DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

(BT TELEGRAPH— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION (

ArANslat;gliter charge. WELLINGTON. .Tune 8. Arising out of the Hutt road collision on Alay 21th. between a sedan ear and a service car, Ernest George Reid, alias Edward Harper, a labourer, 29, and Henry Stacey, a labourer, 3,‘j, were charged with manslaughter in connection with the* death of the service car driver, Kenny; the conversion of the car, and causing injury to ■Madge Williams by reckless driving. The court was crowded. Ilcrtie S. Lyon gave evidence that he found his ear missing and eventually he went looking lor it along the Hutt road. He came across it at the scene of the accident. Other evidence includes photographs, plans, etc., after the crash occurred. ■

INDUSTRIAL MISSION. Y ELM NOT ON, June 8. Air H G. Adam (associate editor of- tho .Melbourne Herald) who went to New York with the Australian Industrial .Mission is now in Wellington en route homeward. The Mission represented employers and labour interests with a newspaper representative through whom it was expected the public would he able to get accounts of the .Mission's doings, ns the oili- ‘ i'll report might not he readily of. ever available.

'"The .Mission.” says .Mr Adam, was a badly mismanaged muddle, sent away in a burry without a proper itinerary. [t bad no proper chairman. Though the Mission was shown everything no opportunity was given for a thorough investigation of the paiticulad problems on which enlightenment was desired. All information seemed to come from the employers representatives and trade union members of the Mission been me dissatisfied, hut some were able to make private inquiries. They felt the publication of press despatches in Australia, dealing with their activities, was stealing the Mission’s thunder. The Mission again decided that the press representatives had no standing and so Adam in face of tbi.s insult and the breach of faith with the Commonwealth Government on the part of the Mission and refused to go further. When lie leff New York the members of the Mission were in two political camps and he could not see any likelihood that they would agree on a report or that the Mission would prodme anything of value to Australia.

DAMAGES CLAIM. CHRISTCHURCH, dune 8. A claim involving damages of £3186 was heard in the Supreme Court today before Justices Adams, when Rita Gatehouse, an ex-waitress, sued Herbert Benjamin Maiitan, proprietor of the Silver Service Ritz for compensation owing to extensive burns re-

ceived through her clothing catching lire by coining into contact with a. radiator used in defendant's shop. It was stated that the girl's clothing caught fire and she was shockingly burnt necessitating eight months treatment in the hospital. Counsel contended that the type of radiator used was unsafe and the space between the radiator and the cash register was too cramped this contributing greatly to the possibility of an accident.

KAURI TIMBER. COMPANY. AUCKLAND. June G. Air Joseph Butler, who has been managing director in Auckland of the Kauri Timber Company for the past 13 years, has been appointed to the position of managing director of the company at its head i flic a in Melbourne. lie will leave by the Mnlicin on Friday to take rp his new duties. The appointment is brought about through the retirement, on account of ill-health, of Mr F. H. AY. Wilson, tlichairman of directors. His position ?s being taken by Air George Lush, the present managing director in Ale!-

bourne. Another change has lieen made necessary through the resignation on account of ill-health of Air Harvey Patterson, who has been a director for ,a number of years. The vacancy is being filled by Air J. R. -Bishop. a. son of one of the present directors.

HOSPITAL LEVIES. DUNEDIN, June 8. A conference of local bodies considered the increase in hospital levies, which in Otago went up by {.‘15,044 on last year. The conference passed a resolution that the Government set up a commission to investigate the wliolo question of hospital finance, the opinion being generally expressed that it should be a charge on the Consolidated Fund.

AIOTOR VEHICLE LAW. WELLINGTON, June 8. To avoid confusion, the Government has decided that the Public Works Department shall control the whole oi the laws dealing with motor vehicles. Regulations were drafted some time ago but the issue was delayed while they were being submitted to local authorities and others. Alterations were suggested, and further delay caused. After a conference by the Departments concerned the present decision was arrived at. Both the Department of Internal Affairs and Post Office did part of the work hut it will now he concentrated on the Public AVorks Department.

A PECULIAR CASE. BLENHEI At, June 8. At the Supreme Court Norman Bowler James was charged with stealing 5(5 electrical batteries, valued at £250, the property of T. 0. Linstrom’s estate. This case is somewhat peculiar. Part of the Dolco plant was put up for auction and sold to James for £2, the batteries not being at the place of sale but locked in a shed. James contended that the batteries were part and parcel of the lot he bought and obtained possession, refusing to give them up on demand. The prosecution alleged the auctioneer specified before the sale that the batteries were not to he sold Inunction and James was accused of theft. Atfer lengthy evidence the jury returned a' verdict of not guilty. Janies remains in possession of the batteries.

A SHOP BURGLED. AUCKLAND. June 8. Burglars entered the shop of Phil AVoods, hairdresser and tobacconist at Avondale. They forced the door open with a jemmy and carried off tobacco, toilet articles and razors, enough to fill a large sack.

OILFEILDS REPORT. NEW PI A'A LOUTH. June 8. Taranaki oil fields _report:—Waipu No. 2 well drilled to 1575 ft in shale, with some conglomerate in last 20ft. Tnraoke No. 3 hole clear to 110 ft. The ground shows signs of caving near the surface and now endeavouring to secure same. Gisborne No. 1, transport and erection delayed by bad weather.

STONES ON LINE. TIArARU, June 8. The District Engineer of Dunedin interviewed this morning stated that the Railway Enquiry Board had finished its investigations concerning the recent accident to the express train at Timnru and adjourned to Christchurch, where it will 'make further enquiries.

He stated that oil April 14th the express train was derailed at Caroline Ray and the police discovered by whom who admitted putting stones on tho rail ten minutes before the train passed and who watelied the train go over them. On Alav 30th, a railway officer was passing over the line around Caroline Ray on his veloeide when he discovered eighteen flat stones on the rails, lying from ten feet to fifty feet apart. The stones were about three inches across and one inch thick. Ho stated that the express passed over! that part ol the line within ten minutes of the stones being removed. Alter the a -blent on June -Ith marks were found on ton of the rail at the point of de;ailment, one engine wheel showing two stones had been crushed the express train.