DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1927, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TBLEORArH PKB CHESS ASSOCIATION J

OB IT CARY, CHRISTCHURCH. May 27. Obituary—Mr S. A. Staples, aged 72 rears. He was a member of the Welwyn Plantations Board.

RECORD PRICES REALISED NEAA PLYAIOUTH. -May 2

At the auction sale of R. AY. 1). Robertson’s pedigree stock yesterday a large white sow and litter ol eight about seven weeks old realised a total of £214 Ms fid. Pedigree Ayrshires realised fairly good prices.

A SOUTHERN SCANDAL. INVERCARGILL. Alay 21

Three girls .aged 10. 17 and lijyears of age respectively, appeared before Air Crttickshattk. S.M. to-day on a charge of being idle and disorderly, and of a breaking a window oi a value of Us.

Remarkable evidence was given by the police of drinking parties in which these girls and young men took part, at one of which the girls were stated to have danced while completely undressed. In a statement, one of the girls admitted the facts as stated.

The case was removed to the children's court, and an order was made for the suppression of the names of the girls, who were stated to he completely out of control. They were committed to reformatory homes.

RETRIAL- AYANTED. CHRISCHURCH. Alay 27. Trevo Gardiner, found guilty of rape, was sentenced by Air Justice Adams to ten yours’ imprisonment. Air Sargent, for tbe prisoner, said that he intended to apply for a newtrial. Since the previous trial he had received information which would justify the application. Air Donnelly, for the Crown, referred t:> an item in “New Zealand Truth”

containing statements or information purporting to have been supplied bv Air Sargent.

The Judge said imputations bad been made against the chastity of the prisoner’s victim. This was not supported by tbe medical evidence. The

crime was a very serious one, perpetrated violently and brutally. His Honour entirely agreed with the verdict of the jury'. It was to he regretted. His Honour said, that Air Sargent had supplied the information he had to the “Truth’’ newspaper.

DA Al AGES FOR AIOTOR A'ICTIAT AYELLiXGTOX, May 27.

Before Justice Adams and a jury of four, Joseph Noble, aged 81, a retired clerk, (proceeded against AVm. Ullrich. agent, for £ll2 5s damages for injuries sustained by being knocked down by Ullrich's motor car. Plaintiff's injuries consisted of broken rfbs. which caused pleurisy, also of general bruising, injury to one of his legs, and impaired hearing. The night was dark with drizzling rain. The jury found the defendant- had not exercised reasonable care in view of the state of the weather, and found for plaintiff, awarding £l2 5s special damages and £3o' general damages.

'll AIDER SLUAIP. T.YUAI A RA.NUI, Alay 27

A public meeting decided to form a branch of the New Zealand Timber Industry Advancement League; It was also resolved: “That this meeting of the public of Tatnnaruniii asks the Government for a prohibitive tariff on foreign timbers, to prevent the competition which is completely disorganising the sawniillng industry, and which thereby lias swollen tbe ranks of the unemployed.”

MAGISTRATE’S AY A RNI NO. CHRISTCHURCH. May 27. “It will not he long now before negligent drivers are sent straight to gaol,’’ said Magistrate Mosley to-day-in fining Leo Armstrong £.j for speeding.

BREAKING AND ENTERING PALMERSTON N., May 27

At the Police Court, William Albert Yeen, canvasser, aged 40, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering a store and stealing a quantity of goods. According to the police. evidence the accused admitted three nocturnal visits to a store on the evening of May 23rd. stating lie was tinder tile influence of liquor. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

MA GTSTRATE’S DECISION. GISBORNE, May 27. Gan a man be made responsible for the maintenance of his step grandchild, was the problem before Magistrate D?vvey to-day on an application for the maintenance of a step grandson. The point to he decided was whether the step grandfather can bo deemed grandfather within the meaning of the act, and after hearing the argument the Magistrate held there was no relationship whatever.

HEAVY RAIN AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, May 27. Heavy rain, which was almost continuous in Wellington to-day. held up prctieully all cargo handling on the waterfront. None of the smaller coastal vessels left Wellington owing to the impossibility of working the cargo. The only ships which cleared port were the Marama for Sydney, the Tamahine for Victim, the Ngaio lor Nelson, and the Wahine for Lyttelton. The wharf presented an almost deserted appearance to-day.

A 1 ( ELAN D COM M UNI STS’. AUCKLAND. May 27. Mvor Robinson, (Auckland secretary of world communists) says all our contact with Arcus Ltd., was simply subscribers to a trade journal, which was never anything but trade and economic information. The addresses cabled were apparently two years old. Baxter was out of New Zetland about two year.-. Basham is away from the address given for over eighteen months. It was ridiculous to suggest, that anv communist in New Zealand was receiving from Arcus. Soviet or Third Intel-national. That they wee spies was simply ridiculous.

Basham is a waterside worker and ays he is simply a member of the Communist party. He holds no official position and never has been in communication with Arcus or the trade delegaion. Auckland Communists had no ■onnnunicntious with them. They •vere only a working class political larty, basing their activities on the druggie of classes. There was nothing icr-ret and nothing sinister about their ictivities. ?

Auckland police state there is nulling dangerous about these men. They re simply iimelighters, agitators and armless.

A DEPORTEE. DUNEDIN. May 27. Baxter, mentioned in the cable as

a Soviet agent, was deported after police proceedings against, him here for having in his posession communistic literature. He was one of eight local members of the New Zealand Labour Party expelled in 1925.

A JUDGE’S APOLOGY. WELLINGTON, May 23. A Wellington jury had the unusual experience of receiving an qpolopy

from a Judge for keeping them waiting for an hour. Judge Alpers expressed bis regret at the delay and explained that be found himself the only Judge in tbe city and two small cases had to be disposed of in which Jr people had come from Auckland and Invercargill- and would he caused great inconvenience if kept waiting.

AIAOIU APPOINTMENT. WELLINGTON, Alay 28. Doctor Edward Poahtt Ellison, at present medical officer at Cook Island, has been appointed to succeed Dr Buck as Director of ALiori Hygiene in New Zealand. Afr Ellison has done good work in the islands, the results whereof indicate an intimate understanding of native needs. He was horn at Portobello U) years ago. and took medical degrees at Otago University. He was for a time medical officer and magistrate in Chatham Islands and was then appointed. _.Ur Raratonga. In his university days Dr Ellison was a well-known footballer. AYhilo resident at Chatham Islands he interested the younger generation in the game.

agricultural dtscusston. AYELLIXGTOX. May 27. That steps he taken by various producers and organisations throughout the Dominion to inaugurate the movement. in favour of the abolition of.Jtho Industrial Conciliation Arbitrations Act as it injuriously affects farming interests, was the text of a remit discussed by the Royal Agricultural Society this morning. Some thought tho total abolition was too drastic a step to take all at once. A Commission Inquiry would meet the ease. Sir Douglas Arc Lean advocated a straight out vote on the repeal of the Act. There was at present he saitT, as representative a gathering of producers as would ever he got together. Three to one of a majority carried the motion. advocating for the repeal of tho act. A further motion suggesting an inquiry into the wages system was carried unanimously.