DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) THE MODERATOR'S VIEWS. j DUNEDIN, June 21. At n. meeting of the. New Zeal an 1 Licensing Reform Association, the following resolutions ere passed:(1 Emphatically protesting against the action of the New Zealand Alliance in its renewed attempt- to disfranchise a large and growing Ihody by tile removal of the middle issue on the Licensing ballot paper. (2) Declaring that the time has come when Parliament should deal fearlessly with the licensing legislation in the interests of real reform.

(3) Urging the Dominion Executive of this Association to organise the forces of moderation to resist the exploitation of Parliament by extremists for the purpose of imposing utnvarrantalhle restrictions on that great majority of people of New Zealand who livid different views front them in matters pertaining to licensing legislation.

N.Z. ALLIANCE. WELLINGTON. June 21. At the New Zealand Alliance Conference. Mr C. Todd was unanimously re-elected President of the New Zealand Alliance. Money was voted by the Conference to publish, a history of the temperance movement in New Zealand. The constitution was amended to provide for direct representation on the Executive of all Christian. Churches and other approved bodies.

SERIES OF OFFENCES. AUCKLAND, June 22. At the Police Court, Thomas Hughes, who arrived front Australia yesterday under escort was remanded oil a charge of forging a cheque lor £309 on an Auckland bank'. ’I he police stated further charges were pending. Dorothy Millennia. Weller for theft from a. suburban shop of goods valued at 227 os. her fifth offence of this kind, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years ant! report to tho probation officer. Samuel Stewart Sharpe, 12. a clerk of the City Council, pleaded guilty to stealing 233. He was on the permanent staff at a salary of £2o() a year and converted to his own use 133 license fees of five shillings, paid to him over a long period. He was remanded for sentence to June 29.

A NURSE’S CLAIM. AUCKLAND, June 22. Magi.-trnle McKean gave judgment this morning in an action brought by Nurse Blanche Donald, of Auckland, for nursing fees 29 J Is, against Thomas Clarke, niili'liand. of Mnnmkii. in respect to Mrs Clarke’s baby, which died ilie day after birth. Clarke counterclaimed 2(i3 12s Sd damages, alleging negligence. In a lengthy, written judgment he concluded:—l am ol opinion that a breach ol duty war* established, hut the evidence does not establish that Mrs Clarke’s condition is a direct or proximate result of that breach. The husband, therefore, is entitled only to nominal damages of 21 with court costs and witnesses’ expenses for slight annoyances, which were insufficient to disentitle the plaintiff to be paid, except deduction for the fust day. and judgment therefore was given for Nurse DonalV! for 29 on her claim.

JURY STOPS CASE. WELLINGTON, June 27. The claim for £2009 damages brought- by Ivy Hollingshead Willis against David B. Howden and others in respect of the death ol her husband, John Willis, who. with Phillip Allen, was killed by a lilt in defendant’s building descending on them, ended suddenly to-day in a verdict lor defendants with costs.

Alter hearing the address of Mr Gray, K.C.. that the evidence pointed that the men were with their heads over tho lift well talking to another man, and ought to have seen the lilt (which was certified to be in good order) descending, and evidence on those lines being given, the special jury declared that they lmd already made up their minds and desired to hear nothing further. They did the unusual thing of voting their lees to the plaintiff.

SPARROW CHAAIPIONSHIP. NAPIER. June 21. Tho sparrow championship of New Zealand was won to-day at Longlands by H. Best (Palmerston North) with a Dominion record performance of 21 consecutive kills. C. E. Grey (Afasterton) with 19 kills was runnerup. Six former champions, including the winner were among the -ID competitors.

DANG EROUS DRIVING. AVELLTNGTON. June 2.1. “J have a good mind to endorse your license since you have acted in a. stupid, insane manner,” said Air Salmon, S.AL, today, to George Alexander AVuddell, a. taxi-driver charged will having driven in a dangerous manner.

“But for the fact that you are an old driver with seventeen years’ experience and have no previous convictions J would certainly have endorsed your license. It is time taxidrivers learned that no particular cars have a right to the road and that if one car is in front of another it should he allowed to remain there. I want it to he known that any drivers who adopt this sort of senseless conduct will have their licenses endorsed.”

The prosecution alleged that just after midnight on May 27, deleiidant turned bis car round in front of a car run by au opposition company at the Grand Hotel and that at the intersection of Willis and Maimers Streets In* stopped in the middle of the road blocking the other car. Eater on lie several times shot across in front of the other car, nearly causing a collision, hut on the last occasion he was intercepted by a sergeant and constable. ,

For defendant, .Mr Leicester said lie had undoubtedly acted in an unwise manner, but he had been provoked by tho driver of the other car. who had forced him to slow down and change his gears several times. Mr Salmon imposed a fine of £•).

THEFT OF JEWELT/FRI . DANNEVIRKE. June 22. IVni. Gutjhrie Smith. 21. appeared before Justices this morning to answer a. charge of liaring on 2nd February. 1027, broken and entered the shop of Stubbs and Millar, Dannevirko. and stolen a number of gold and jewelled rings, one siver gents wristet watch, ten guineas in money of a total value of £2658 9s. Accused made a confession of having done the job himself. He detailed how he stole wristlet watch, tea guineas in money burgled the safe, and liis subsequent departure for Sydney, where he was arrested when trying to dispose o part of the proceeds. lie pleaded guilty and was committed to the supreme Court at Wellington for sentence,

PRISON CAMP ESCAPEES. AUCKLAND, June 22. William Thomas, serving sentence of two years’ imprisonment- for theft, and Lawrence Burton, who was serving one year for the same offence, escaped from Rangipo Prison Camp at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday last, and had their freedom until this afternoon, when they wore recaptured near Ortmnui liv Constable McMullan, of Taupo, and Warders T. Banks and J. McKenzie, of Hnutu Prison Camp. After leaving camp, the prisoners attempted to cross the Kaimnnava Ranges, intending to reach Napier. The very rough conditions compelled them to return to level country, and. by following the AYaimarino stream down from the ranges, they came out on to the Tokaanu Road. Warder T. Banks, who is in charge of Hnutu aCnyp. and Warden J. McKenzie, came upon the prisoners’ tracks early this morning, tracing them to AVaitalianui. ten miles from Taupu. Constable McMullen joined forces, and they then continued a search. From information ' received from Aruanui, describing two ; men making towards Hamilton, and | answering the description of the es- | on pees, the wardens and Constable Moj Mullen ran their quarry to earth in ail unoccupied house on the Taupo | -ide of Oruanui. The men surrendered ! quietly. ______