DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1928, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

THE AIAOBI RACE.

BISK OF EXTINCTION PAST.

AUCKLAND, Jan. 19,

The question of instructing children in Maori schools in health matters was discussed at the conference of native school teachers to-day. Addresses were delivered bv l)r K. J\ Ellison, Director of Alaori Hygiene. Dr Ada Paterson. Director of School Hygiene, and Dr Mildred Staley. representing the Child Welfare Council. Dr Paterson said the work of the Department was restricted to a certain extent by the size of the available medical staff and it bad not been found j«»ssible yet to make medical inspections of native school children. Part of the regular routine policy had been to visit the schools where advice on special problems was sought, and an endeavour was made to supply the teachers with literature on health niat-

“It; appears to mo that any risk of extinction of the Alaori race is now a thing of the past.” said Dr E. P. Ellison. Director of Alaori Hygiene, referring to the vital statistics quoted in the course of a review of the work of his division. Compared with the people of the Pacific Islands, Dr Ellison said be found the Alaoris difficult to help on account of their strong prejudices fostered by half-educated natives, and in some cases by Europeans. Such prejudice bad considerably hampered the measures for the control of typhoid fever by the innoculation method which bad otherwise proved highly successful. There had been a marked improvement in ,-ocent years in the hygienic conditions at public native gatherings. There were exceptions, but the Alaori gcnoially was not nearly so careless in these matters as formerly. The real meaning of education should bo to teach the children how to live, said Dr Alildred Staley. T» Alaori schools, especially, the whole basis of health teaching should lie to instil into the children a practical knowledge of how to manage the body the most wonderful machine ever made. Such teaching was of far greater importance than cramming their minds with history, geography and arithmetic.

sale of tobacco. new act enforced next MONTH. WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. During last session of Parliament the Shops and Offices Act was amended in a manner in which enables those whose main business is the selling of smokers’ requisites to take such steps as will compel all other businesses soiling tobacco and cigarettes ns a side line to close at the same hours as they do themselves under the regulations. On February Ist the Shops and Offices Amendment Act of last session comes into force, and under it provision is made requiring that all shops selling smoking requisites shall close not later than the hour fixed by any requisition for the hours of tobacconists’ shops. The requisition enabling the closing hours to he fixed requires to he signed by two-thirds of the tobacconists in the particular area concerned.

It is understood that a requisition l>y the local tobacconists is now in the course of preparation, and upon that being gazetted all fruiterers, confectioners, and billiard saloons selling tobacco and cigarettes —in fact, every shop selling smoking 'requisites in the area covererd by the requisition—-will have to close ml the hour stated. Hotels, private hotels, and hoard-ing-houses have been excluded from the operation of the section.

FIREMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. AUCKLAND. Jan. 19. ‘■Guilty, hut I had some provocation,” said .Tames Meeks, aged forty, charged in the Police Court with asSJUllt. It was explained that Meeks, who ■was a ship’s fireman, was dissatisfied with the food served aboard ship and com plained to Ilio captain, Alexandei AUKonzie. to whom he exhibited a dishful of food on the bridge. “I eat that,” the prosecution quoted the captain as having replied.

Alecks bail retorted. “Well, eat that,” and so saying he had tipped the dish and food over the captain’s head.

The Alagistrate, AH F. K. Hunt, re manded accused until to-morrow io sentence.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

AUCKLAND, Jan. 19

Appearing on remand in custody. Arthur Roparta Colson Wynyard, aged thirty, a music teacher, was charged in the Police Court with committing unnatural offences. Accused was arrested in Auckland by detectives, to whom, according to Chid-Detective Hammond, he had made statements practically admitting the offences. The Chief-Detective said accused was a resident of Hamilton, and while on a holiday in Auckland had taken boys for rides in his motor-car and had given them wine. Pleading not guilty, accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed.

THRILLING RESCUE. GIRL SAVED FROM DROWNING. AUCKLAND, Jail. 19. A thrilling rescue in the surf occurred at Milford late yesterday afternoon, when the efforts of three men saved a young girl from drowning. Unusually high seas, a fast receding tide and treacherous currents increased the risks of the rescuers, who battled desperately to reach the girl. While surfing at the Castor Buy eiul, -Miss Maisey Purvis, aged eighteen, was caught in a strong undertow which swept her swiftly out to sea, and within a few minutes she was washed 300 yards from the nearest bather. Scores were bathing, and when the girl’s plight was noticed two senior members of the Milford Life-saving Club. Colin Bacon and Thomas Hillicker, raced along the beach, only to see Miss Purvis disappear. Hillicker swam to the spot where the girl was last seen, and Bacon went for a lifebelt and reel. Watchers saw the girl reappear, only to sink again. Just as Bacon arrived with three juvenile members of the club, Herbert Warbrick. of Milford, waded into the sea fully clothed and swam out to Hillicker.

“Excitement nin high when Miss Purvis was seen again above the waves. She was grasped by Hillicker. Although burdened by ids waterlogged attire, Warbrick soon gained the side of the rescuer and rescued. Together the men kept the girl, who had by this time lost consciousness, afloat until the arrival of Bacon with a tow-line. Willing hands pulled readily, and within a few minutes all four were ashore. It was half an hour before the girl was brought round. The beach inspector said that the tide was the worst he had seen for years.

PATROL SERVICE. AUCKLAND UNDERTAKING. AUCKLAND, Jan. 19. Three uniformed patrolmen to render service to motorists will be appointed immediately by the Auckland Automobile Association. One man will be chiefly engaged in erecting signposts in the country, another will he employed on motor-cycle duty, in the suburbs and country, and the third official will direct the patrol service and cover popular routes near the city with a motor-cycle outfit.

Reporting on the organisation of the patrol to the council of the Automobile Association, the secretary, Air G AY. Hutchison, said that the increased service to motorists should giea.ly encourage membership. Motor-cycle combinations with special tools for breakdown work would cost about LI3O. Each fficer detailed for signpost! ag would require a motor truck.

Air Hutchison submitted an estimate indicating that the annual cost of the various additions to the services ot the association would he about £I6OO. This sum included all salaries and motor-cycle running costs. It was considered that increased menibersnip and other returns from extension of the organisation would supply additional revenue, which would almost

meet this extra expenditure. Mr Hutchison said the facilities to be offered should ensure a membership of 10,000 in the near future.

VITAL STATISTICS,

AYELLINGTON, Jan. U>

The total deaths registered in New Zealand during 1921 was 0393, ot winch males contributed 3456 and fema'es 2937. The total represents a proportion of S.9G deaths per thousand of population. Seven hundred and fortyeight of the deaths were of children under five years of age, and of these 589 were under one year of age.

During the same year live births totalled 13.053, a proportion of 18.29 per thousand of population.

YACHTING,

AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. In the Cornwall Cup to-day the Judges reported a foul between Auckland and AYliangarei and the mattei is now being considered. DUNEDIN OVERLOOKED. A CALL TO ABAIS. DUNEDIN, Jan. 19. “Some of these days there is going to be a great big war between the Norch and South Islands,” says the Dunedin “Evening Star,’’ “or perhaps between Otago alone and the north. Probably it will he Armageddon, and when the guns begin to thunder Dunedin in particular will he well to tho front.

“Why? Ask the Expansion League, the Afotor Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the botanists. In the past we have seen many pretty pictures entitled ‘Overlooking Dunedin,’ but now they will have to l>e called ‘Dunedin Overlooked.’ Bead all about the latest insult and then defy the League of Nations. The Wellington ‘Dominion’ has published ail illuminating map of New Zealand, the purpose of which was to outline the flight of the two aviators from Sydney. Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Westport. Groymouth and Invercargill are all present and correct, in big black lettering, but do we see any indication of where Dunedin lies? AYe do not. There is merely a bit of a hump on tho coastline, which may or may not he the Otago Peninsula. To arms, therefore!”

TOOK POISON. AUCKLAND, Jan. 19. A middle-aged man named E. -T. Paterson who was staying at Kelburn House, Upper Queen Street, under the name of Wilson, was found in his room late last night suffering from the effects of poison. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital in a critical condition.

In a letter left bv liim be stated that he had been unable to obtain sufficient work to feed himself, let alone his wife and children, so he was taking the only course open to him. He expressed a wish that the chemist from whom lie obtained the poison (the purchase was duly witnessed) would not get into trouble and concluded: “ALiy God help my fellow workers and all iny returned soldier comrades.” TAW A FLAT DISPUTE. WELLINGTON. Jan. 20. The Commission appointed to formulate an agreement to furnish a working basis lietween the contractors and employees at Tawa Flat, concluded its hearing of evidence to-day and reserved its decision.

RISE IN WOOL. WANGANI’T. Jan. 21

Not since the boom sale of the 1925 season has the wool market assumed such a healthy buoyant tone as tonight. when prices exceeded the most sanguine expectations, showing a good rise on the recent AVeTTington sale. Prices have steadily hardened since die Christchurch. Wellington and Napier sales, however, until the highest prices of the season were reached todav.

The catalogue comprised 25,000 bales and practically all was sold under the hammer, growers having every reason to lie satisfied with the splendid prices realised and the outlook for future sales is exceedingly good. CHILD KILLED BY CAR. CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. 20. The adjourned inquest was concluded to-day concerning the deatli of Yvonne Lawson, aged of years, who was knocked down on New Year's Eve, at North New Brighton, by a motor car driven by C. S. Hardy, subsequently dying in hospital. Further evidence showed that the car was pulling up at the time of the accident and was travelling slowly. A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable) to the driver of the ear.

CAR FALLS IN CREEK. AVAIROA. Jan. 20,

Two cars collided at Turiroa. on the Nanier Road, early this morn mg. the lighter vehicle going over into a creek below. Both were liadlv damaged. Angus Doils .a sheep farmer, was seriously hurt and removed to the hospital. The other driver escaped with minor cuts. SOLICITOR ROBBED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 20. During his absence on holiday, someone entered the home of AI I’ A. H. Cavell, solicitor, and stole a considerable quantity of silver and glassware.

BREACH OF ARMS ACT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. An Italian. Cation Cavallaro, who arrived in the Dominion a year ago, was to-day fined £3 for being in possession of an automatic pistol and ammunition, unregistered, which counsel explained were due to ignorance of the laws of the country. The weapon and cartridges wore brought into the country by Cavallaro and not declared to the Customs officials,