DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) PRI SOX E R jS EXT EX CEB. AUCKLAXD. Dec. 5. At the Police Court James Stewart Grogan pleaded guilty tj 117 charges of obtaining the total of £79 19s 2d by false pretences and to two charges of (belt. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, followed by eighteen mouths reformative detention. Tlio offence was committed while accused was employed by (he Dominion Art Coy as canvasser.

A CHILD KILLED. ASHBURTOX. Dec. 5. Rhyl is Vale “lie Copland, aged to months, was killed on Raikaia-Chert-sey road this morning as the result of being run over by a motor. She was a daughter of G. Copland, of CJiertsoy. CAUGHT IX THE ACT. AUCKLAXD, Dec. 5. A l ,bout two o’clock on Sunday morn-' ing three young men were arrested when leaving the premises of C. H. Drvsilale and Coy., wine and spirit merchants with dozens of bottles of spirits, entrance having been made by breaking- the heavy iron chains which secured the collar windows and doors. The strange loitering of two

men in a touring car and the noise in Drysdale’s premises led a taxi driver to notify the police with the result that a raid followed. Before the Police Court Harry Collins, and Peter Kelly (seamen), and William Martin (fireman) were charged with breaking, entering and stealing liquor to the value of £l2 l(!s. They were remanded for a week.

IXQUEST VERDICT. DUX ED IX. Dec. 5. At. an inquest on Andrew Kydd and William llopwoud, victims of a blasting fatality at Burke’s Railway Construction Works, the Coroner said the men had gone hack to the face before the third explosion had gone off. It was Lard to understand why Hopwood had come to commit such a serious oversight. A verdict that death was due to injuries accidentally received. was returned. APPEAL COURT BECiISIOX. WELLIXGTOX, Dec. 5. In the Court of Appeal before Chief Justice Skerrett and Judge Sim. this

morning, an application was made by Sir J. Findlay, K.C.. with him. Air Harding on hehall of Funtagn and Tagaloa. the two Samoans who had been sentenced to six months imprisonment for a breach ol banishment order, for leave to appeal to the Privy Council from the judgment ol the High Court of Samoa. Sir J. Findlay said lie had come to the conclusion that on the proper construction ol the Samoa Act- 1921. there was no right of'anpca.l from the decision ol (lie Supreme Court ol Xew Zealand in any matter brought before it Iroin the Court, of Samoa, and that therefore he would not carry the matter auv further, hut it the Court should come to a different conclusion then on merits lie submitted that leave to appeal to (lie Privy Council should

be granted. Mr Alyers, K.C., with him Mr Currie. who appeared for the Crown, said there was no right of appeal to the Court of Appeal of Xew Zcalan.l and therefore by necessary implication the Court had no jurisdiction■ to grant leave to appeal to the Privy Council. As far as the merits were concerned lie submitted that leave should not he granted, as in any ease (lie sentences would expire helore the ease could possibly he heard by His Alajcsty in Council.

Chief Justice Skerrett said it was unnecessary to decide whether there was a right of appeal or not, because the Court was of opinion that even if there were such a right, it should not he granted. 1 lie appellants hail not made out a case in which an appeal should he granted, if for no other reason than that- because the sentences would expire before the matter could he determined. The notice was therefore dismissed. Justice. Sim concurred in the judgment and had nothing to add.

INQUEST VERDICT. PALMERSTON X., Dee. 5. At the coronial inqury into the death of Alfred Thornton. 22, a labourer whose dead body was found hanging on Agricultural College property, on which deceased was employed roadmaking by a contracting firm, no reason could be assigned for the rash act, and the coroner returned a verdict of suicide by hanging. DIVORCE AND PUBLICITY. ■ HAMILTON, Dec. 5. “No doubt the papers will see that proper publicity is given to the case,” remarked Mr Justice Herdman in the

Supreme Court to-day, when the venue of divorce proceedings was questioned. Lawrence Spencer Dnrie. hank clerk, of Eltliam. sought a divorce from his wife, Beatrice Margaret Durie. His Honour asked why the proceedings had been instituted in Hamilton. Counsel explained that Hamilton had lioen made the venue of the proceedings for reasons of privacy, when restitution of conjugal rights, and consequently a second action, was brought in the same Court. His Honour, while agreeing that hotli actions should he taken in the same Court, made the observation quoted.

ALLTAXCR PROTESTS. WELLINGTON. Dec. 5

The Standing Committee of the N.Z. Alliance to-day emphatically protested against the Legislative Council’s action on the Licensing Bill, overruling the decisions of the people’s elected representatives in Parliament., especially as the questions were clear issues in the last election. They intend approaching the Prime Minister, with an urgent request that facilities lie given for the passing of a Licensing Bill early next session. It' the matter is not settled next session, they will make it a test question 'at the General Election. They affirmed that it would not he settled until left, to the electors to decide, without hindrance or handicap, on a basis of one elector, one vote, and one vote, cue value.

STATE FT RE REBATES. WELLINGTON. Dee. 5,

The State Fire and Accident Insurance Office has decided to continue the bonus rebate at the present rate of 125 per cent, for a further twelve months, said Mr Xosworthy. Since the bonus rebate system was instituted in 1923, over £IOO,OOO has been rebated to State Fire Policy Holders, and as insurance companies have each year for competitive reasons, followed this lend, the total saving to the nuhlic brought about hv the institution of State Fire rebates, is not less than one million pounds. WOOL SALES. WELLINGTON, Dec. o. At the wool sales this morning, the proceedings indicated an easier market. The total offering was 25,780 bales. Competition was much under that at the November sale. The prices though well up to London parity, were a half penny for good, to a penny for lower grade, below November, Many lots were passed in owing to ihq des-

crepancy in opinions of growers anil buyers. Some prices were : Merino 26 d to 27d, half-bred 19Id to three- | quarter 143 dto ] 9.pi, crossbred 14d to 16pi to 173 d, and Southdown 18d to 21 pi. Corriedale 19Jd to 21 pi. Landis 18d to lf)Jd. — i TOTE INVESTMENTS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. Tote investments for the year ended July 31st. were £7,662,894 against £8,606.682 in 11)26. The number of races fell from 2678 to 2622 and there was a decrease of seven in the miniher of racing days. Government took £669.627 and clubs £601,863, in both cases a. considerable decrease on 1926.