DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME. WELLINGTON. Nov. 23,

The seventh annual meeting of the N.Z. Sheepfarmers’ Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund was held to-day. The Chairman. Hon. K. Newman. M.L.C.. presided. The annual report disclosed a most satisfactory state of affairs. Consideration was given to (57 applications for financial assistance and grants amounting to £1,044 10s 2d were authorised to disabled sailors and dependants ol sailors who had died as a result of injuries received during the war. During the same period, the London Advisory Committee considered 104 applications, making grants amounting to £874 2s 4(1. The total cash grants to date amount to £54,192 Is lid. The trustee had now brought out some 400 hoys and girls, 414 ol whom were now settled upon farms in the Dominion.

The chairman said the land had had to face heavy taxation. The amount actually subscribed was £210,000, out of this between £14,000 and £OO,OOO had boon expended in assisting relatives of seamen killed or incapacitated by the war.. The fund had had to pay Land Tax amounting to £1,700 and Income Tax totalling £45,000. None of the hoys had drifted to the cities, lie urged the Government to follow some such scheme in bringing out immigrants. It was stated that the amount actually saved in cash by the boys and girls of Flock House amounted to £7OOO. and in addition many boys had invested in substantial life insurance policies, added to this a sum of nearly £4OOO stands to the credit of both Imys and girls ns accrued pension money. AMBULANCE'S RECORD TRIP. AUCKLAND. Nov. 24. Yesterday the St. John Ambulance conveyed a patient, an ex-soldier, from Auckland 210 miles to liis home in tho Bay of Plenty. The journey was successful in every way, taking 144 hours. The (tin is claimed as a record lor ambulance work.

PRESENTATION TO MR SIDEY DUNEDIN. Nov. _

Mr T. K. Side, M.P.. was tendered a, complimentary social in St. Kilda Town Hall to-night to commemorate the adoption of the Summer Time Act, and presuted with a tea and coffee set.

WOOL FIBRE ENQUIRY. WELLINGTON, Nov. 22,

,\t Victoria University College, Air F. ||. Xorl.hero!'4, of the staff ol the Department of Scientific and industrial Research, is new studying samples of Xew Zealand wool of known history and pedigree taken lrom fleeces the story of which is familiar The diameter of the fibres is being taken and it is intended that the study of the lleoces shall ho continued for six months, by which time valuable information as to tbe merits and demerits of New Zealand wool will have been accumulated, and the Department will be In a position to make recommendations for improvements. V. A. ROSE’S FAILURE. M'ASTERTON, Nov. 24. Creditors in the bankrupt estate of Randob h A. I* farmer aml al'delo.

after a brief examin'd i - u of bankrupt v sterdav afternoon, decided, with one (Msfentient. to recommend him for hidischarge as soon as lie sees fit to apple for it.

P iso stated that he had no caoilnl when he commenced agricultural fanning three years ago. When he left New Zealand to compete in athletic events in England and on the Continent he owed £4”O. When lie returned from oversea he still owed £4(19, with the addition of certain money advanced hint by his father, and a few small accounts.

Bose expressed the opinion that probably his continued absence on athletic engagements had interfered with his farm work, though Eli,is did not account for the failure of his swede crop, which was destroyed by hot weather. His travelling expenses while touring New Zealand athletic meetings had been paid by the various clubs at whose meetings he appeared. Ho reeived only bare travelling allowances, other out-of-pocket, expenses on trips being paid by simself.

Bose went on to state that Hie, sum of £l5O was paid into his account from the special fund raised before his departure for England to enable him to square up certain accounts.

CLAIM FOB DAMAGE FAILS DUNEDIN. Nor. 23

In the Supreme Court Joan Catherine O’Connell sued Dr William Arthur Anderson and Elizabeth Thomson for £750 damages for alleged negligence in burning plaintiff's foot with a hot-water bottle while she was under an anaesthetic' in a private hospital at Queenstown.

Tlie action was against the doctor, who was the surgeon conducting the operation, and against- the owner of tlie maternity hospital at which it was performed. Air Justice Sim said it was clear that the hot-water bag when brought in must have been dangerously hot. but it was not brought in for immediate use. Tt was brought in case it should lie required, and was placed in what appcnreiT to be a place of safety in tlie lied, at some distance from tlie patient, and under a sheet. He could not say that tlie nurse might to have anticipated when she put tlie hag there that the patient would move down tlie bed and tbal her feet would come in contact with the bottle. Judgment was given for defendants.

DUTY FREE PETROL. LARGE SUPPLIES AFLOAT. AUCKLAND. Nov. 23. Three substantial cargoes of case: petrol, which will jest escape’ the to? of -kl a gallon on motor spirits, arc due in Auckland during the first wool; in December. Tt is also believed that the two oil companies which distribute in bulk have each a tanker or

the water which lias non-dutialile petrol for New Zealand. One of the ships, the AVest Ca-lera, left San Pedro. California, for Auckland on November Bth. tlie last day of grace. She will unload at Auckland and other New Zealand ports. 42,96-1 cases and 2305 drums of petrol, a total of 443,595 gallons. Tin’s quantity would involve £7393 ill petrol taxes if the steamer had left a day later. Tlie Crosskeys left -Sail Pedro on November 6th with 21,000 cases and 1209 drums of petrol, all for Auckland. This fortunate departure saves £3666 for Auckland importers and if tlie price of petrol is advanced before tlie discharge of the two cargoes, about Decmber 2nd and 4th, oil vendois would clear in the aggregate £21.059 on the consignments by those vessels. Tlie City of Lyons, which left New York on November sth. has also a cargo of case petrol for New Zealand ports which will escape the levy. One distributor has not been so fortunate. He expects a consignment on December 29th of over 40.000 eases, which left on November 10th. This will pay petrol tax, amounting to overl £5300. *