionable shopping centre. The purchase consists of ten freehold propertins. The. price i.s understood to he in the vicinity of a quarter of a million. Many old landmarks of the early days of Wellington will soon he things of the past.

GAS TRADGEDY. WELLINGTON, Mav 23

At N 0.9 Waripapa Hoad. Hntnitai. i this morning .Joseph Hampel Lucas, aged 76, was found dead In bed. and Ali- | ee Annie Lucas, aged 76. alongside him ! was unconscious and in a critical condition, the result of gas poisoning'. Suspicion was aroused among the neighbours by the inactivity in the house through all Sunday and this morning and a daughter of the victims was summoned. She obtained on trance by breaking a window, all the doors being locked. There were strong fumes of gas anil when she got to the old couple’s bedroom the grim tragedy was before her. There is no suggestion of suicide, hut it is assumed that when they went to lied on Saturday night they aecidentj ally left a gas stove tap on, and were .suffocated in their sleep. They were retired farmers from Marlborough, ana were highly respected by the residents round about Hntnitai suburb. They were very devoted to each other, and the wife had been slightly indisposed, but the husband was bale and heart,v. and had attended a football match on Saturday. BLENHEIM, May 21. In reference to the Haitaitai tragedy, the late Joseph Samuel Lucas and his wife were very old residents of 'Marlborough. Deceased was born at Nelson, 76 years ago and was a sou of Charles Lucas who arrived in the Olympus. Deceased came to Wairau bout 1859 and engaged in farm work. He owned Opawa farm at Dillon’s Point. Ah- and Mrs Lucas celebrated their golden wedding a couple of months ago. The wife was formerly Miss Alice Parkin, of Cheviot.

ROBBING A BEEHIVE. GREYMOUTH, May 2L Albert Victor Hill was charged at ] the -Magistrate’s Court yesterday with falling a tree on the Railway line at T-e Kinga on April 3rd. Defendant pleaded guilty/stating that it was an accident. Sergeant Smythe stated that when defendant was interviewed by the Constable lie had not denied it, but said he had intended to fall the tree another way. The damage to the railway was to the extent of £4 10s and the damage to the telegraph lines £3 os. James Roe. of the Railway Department gave evidence concerning the extent of the damage to the line. Defendant, he said was lucky to be alive. He explained that if the power had been switched on to the contact breaker, from Otira. he would most likely have been electrocuted. Questioned by defendant as to whether he thought the tree had been a menace to the Railway. property, witness said he did not think so. Samuel L. Shannon gave evidence concerning repairs to the telegraph lines, which he said would - amount to £3 5s 4d. Defendant stated that his reason for falling the tree was to get a beehive which was in it. It was a mature white pine and he did not realise that the tree was likely to menace the railway line until he had put a scarf in it. He could not leave it. then. As it fell it came in contact with a red nine and went straight across the railway line. He had then cleared it away. In reply to.the Magistrate, Sergeant Smythe said He did not wish to ask for any penalty as if would already cost defendant a large sum. Defendant was convicted and or*

dered to pay the cost, of the damage to the railway lino and telegraph wire, a total of £7 15s 4d, costs amounting to £1 17s. SOCCER VISITORS. AUCKLAND, May 23. A warm welcome was extended to the Canadian Footballers at a civic reception, the speakers including the Mayor (Mr Baildon), a representative of the New Zealand Football Association and Mr C. M. Croft (Canadian Trade Commissioner). Alderman dames Adam, manager of the team, replied on behalf of flic visitors. Mr Adam, in an interview, said: ■Ht ds a very .strong team—much stronger than that which visited Auckland three years ago and played a drawn game against the Auckland reps.”

.Mr Adams was in charge of the previous combination. The only other member of ihe Soever team ol three years ago who is with the present team is Henri Nosworthy, who can play equally well, according to another member of the team, in goal or at hack. Altogether there are 19 in the parly - Mr and .Mrs Adams and 17 players. The team is young, the average age being about 23 years, and they do not expect to take much rubbing into shnpe. On hoard the ship the team regularly <1 id physical jerks and running and skipiiing, hut, of course, had no opportunity of kicking a hall about.

They did, however, get one chance tn Htietch their legs on the way across and that was at Suva. Challenged lo a game hv the British residents, the leaiu turned out and had no diflicultv in heating Suva s best —supplemented in the second half by four other players by four to one, not counting the other goals which no one bothered to not ice. The team left for New Plymouth tonight . AUCKLAND CRIME WAVE. WELLINGTON, May 23. An outspoken speech was made today by the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. 15. Mellveney) at a, farewell to Detectives Hunt and Sinclair, who have been 1 1 ansl'erred to Auckland to cope

with the criminal wave in that city. The Commissioner invoked the very wide powers of the Vagrancy Act. and emphasised that, despite the police in Auckland being everywhere, the criminals were getting the upper hand. It must now lie war to the death, he said, and the city must he cleared tip.

Auckland, lie said, should never have been allowed to get into the cmdition in which if is. Auckland had more police than any other part of New Zealand. and yet tlfey could not prevent

'l'lie criminals, he said, must: he prevented from associating, and must he thrown into prison, li was useless In complain when too late. The crime must he prevented. That was why lie was sending up live Defectives to add to the 28 plain clothes men already in Auckland williin a stone’s throw of the Central Police Station, and williin a .spine's throw of Grey Sired, the den of the criminals.

MOTOR CYCLIST’S TRAIL. AUCKLAND, May 23. As a senile! to a fatality in DuGreat South Road on Alnreh 21. when Robert Author Holland, who was tiding a push bicycle, was knocked dawn by it motor cycle, ridden by George Pollard, a charge ol negligent driving, ■so as to cause death, was preferred against Pollard in the Police Cotit today.

ft was stated by ivitncssees that Pollard Wits travelling at forty tn sixty miles till hour shortlyy before the accident. Pollard was committed lottrail. .