DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

SAT] SF.Vf T< )RY DEC.' I SION. WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. In regard to the decision of the Palmerston North Borough Council, to exercise the option over the Mellardy property, Mr Hawken informed a reporter to-dav that he was quite satisfied. He could quite understand the concern of the Council, when such a valuable gift was involved, hut was satisfied the Council had acted wisely in handing the property over to tbe Government.

OBITUARY. AUCKLAND, Aug. 23

Obituary.—Hohori (Joe) To AYhaiti, of Tuhiraiigi, a prominent rifle shot, and recognised ns the premier Native rifleman of the Dominion. He was one year runner-up for the Ballinger Belt, and several times in the King's Fifty.

UNEMPLOYED POSITION. WELLINGTON, Aug. 21

Unemployed registrations show an increase of (il, the number now being ISS. This, notwithstanding the unprecedented number of men who have been taken on. One of the principal difficulties is to find work lor weak men. Tbe Mayor's fund is now over £BSOO, but tbis represents only a small portion ■if the total amount being expended by the City Council apart from what the Government is doing.

OUTCOME OF ARGUMENT. GREYMOUTH, Aug. 21

Cories J. Clayton. 23. was remanded till Tuesday charged with causing actual bodily harm to John Voyeo, at Dobson. Bail of £2OO was granted. Vovco’s condition is stated to he serious. It is understood he received head injuries, following an argument in a whare which the men. staved.

COURT CASES. GISBORNE, Aug. 2

A lad of eighteen years was sentenced to two years’ Borstal treatment by the magistrate this morning on charges of obtaining money by fraud, the name being suppressed out of consideration for a witlowed mother and his sisters. Justice Ostler presided at the Compensation Court, hearing a' claim for £L,350 against Hawke’s Ray Education Board for land taken for extension of Gisborne school.

INQUEST FINDING. GISBORNE, Aug. 21. At an inquest on Richard Havelock. (55, a farm laohurcr. who died suddenly soon after admission to the hospital, a verdict of death from natural caucss was returned.

INFAN US DEATH. DUNEDIN. Aug. 2

At the inquest mi the body of the infant found on the town licit on August 3rd, alter evidence, the Coroner found that the child was borne alive at the end of July or tlie beginning of August, and was killed by external violence causing a fracture of the skull, by some unknown person.

A SERIOUS FIRE. BLENHEIM, Aug. 21

The Power Board’s store at Leeds Quay was gutted by lire early this morning. The Board suffered the loss of a large quantity of electrical apparatus including between forty and fifty transformers. The building, l a. large iron siied, uas valued at about £2,501) and was insured for £2,200 in the National Office. Electrical stores worth about £.7)00 were insured for .£300!) in the State Office. A motor truck valued a, t£545 was insured for £3(50 in (lie .State Office. The most serious loss is that if (lie transformers, its it may result in a delay in completing the reticulation of Spring Creek. Rapa uni and Tuamarina districts. However, there is a possibility that the transformers may be able to be replaced from the New Zealand market, in addition to the Board’s loss, the assistant engineer, T. IT. Ranger, lost his motor car which was uninsured and a large quantity of electrical books and other data.

A PATENT REFUSED.

'WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. A case of considerable interest, especially to the dairy industry, was heard by tho Registrar of Patents, when J. 15. AfcEwan and Co opposed the grant of a. patent to the Union Foundries, Stratford. This patent covered the use of electric power lor driving curd mills, and the opposition was on the ground that there was no new subject matter for a. patent, and alleged the invention was not novel, prior publication. The Registrar refused tho patent with costs to the objectors. He held Hint ‘Hie applicants idea of utilising electric power syncronised with the* general introduction of such power in 1925. In this ease tho rights of the public, were involved in that- the introduction of the Govern men L’s hydro-electric schemes was intended amongst things 1o render cheap power available lor industrial purposes and it, as was shown, tho applicants combination did net go beyond ordinary workmanship practice. dairy factories directly and toe public indirectly would he aficctcd by tho applicants obtaining a monopoly of the combination with the result that the price would not he subject to reduction due to normal trade competition.

MASSEY COLLEGE. PALMERSTON N., Aug. 24. AV. J. McCulloch, senior Government agricultural instructor for Wellington and Southern Hawke's Bay district, has been appointed farm manager of the Massey Agricultural College. During tho last six weeks much work was clone on the property acquired for the college. Extensive draining and ploughing was carried out and much fencing done. Flock sheep and several pedigree cattle are already on tho property. In connection with tht action of tho Government last week in ceasing work on tho property, 'tins only applied to preparations ior the erection of «' milking shed, dairyman’s cottage and also a drain from Mi-Hardy property to Tiritea stream, this being :I small portion of the work on the estate.

FIRE IN PICTURE THEATRE. LEVIN. Aug. 24. Early this morning a fire was discovered in the People’s Picture Theatre, tho outbreak having started in the operating box and spread to the dress circle. The fire brigade succeeded in confining the (lames to the roof and circle, being assisted by the steel ceiling and walls. Extensive damage was done to the iurnishings. The theatre was not being used for pictures. 'he Operatic Society held a.rehearsal there the previous night. The building "as ov,ncd bv Air AV. Kuban. of Levin, and leased to J. Rod, of AYellington. Insurances £4500 on building, plant and seating, and £250 on Player piano, all in Royal.

DRUNKEN MOTOR DRIVER. AUCKLAND. Aug. 24. AValter Clegg, photographer, of Newmarket, was lined £25 and his license cancelled for twelve months by Mr Hunt, S.M.. for being drunk while in charge of a motor car.