DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1927, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

UNTOUNDED R (JMOUH-

AUCKLAND, Aug. 11

A suggestion that the fire in the passageway of the Union Buildings, on the same floor as the American Consulate, could bo interpreted as a demonstration regarding the execution of the Italians in the United States, is ridiculed by Mr Wilson, Superintendent of the City Fire Brigade. “It is all piffle,” lie said, when the theory of incendiarism was referred to him. •‘The fire started at the bottom of a cupboard, which inclined to the idea that a carelessly flung cigarette butt or match might have started the outbreak, which did very little damage.”

P. AND T. EMPLOYEES. WELLINGTON. Aug. 11

Since the 2nd August, employees in the P. and T. Department have had their delegates sitting in cotilcrenec at Wellington, and have in that time put through a great amount of work, there being a good representation Irom all parts of the Dominion. The amount of work transacted can be gauged from tlie fact that no fewer than 72 remits were dealt with.

.Mr J. T. Carr presided, and there were over thirty delegates present.

Perhaps the chief interest of the Conferonco centred around the question of salaries, which, under the present scale of living, were heTd to h's quite inadequate, and not so good as in pre-war days, it is said that ii 100 points were Liken as representing the earlier period, 72 points would represent it to-day. * A deputation from the Conference met the Prime Minister, to place the facts before him. lie was reminded of Sir James Parr’s promise that when the P. and T. Department showed a surplus, the employees would benefit. There was that surplus to-day, but employees had not got anything. The Prime Minister promised to take the matter into consideration and consult. the Mmisters responsible. Mr J. T. Carr was re-elected President of the Association for the next two years.

The * iatioii also passed a motion in favour of the Summertime Bill.

W E LLIN GTO N I) BO \VN IN G. WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The body ol John C) Kane. *>B. was found in the Harbour near Clyde Quay berths, just after 8 o’clock this morning. He was missed last evening.

MAORI BANKRUPT. AUCKLAND, Aug. 11

A .Maori, Tekati Thompson, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to three charges of obtaining, credit for £KI7 0s and £O7 12s from Edwin Savers, for £l2O from Mrs Hughes Jones, and for £SO from the Grafton Bridge Flats Ltd., without disclosing ilia! he was an undischarged bankrupt. Evidence was given that the first two debts were incurred for printing work and tlie other two represented arrears of rent.

Accused was adjudicated bankrupt on November 2f>fcli. 192 G, when his debts proved amounted to £307 and assets totalled £l2. At a meeting of his creditors it was discovered that accused had previously 'been adjudged bankrupt at Ha worn, on November Bth. 1022 and was still undischarged.

Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence; bail being fixed at £2OO.

CAR SMASHED. BETWEEN TWO TRAMS. CHRTSTCHURCH. Aug. 11. Caught between two trains on the Riccarton Hoad, at dusk this evening, a motor-car, driven by a man named .Meehan, was badly shattered, and the driver taken to the hospital unconscious, sulfering from a nasty wound in the head and concussion. The scene ol the accident was at a bond in the road near Tlaglov Park cricket grounds. , Meehan was accompanied by a passenger, and was proceeding from tbo racecourse to the city, when he tried to pass an inward hound tram on tlie bend. Evidently he did not see an outward hound tram approaching immediately in front, and as they passed. the car was caught between the two trams. On being extricated, it resembled a concertina, being crushed from both sides.

The accident occurcd just as all the racegoers were returning, and a long string of loaded cars was held up for some time, as the result of the smash.

( HRISTCHURCH FATALITY. CHRISTCHURCH. Aug. 11. Raymond Leslie Duncan, aged 21. died in the hospital at 9.30 to-night: The wound was caused by a .22 calibre rifle bullet. The man -went to the pictures on Wednesday night and on returning had supper and went to a garage at the Lack of his residence. A few minutes Inter Fiis mother heard him at the door, and when she opened it her son fell inside. An earlier message staled that Raymond Duncan. Slater Street, St. Albans. was admitted to the Christchurch 110.-pital this morning, suffering from a bullet nound in the left breast. The bullet wa: fired from a ]>on rifle. Tbo patient’s condition is serious. UNUSUAL PROCEDURE. AY ELLINGTON, Aug. 12. An action was begun in the Supreme Court for the issue of a mandamus to the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board directing it to consider the appeal oi an officer who was disciplined after tbo Bamne case, wherein £lllO was fraudulently obtained from the Post Office Savings Bank by means of cheques. All the money but £BS was recovered, and various officers of the Department were lined different sums to make up this amount. The plaintiff was fined £lO and alleges be was not given an opportunity to appeal.

BIG SLIPS AT WELLINGTON,

WELLINGTON, Aug. H

Shortly after eight this morning, a ■big slip containing three fir trees, two feet in girth, came down on tlie main north road half a mile past Jolmsonville.

While workmen were clearing a lesser slip, which had occurred during the night, not far away a new slip completely blocked the road, but traffic was able to pass with care by midday. Traffic can now pass with caution, but it will take some days to make the road thoroughly safe, as the hill-side above appears anything but stable. Other trees threatening to fall are being lopped.

GAS COAIPANIES’ PROTEST. WELLINGTON, Aug. 11

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Gas Companies’ Association, a resolution, to be forwarded to the Minister of Finance, was passed, placing on. record the Association’s condemnation of the existing system oT taxation, whcr'eb.v the Government Departments and Municipal Trading Departments’ Boards were exempt from taxation, thus increasing the gross taxation payable to those undertakings which had no exemption. A statement forwarded to tlie Tariff Commission, protesting against the tariff on gas appliances and mains being higher than on electrical goods, was adopted.

MASTER BUILDER’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, Aug. 11

John McKay, a master builder, of Devon port, who became ill while working on a house in Garden Road. Remuera .yesterday afternoon, and was admitted to the Auckland Hospital, suffering from the effects of poisoning, died this afternoon. ANOTHER, VERSION. WE GOING TON, Aug. 12.

The Waterside Union, through its President, denies that Air Carter’s properties were held up through the refusal of the men to work. He says that the luggage was so stored that under no circumstances could it have been readied before 10 p.m., but owing to perishable goods being on top. tlie employers ordered the men to knock off for fear of damage by rain.