DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1927, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(Ily Telegraph—Per Press Association.) “BLAOKBI H DING.” ’ HOOT OF TROIHir.F. IN SOLOMONS AUCKLAND, (tot. 11. ‘‘There can bo comparatively few places left in the world that are so primitive as the Solomon Islands,” said Major H. S. Robinson, secretary of the .Melanesian Mission. to-day, when referring to conditions as they existed when he was there. On a 9000 miles' tour last year. Major Robinson called at the island of Mala, the scene of the massacres recently reported. lie said it was only a short while ago that the better class of white men went to the islands in that part of the Pacific, and carried Christianity to the natives. Tn the interior, many of the tribes wore entirely heathen, and had never come in direct contact with whites. The only law they knew was the law of retaliation'. Civilisation had in those parts boon confined to the coastal tribes, and tlie work was divided amongst the Melanesian, Presbyterian and Methodist Missions. A lost of the trouble .Major Robinson thought, arose from unfair labour recruiting (“blnckbirding”), and from interference with native customs. Labour recruiting vessels had frequented the waters, endeavouring to secure natives, for whom the adventurous white man was amply repaid at so much a head. The methods adopted to desired number of labourers were various, and sometimes left much to he desired.

SHIPPING REPORT’S. WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. A protest against the discontinuance of the Postal Department’s shipping intelligence service was entered hy a deputation to the Postmaster-General and the Minister of Marine this inorn-

Mr Glover, on behalf cf the Water,skiers’ Federation, said that the service was an essential part of their industry. If it cost £4OOO, as reported, that was nothing to what its discontinuance would cost the watersiders. There was not enough continuous "ork at small ports and therefore the watersiders took jobs elsewhere, and depended upon the. Post Office for information rogarding shipping. Representations were also made on behalf of the Seamen’s Union, the Cooks’ and Stewards Union and Harbour Hoards. Air Nosworthy said that the Department was asked to show a commercial balance-sheet, and it could not do that if it were asked to give something for nothing. They could not undertake to continue the service unless somebody found the money. The Shipping Companies, Harbour Hoards, or tin* Press might pay the cost. The matter is to lie further discussed hy Cabinet.

RESERVED J U DGAIENT. WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. Reserved judgment was delivered today by Mr Justice AlcGregor in the action in which the Black and While Calls Ltd., sought for .leave to issue a writ of attachment against Edward Sand ford for failing to obey a writ of injunction directed against him with regard to a car so painted as to -resemble the Black and White Cabs. Since the judgment, defendant had been altering the painting of his ear in some respects hut Air Justice MacGregor, after inspecting flic cabs, holds that the defendant had not followed the course recommended hy AIT Justice Alpcrs. Defendant, he says, has not honestly tried to oliey the order of the Court, but still remains determined to sail as close as possible in imitating the Black and White cabs. Defendant’s car still remains calculated to deceive. He holds that the defendant has not obeyed the order, either in loiter or in spirit, and accordingly is guilty of contempt. He ordered that tlio plaintiff company had leave to issue a writ of attachment, hut in order to give Sandford a final opportunity of complying with the terms of the injunction, the writ would lie in the office of the Court for fourteen davs.

COURT JUDGMENT. WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. Mr Justice Macflregor to-day delivered judgment- upholding tlie decision of the Official Assignee in -rejecting a. proof of del)t for C 73 in connection with the bankruptcy of Abraham Spiro, a caterer, purporting to he money advanced by a. daughter to her father for business purposes. Ho said: it appears that the alleged cash book was not entered up from day to day, nor was it in any real sense a contemporary record at all. Like receipt entries relating to advances alleged to have been made in 1923 arid 1921 were actually made in 1927. and were then recorded, also in contemplation of and no doubt- in preparation for the impending bankruptcy of the debtor.

KAWiAR.AU CL ALMS. DUNEDIN, Oct. 12. Claim-holders on the Ivawarau River, representing 10.1 claims, have decided upon amalgamation for the future working of the river. Conferences have been held and a- complete amalgamation has been agreed upon, giving far better prospects to the venture.

ROSS OF CAVIL RIGHTS. AUCKLAND, Oct. 12. \ fine of five pounds and the loss of'his civil righfetfor ten years, formed the penalty imposed on J. N'eoi in the Police Conn to-day. for fading to attend drill. It was stated that he was a consitent offender, and that -he had ignored all notifications. A CAR ABLAZE. HAMILTON. Oct. 12. While a party wore proceeding to wedding at Hamilton to-day, a large ear carrying six Tentntu residents suddenly burst into flames, and, before the occupants could escape, the ear body was enveloped. All six wer badly burned, chiefly about the head and hands. The most seriously injured were: Mr S. Shaw, the bride’s father; Mrs Marshall, her grandmother; and Misses -Myrtle McDonald and Eileen Moore, who suffered considerably from shock, in addition to burns. The car was completely destroyed.

ABATTOIRS RAID. BLENHEIM, Oct, 12. Vt the Magistrate’s Court late this afternoon, Mr T. E. Maun sell heard the charge of theft of sheep-runners against John Joseph 0 Hallornn, »i» mentioned in a telegram yestei day. At the conclusion, Mr A. C. Nathan, who appeared for the informant, adopted a suggestion from His Wor-

•ship and withdrew the information on the butchers giving an assurance that there would be no repetition of the offence, and on defendant agreeing to pay costs and to return the runners. The same course was adopted in regard io the charges of trespass preferred against Thomas Tracey. who was acting under the butchers' institutions in seizing the runners. His Worship warned the butchers that if there were any repetition of the offence, he would have no hesitation in entering a conviction for theft.

A telegram yesterday stated Hint the trouble was the sequel to a dispute between tlie Blenheim master butchers and the Borough Council, in regard to the ownership of sheep runners taken from animals killed at the municipal abattoirs, which dispute was recently the subject of a SupremeCourt action in Wellington, in which the verdict went to the Council. It is stated that a party of butchers -raided the abattoirs and despite warnings hy the manager, removed the runners. As an upshot to this event, information was laid against J. J. O’lTalloran, charging him with the alleged theft of runners. O’Halloran is a local butcher and also a member of the Borough Council and of the Abattoirs Committee.

CAR. TRAGEDY. WANGANUI, Oct. 12. When his lights were dimmed to pass another ear. Air Paul Eromoiit, aged -19. City Foreman of Works, tonight drove his car through the railings of a small bridge on a road leading out of the- city known as Number Three Line. The ear landed upside down in a. creek and Air Fromont and -his only- daughter. Stella-, aged 25 years, were drowned, while his niece, Lottie Murphy, managed to free herself and summoned assistance, hut the other two were dead liefore the ear could be removed. The bridge is very narrow. The late Air Fromont leaves nine sons.

AUCKLAND CAR SALVSH. AUCKLAND, Oct. 12. While travelling towards Auckland on the Great South Road near Penrose to-night, a touring car containing a. party of four men, crashed into one of the steel electrical trims, mission standards on the wrong side of the road. Daniel MneLaren, a married man. residing in Valley Road. Alt. Eden, who was seated in the hack with another, was rendered unconscious hy the impact, while the tongue of a companion, named AlcLoughlin, was split, Shock was suffered by the other men.