DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

- [by TELEGRAPH—PER TRESS ASSOCIATION-! HUXTLY WAR MEMORIAL. AUCKLAND, May 28. The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, yesterday unveiled at Huiilly a soldiers’ memorial in the form of an obelisk, 18 feet high. Speaking at a. luncheon given by the Huntly Town Board and the Returned Soldiers’ Association, his Excellency said lie could not tell them how sincere his Majesty was in his interest in New Zealand. It would surprise them to know his knowledge of this country, his intimacy with all questions concerning it, and the interest he displays in its welfare. Nothing was too small for him (Sir Charles) In mention when writing periodically and to comment on in his replies. HEAVY RAINFALL. WELLINGTON, May 23. “We have had one of the heaviest rainfalls in Wellington,” said the Dominion Meteorologist (Air D. C. . Bates) to-day. “Although by no moans the highest that has been re- ■ corded here, yet it may ho classed ■ among the big falls. On December , Kith .1024, we had 2.7-lin. and yeslcrday the rain total was 2.7,fin. The highest rainfall recorded in Wellington in 2f hours is 6.32iti. and that was <m February 2oth. 1911.” Locally the rain was the heaviest between 9 and 9.30 n.ni. yesterday. • Conditions were dull and drizzling for I about three quarters of an hour, hut

the rain came on heavily a little after 12 o’clock. It. ceased for a. time, but about 2.39 in the afternoon it fell heavily, and continued to do so until 7.30 p.m. Rain was steadily falling until a little after 5 o’clock this morning. ROCK OYSTER SEASON. AUCKLAND, -May 28. “If this weather continues, you will not have any oysters until about October.” said Mr J. H. Letcher, manager of the Government oyster depot, yesterday, when asked if the oyster season would open definitely on .lime 15. Mr Letcher said that it was the inton tion of the pickets to commence operations on the beds early next week, hut if the present boisterous weather conditions prevailed picking would l>e post polled indefinitely. Air F. F Flinn. Government Inspector of Fisheries, left for Russell yesterday to organise picking; parties. .Most of the oysters come from Kuwait, (treat Barrier, Alahuraiigi, Coromandel and Kaipara, while this year the AAaihako beds, which are stated to be in an improved condition, will be reopened.

.MOTOR ACCIDENT. WELLINGTON. May 28. A motor accident occurred in .lackson Street, Petonc, last night. A ear driven by Air .1. Al. lourell and another by Air Fox. of Ilona Day, came into contact. The occupants escaped with ruts and bruises. The ears were extensively damaged. Rain and dazzling headlights are blamed lor the accident.

N.Z. DEATH-R ATK. WELLINGTON, May 30. Compared with (>.48 per thousand i 1920. this year the maternal death rate is 1.25 per thousand living birth; the successive years having shown in provement, namely, (i.H, 5.18. 5.L 5.11. 5.0. 4.05. 4.25.

The explaiitioii of the 1920 rate appears to be the unusually high proportion of first births, one in three compared with one in four in 1919. but in 1921 that proportion was also high indicating the operation of some other factor.

The incidence of the puerperal septicaemia was particularly high in 1920. namely (57, ns compared with 48 in 1921.

New Zealand is now seventh among the twenty-one listed countries, being beaten by Denmark 2.0(1 (puerperal deaths). Netherlands 2.58, Italy 2.75, Uruguay 2.88, Japan 3.39, England and Wales 3.91. Australia is eighth, 4.00. The United States lias 7.0 5 .

GISBORNE HARBOUR. GISBORNE, Alav 30.

In response to an invitation from the Gisborne Harbour Board, Mr B. W. Eurkert (Engineer in Chief is visiting Gisborne to pass his opinion on the new harbour works. The proposal originated front a discussion at the Board’s last meeting as to the value and cost of the stone at AYhareongnonga Quarry, now being used for the new works. Air Eurkert was welcomed at a hoard meeting to-day, and later retired from the meeting to make further investigations. As the matter was urgent, Air Eurkert undertook to make a report on AVhareongaonga Quarry before leaving.

SCHOONER’S MISHAP. AUCKLAND, Alav 30.

The auxiliary schooner Isabella De Fraine, tinder Captain Kennedy, whilst going up Hokianga Harbour, .struck a submerged log off Karaka Point, which knocked a hole in the forward part oT the hull. The pumps were manned, and. finding the vessel was making witter, the captain beached the vessel, and then plugged the hole up with a sack of flour. The cargo is considerably damaged, and it is now being unloaded at Rawene wharf, after which the vessel will lie beached at Tvohukoliti for repairs.

It is fortunate that the accident happened where it did, as, it the schooner had struck outside the bar. there would have been great risk of total loss.

COMP KNS AT lON AAY A lIP. DUNEDIN. May 39. The Compensation Court, with His Honour Mr Justice Reed as President, and Mr C. R. Smith and Air E. C. Reynolds (assessors), sat this morning to resume the hearing of the claim by Isabella McMillan against the Dunedin Fire Board for £3300 as compensation for her property in Castle Street which is being taken as a site for the new Fire Brigade Station. Judgment was given for complainant for £2BOO and costs (£3l 10s), and pack assessor’s fee (£2l). The respondents’ assessor dissented from the award.

JERSEY CATTLE SALE. NEW, PLYMOUTH. May 30. “ Jersey Week ” in North Taranaki opened to-day, when the New Plymouth Jersey C attic Club’s sale was held before buyers from most parts of the North Island. Although the stock was of a high standard, prices were well down. Tho best price realised was 17S> guineas for Mr A. J. Luxton’s cow Tvondale Black Bess; purchased by Mi .1. A. Mitchell, of Longburn. Jhe prices then dropped to 31 guineas. The sales will he continued throughout the week.

tipsy female motorist. WELLINGTON, May 30. An unique charge, in the circumstances, was preferred against. Anastasia Kinley, a female hairdresser, aged 23. this morning in the -Magistrate’s Court. She pleaded not guilty to being in charge of a motor car wl,iih> in a state of intoxication, but U. fined. £5, and was disqualified from , ..holding’ m Stiver’s license for three ~cnr~- Tb'c j.-tlcurp showed her ear knocked over a lighted motor cycle standing on Hutt Road at 6 p.m. on^

Saturday. Police evidence was given that there was no doubt as to defendant’s being intoxicated when at the watehhouse, but the owner of the motor-cycle and a companion stated that she appeared normal when the accident happened. Accused was fined 10s for driving without a license also.

BUSHMAN KILLED. GISBORNE, .May 30. Robert Harris, 40 years of age, a man with a wife and four children, was killed this afternoon while buslifalling on Koptta Station, owned by the East Coast Commissioners. Only meagre details are to hand, but it is stated that a falling tree struck a small rata stump, and the end of the tree flew up, Harris being killed almost instantaneously.

ENGINEER FOUND DEAD. DUNEDIN. A lay 30. Alexander Alonerieff, refrigerating engineer on the Cumberland, at present at Port Chalmers, was found dead in one of the ship’s lavatories about 1.30 Ibis afternoon. The do;eased was a native of Liverpool, 50 years of age, and was married. Them will be an inquest to-morrow.

TRAGEDY RECALLED

TIAIARU, AI ay 30. There is now between three and four indies of snow at the Mount Cook Hermitage, and the first of the winter sports there started last week, and ski-ing is now Hie favourite amusement on the ice.

Nearly 13 years ago a tourist. S. L. King, and two guides lost their lives on Linda Glacier, when attempting an ascent of Mount Cook. About three months ago part of the leg <d one o! them was found in the ice, and non sdie of King’s boots has been found with the lace still neatly tied ill a bow at the front, as it was when he set out on the fatal journey. It was found on the lloch.stetter icefield, between three and lour miles from the spot where the party were lost. The bootlace and sock are still in a good state of preservation, except that the seam up the back of the boot lias opened.

MAN FOUND DEAD. IIAWERA. ALiv 39. A iiian who was found dead on the bills at- Kakaramea on Saturday has been identified as John liierne, who was at one time in business here. Some months ago he disappeared lor a day or two, and on his return could give no explanation ol where he had been.

ARBITRATION COURT. CHRISTCHURCH, May 3L Mr \V. Scott, who has been the employers' member ol the Arbitration Court for many years past will retire from that position shortly owing to failing health and advancing years. Air G. T. Booth, of Christchurch, has been unanimously’ selected by the employers’ unions of the Dominion as his successor. It is probable that the change will take place within the next six weeks.