DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

i By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) INQUEST VERDICT. GTSBORXE, .Tan. I f. A verdict of deatli by drowning was given at the inquest on Norman Douglas Binder, an infant ivlm fell into a cask of water. The evidence showed the child was of robust health and had only been missed a few minutes, lie had fallen head first into the cask, and died before medical help arrived. main me;havavs. SOUTHERN TOUR OF BOARD. AYELLIXGTOX. dan. 13. Following a short meeting in AYellington mi January 21 the Alain Highwavs Board will make an extensive tour of South Island roads. It will commence its official business at \\ nimate on January 23. and during the day will visit Oainaru. l’ahnerston South and AVaikonaiti. reaching Dunedin at night. Tuesday, January 24 will see the board on route for Afosgiol. Milton. Balcluiha and Gore, and next day AVinton. Otautau, Tuatapere, Orepuki and Riverton will be visited, the board staying at Invercargill that night and setting out on January 2(1 for Tapanui. Lawrence and Pox burgh. On Friday. January 27. they will proceed to Pembroke via Queenstown. Arrowtmvn and the Crown Range. On Saturday. January 23 the route Is from Pern broke to Mount Cook, which will he left on Sunday afternoon, the board staying at Fairlie. On Monday, January 30 Hie itinerary covers Tmiaru, Geraldine, Ashburton and Christchurch, which will he reached in the evening. The following dav will he devoted to business with Canterbury local bodies. AVhen the hoard is in Dunedin it will have a general discussion with public bodies representatives on the distribution of the petrol tax and reconstruction of important main highways near that city.

taxation on petrol, f.nf.aiptioxs explained. AYELLIXGTOX. Jan. 10. S«>nu» doubtful points regarding the operation of the petrol tax were cleared up hv the Fiider-Seeretary of Public Works. Afr F. AV. Furkert. to-day.

He stated that there are no exemptions from the tax. hut that a refund is granted ill certain cases. For instance. a refund is given to all owners of vehicles using petrol which' are •‘not" registered under the Afotor Yohides Act. “AA’harf tractors”'used by harlioiir hoards, not being registered, receive the refund. Local body tractors util sot I .solely in road niaintenaiice are subject to the tax. hut are also entitled lo a refund. A county council’s lorry for carting metal will he exempt. To the ease of power hoards the lorries are not exempt, as these bodies are carrying on a commercial undertaking. and they have to contribute to the tax.

The farmer who uses petrol for driving his milking or shearing machinery or for pumping water for his farm is exempt, as the whole object of flic tax is to obtain revenue for the maintenance of the roads. -

Launches are not subject to the petrol tax.

POSSESSION OF FIREARMS. AYKTILIXGTOX. Jan. 13. George Thompson Hall and John Gordon llarcourt, both returned soldiers. were to-day each tilled Cl for failure to observe all the regulations in regard to firearms. They failed to notify a change of address while having the permission of the Minister for Defence to hold unlawful weapons, i.o. war souvenirs in the form of automatic pistol-. WATER SFI'PLV .AIAI.NTAI.VEn. Hastings. Jan. 13. The break in the town water supply was acetoned and the position retrieved. but rigid economy of water is necessary. The new pipe will he ready in a couple of days and in the meantime pumping is going on satisfactorily. Householders suffered no inconvenience ns domestic supplies were mantained. A BANKRUPT’S ADMISSIONS. AUCKLAND. Jan. 13. Liabilities amounting to £217 were

acknowledged by Frederick Tle.sketh. formerly in business as a grain and produce merchant, and now a clerk, who met his creditors yesterday.

Bankrupt, who attributed bis position to poor salaries lie bad received in various occupations and to sickness, said that lie bad no assets. Lately lie be bad got behind with bis rent. Temporary work was usually obtained at race meetings, where be was engaged in the totalise tor office at 30s a day. Tbo Official Assignee: You have no one to keep, and yet you are so far behind in your debts. Do you drink? Bankrupt: Yes—whiskey. Tt costs me about 2(>s a week.

The Official Assignee: Twenty pounds in three months, and you are in debt ? Do you bet?—Yes: 1 have been betting a bit more than T should. Nearly all the boys at the totalisator l; do in” their wages trying to get a bit more back. T usually lost mine, and .sometimes a little more. The Official Assignee: You are at least, very candid.

Bankrupt made an offer to pay 30s a week to liis creditors in reduction of bis debts and this was accepted. CAB CRASH ICS INTO POLK. AUCKLAND. Jan. 11. A motor skidded on loose gravel at Papatoetoe. crashing into a telegraph pole. Ralph Fairey. aged 21. of Newmarket. was gravely injured about the bead, lie isi now m the hospital in a serious condition. His companion escaped with minor injuries. DAIRY HAND IX.TFRKD BY FI1! IC. AYHANGABFI. Jan. M. As Harold Snell. of Tutukaka, was starting an engine in a milking shod Yesterday, it backfired and tbe place was soon a mass of flames. Snell, in endeavouring to put out the fire, was badly burned about bis legs and bands, and was taken to the hospital bore. The shed was a total loss.

CHILD’S LUC BROKEN. DUNEDIN. Jan. Id. As a result of a motor ear overturning at Allatuon. at mid-day to-day. tli five months old child of Mr and Airs D. Wheeler, of Moraona, was admitted tithe hospital, suffering from a fracture of the right leg. The ear. which was an old model Ford, was carrying six or seven passengers from Momenta, and when nearing Allanton the steering gear failed te work, and the ear capsized over a small bank. .Most of the occupants suffered front bruises, scratches, or outs, but tlie child, Douglas Charles Wheeler, was the only one requiring hospital treatment. His injuries are confined to a broken leg and his condition is not serious