DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.

BRITAIN’S AIRSHIP MISSION. AUCKLAND, Aug. 29. Britain’s airship mission arrived at Auckland this morning from Sydney on the Aorangi, after having investigated flying conditions in Australia and inspected sites for the erection of mooring masts in connection with the proposed Empire airship service. They spend several days in Auckland investigating meteorological conditions and inspecting possible sites for a mooring mast. They are here at the invitation of the New Zealand Government to investigate suitable places lor airship bases. Captain Metiers states the Commonwealth Government lias not decided definitely to come into the Empire airship scheme, but the mission had been asked to advise on the suit-

ability of meteorological conditions in Australia for airships’ navigation and on sites that would be suitable for bases, in the event of Australia and New Zealand becoming a party to the scheme. At present Australia was still sitting on the fence. New Zealand alone woui'd not ho able to join up without mooring masts and bases in Australia. The British Government was not inviting Australia to be ready before 19110 and it would not be necessary for either Australia or New Zealand Government to come into the matter before home trials of airships had been completed in 1928. In considering the bases in the eastern states of Australia it was quite probable that the Australian Government might cooperate with the New Zealand Government, otherwise it would he difficult, if not impossible for New Zealand to come into the scheme. .

SCOW TURNS TURTLE. AUCKLAND, Aug. 27. The scow Lena, laden with granite from Mr R. R. Hunt’s quarry at Meehan, on the Coromandel Range, turned turtle yesterday afternoon.

There was a rough sea running, and when the vessel had got nearly to Waiheke Island Captain Casper, who was temporarily in charge, states that he heard something crash in. Describing the accident to the postmaster at Cabbage Bay, Captain Casper said that evidently the laden dock caved in, and the wow began to leak badly and became unmanageable. Captain Casper thou decided to run before the wind in the direction, of Cane Colville, and whclt opposite the Black Rocks his vessel heeled over. He and the engineer, Mr T. Evans, took to the dinghy, and reached Cape Colville last night. They were both out first thing this morning in a launch anti found the scow floating about a mile and a-lmlf front the shore. An endeavour wa.s made to secure her. hut tin to three o’clock this afternoon there was no news as to their success, or otherwise.

A COMPENSATION CLAIM. GISBORNE, Aug. 20. The Compensation Court awarded George Lawless £11.120 in satisfaction of his claims against the Gisborne Harbour Board as eompensation for land taken for harbour purposes. Lawless claimed £2S.-110. Mr Justire Ostler announced that the, Court’s decision was unanimous. Each party will nay its own costs. AUDACIOUS ROBBERY. AUCKLAND, .Aug. 27. An audacious robbery was carried out at Radley’s City Markets las! night. Burglars opened the strong ror'iii and safe and rook a number of cash boxen out into the adjoining premises oi Glovers, where they secured cheques, notes and silver running into several hundreds of pounds. Some cheques, a quantity of coppers and ,‘3os petty cash were left on the floor. A remarkablo feature of the robbery was that the freezer engineer on night duty on the same floor as the office robbed, though TOO fret nwrfy, hoard nothing unusual.

Neither the strong room nor safe door was forced open, and evidently skeleton keys were employed. Radley’s cannot correctly estimate Hie amount of money stolen, hut it is unlikely that it would he much loss than £IOO.

BOILTNG POTATOES OYER AY IFF AUCKLAND. Aiig. 2fi.

In a. domestic argument. Henry John Thackwell silenced bis wife by throwing a. pot of boiling potatoes over her. He pleaded guilty In the Police Court to-da.v to charge of assaulting Evelyn Thackwell, his wife.

Senior-Sergeant Edwards said that accused had come home drunk and thrown potatoes over the woman and burnt her neck. The woman’s condition made the assault more grave. The Magistrate, Mr F. T\. Hunt, said there was really one thing to do u ith a man who knocked a. woman a bout, hut. as the family was poor, lie would give accused a chance. Ho was ordered to come up for sentence any time within twelve months, and was also made the subject of a .prohibition order.

i W.ELLIXG TO X FIRR LOSSES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 20. “The fire risk in the City of Wellington. is exceedingly hazardous, probably more so than in any other city nf its Size in the British Empire,” said Superintendent- CTeeke, of the Wellington Fire Brigade in his annual report to the first annual meeting of the Wellington Fire Board. “This is brougnt about by the enormous number of old wooden buildings in the city and the extensive use of scrim I paper for the interior lining of the walls.” For the year ended dune 30th. 1927. the number of calls attended to was 6.33, an increase of 280 -on the previous year. Actual fires were 470 (increase of 190), false alarms 163 (increase of 86), of which 42 were maliciously given. The estimated loss of property by tire was if 109.660; the value of properties on which fires occurred was £1,494.193. and insurance on them £1,022,100. In one fire, damage exceeded £IO.OOO, five exceeded £SOOO, 25 exceeded £IOOO. In ninety per cent of the fires the walls j of the buildings were covered with j scrim and paper. Sixteen fires were I due to benzine in close proximity to j light. 25 to burning off gorse. 10 to defective chimney hearths. 61 to foil! chimneys. 245 to lighted matches thrown down, IS from sparks, 37 unknown. In 1917-18 the number of fires was 147, in 1922-2.3 it was 24G. in *1925-26 273, and 1926-27 470.

j AIRSHIP MISSION'S OBJECTIVE. AUCKLAXD. Aug. 29. It is expected the Imperial Airship Mission will spend about 17 days in the Dominion. A comprehensive- tour of the open flat areas about Auckland was made by members of the Mission to-day. When the visibility and weather conditions improve, the aeroplane brought up from Sockbnrn Aerodrome on Sunday /will be used, thus saving a great deal of time. It is probable Air Giblett will leave for Wellington to-morrow, to confer with the Government Meteorologist. Group Captain Fellowes is also expected to go south at an early date, hut Flight Lieutenant Xixon may remain longer in Auckland. The main work of the Mission is to j recommend a site for one mooring

tower, and to reach an understanding with the local authorities about a meteorological service and the. maintenance bf New Zealand’s end of a wireless chain which will extend along the airship route. At tl7e close of its visit the Mission will present a report to the Government.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. AUCKLAND, Aug. 29

Three men had a miraculous escape from drowning on Muriv.ai Bench yesterday afternoon. They were Messrs Tihby, Hilton and Richards, of M aimauku. They were fishing with a net abovo the .crock on the Muriwai Beach. The net had just been laid, Hilton being at the end farthest from tlio shore. Three large waves in succession swept Hilton off his teet. Tibby let go the net to go to Hilton’s assistance, with the result that all three lost their foothold. The net then became entagled round Hilton. Luckily, Bert Fletcher, of AVainmuku, a. former Auckland Rugby rcpiesentativo, rode on to the beach au that moment, and immediately went to the rescue. He reached Tihby and brought him safely into shallow \wßet. Another member of the party, Le \ esquo, took charge of him. ■Fletcher next rode to Hilton. The horse was swept off its teet. hut recovered its foothold. Fletcher reached Hilton as the latter became umvnsciious, and brought him to the henna. He then returned for Richards. Lj the time the last man lmd been brought in. half an hour had elapsed since the accident occurred. RiUon war. the only one who could swim, hut being entangled in the net, lie was helpless. Tibbv stated the three men would, without doubt, have lost their lives hut for Fletcher’s gallant rescue.

FOREST LANDS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 29. Resolutions passed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Forestry League were replied to by the Commissioner of State Incests (Hon. Mi lliuvkon) in a letter received to-day at u meeting of the council of the League. The policy of gradual purchase ana consolidation, said the Commissioner. wa.s being, and had been, pursued for sumo years. Naturally, (here were limitations to finance, hut the council could rest assured that no stone was being left unturned to maintain in full 11: „. the policy of steady acquisition ol forest lands throughout the Dominion wherever public interest was served thereby. Regarding the suggestion by tlio League that the Waipoua forest should he preserved in flu* meantime and maintained in its entirety tor, at least, a period of years with a view to its

pi enervation as a national monument, Mr Ilawken said that nothing would be done to jeopardise the true conservation interest of the great forest wealth with which this forest was so richly endowed.

So far as the control of forest insect pests was concerned, Mr Hawken said, the matter was now engaging his at-

tention with a view to evolving satisfactory methods.

R EFORMATIYE D ETENTION ORDERED. WELLINGTON. Aug. 29. Reformative detention not exceeding two years was imposed by Mr Salmon. S.M.. on William Roberts, alias Robertson. 17. butcher, who pleaded guilty to obtaining goods and money of a total value of £25 by means of valueless .cheques at Hiinterville and other places between there and "Wellington.