DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) SUPREME COURT. DUNEDIN, Dee. 19. Prisoners sentenced were:—Allan Reuben Barnett, aged 21. on five charges of breaking, entering and theft, attempted breaking and entering .four charges of theft of postal packets, three charges of arson, to five years reformative. William Henry Martin, aged 20, four charges of breaking, entering and theft and attempted breaking and entering, three charges of theft ol postal packets, three charges of arson to three years reformative. Alex Hedges, aged 27, breaking, entering and theft to three years Borstal. The prisoners' were members of wliat is known as the “Chevrolet motor gang.” and have yet to come up for sentence in the Lower Court lor conversion of motors. Stephen .lames Giles, aged 21, lor carnal knowledge, twelve months reformative.

LORRY FATALITY. TE KUITI. Dee. 19. As a result of a tie pin becoming detached the steering rod of a lorry carrying a picnic party ol parents and children, totalling 28, went over a hank near Awakino on Sunday morning, and fell 40 feet. As a result of injuries .Max Brcdenbeek, son of F. Brodeiibeck. driver and owner of the lorry, died in the hospital this morning. Gordon Weir, aged 8, residing at Arnpae, is also in the hospital with injured ribs and shock. The others also received minor injuries. The lorry escaped being hurled into Awakino river, through being caught on a protruding hank. WOOL SALE OPENS. DUNF.DJN, Dec. 19. The first wool sale of the season here opened late this afternoon with 20,0 (1 0 hales.

MAN MISSING. HAT FOUND ON RIVER BANK. WELLINGTON, Dee. 17. A hat found on the hanks of the Hutt river on Tuesday has been found to contain an envelope inside the lining with the name Air Osborne. Alexander Osborne has been missing from his home at Lower Hutt since Monday. The neighbourhood of the spot where the hat was found is now being thoroughly searched. MOTOR CYCLIST HURT. HAMILTON. Dec. 18. While riding a motor-cycle at Ngnruawahia yesterday a young man named H. Attwood. of Pukemiro, collided with a To Awaimitu race train at Princess Street crossing. The rider’s left arm was badly smashed, his right leg received severe bruises, and he sustained abrasions and considerable shock. The motor cycle, which was quite new. was smashed almost beyond repair.

AIOKAU BRIDGE OPENED. NEW PLYMOUTH. Dec. 16. Forming the last link in the main highway between Taranaki and. Auckland. the bridge across the Alokau River was officially opened by the Prime .Minister and the Alinister for Public Works on Saturday, in the sence of a very large gathering troin' both provinces, including the members for Waitnmo. Taranaki, and Stratford. No satisfactory tender having been received for the work, the bridge was constructed by the Public Works Department at a cost of about £35,000, In dei laring tile bridge open Air Coates referred to the import a lice of this great advance ill road communication, which eliminated (lie old ferry punt that had done service for many years. Good roads were an essential factor in promoting the closer relations and co-operation between town mud country so necessary lo the progress of both.

ki.ax culture. REPORT BY DR J. S. Y KATES. WELLINGTON. Dec. 17. The time is overdue when (lax-grow-ing should he placed on a .scientific basis says Dr J. Yeates in a report on his investigations of the past three months into the subject. Keen competition in the world’s markets demands both an improvement" in quality and in uniformity, and a reduction in labour costs; this last (mio of the largest items in the production of flax fibre. Everything seems to indicate (systematic cultivation and mechanical handling of lla.x as the chief remedy.

In this report, which has been furnjslird to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr YYntcs declares that it is only to he expected that repeated cutting of heavy crops off uncultivated swamps would lead to deterioration both in quality and quantity. 111 addition, the swamp has the disadvantages of expensive cutting and carrying and of mixed varieties. Cultivated flax would almost certainly lie cut hv mechanical menus, and the same tractor used for cutting would lie available for hauling. Iho preliminary work 011 selection, breeding, and cultivation should he done before planting begins on an extensive scale. That it is really worth "bile is shown by ihe fact that it has been done already b,v'individual millers. Messrs A. and L. Seifert, and Mr B. B. Wood are mentioned specially in this connection. Valuable as work by individual concerns may ho. however, there can he no doubt that combined work by all interested has everything in its favour. It is waste for several men each to spend time and money on the same problem, nor can one man or a company often afford to look far enough, ahead in its' programme of research. The industry in New Zealand is .small and must stand or fall as a unit. The pooling of experience already gained and co-or-dination in future research appear to Dr A'eatos to he the most hopeful lines nf advance.