DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

\ ■<#>— (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.; WHEAT RESEARCH. WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. The personnel of the Wheat Re- ; search Institute, which is to investigate all phases of the wheat industry in New Zealand, has been decided upon. Dr Hilgendorf. of Lincoln College, has been asked to act as general supervisor, and lie will have under him 1 a chemist, an expert technical miller, and an expert technical baker. Applications are at present being called in England for the position of chemist, and the appointee will ho selected by a committee consisting of Sir J. Humphries, founder of the "Wheat Research Institute of England, Dr Engledaw, a prominent plant breeder, and Dr E. A. Fisher, director of the British Flourmillers’ Research Association, St. Albans. Advice has been received by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research that Dr Fisher’s association is anxious to collaborate with the Institute in the present investigations. QUICK WORK. WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. On Christmas Day a cablegram was sent to England from Wellington requesting the forwarding of 220 tons of steel rolled and cut to dead lengths for building construction works. Apparently no time was lost by the recipient of file order, and all the steel, which was supplied by several different firms, duly arrived by the Rotorua, which readied Wellington last Saturday, that vessel having left England on January 20th. SERIOUS BUSH FIRES. GISBORNE, Feh. 28. Grass and second growth fires are raging at Cape Runaway district. J. Downey’s house was totally destroyed his wife just getting out in time with two infants. An unconfirmed report states Kohu station woolshed, owned l>v Geo. Kirk, was destroyed. Cranswick and Thomas, settlers on Waitangahin station were forced to leave their places and bury their household goods. A. C. Wood’s house at Lottin Point was in danger all night. At the last report the danger had diminished. At flora station, soldiers settlement fires were raging, hut no buildings were destroyed so far. Downey’s and Kohu station buildings are insured in the South British. LENGTHENING OF OTAGO DOCK. DUNEDIN, Feh. 28. A start was made to-day to lengthen tho Otago Dock, in order to accommodate the C. A. Larsen if she is refloated. It is stated that representations are being made from both Auckland and Sydney to Five the vessel docked at one of those places. The shipping authorities point out, however, that tho t . A. Larson must come to Dunedin for repairs if the Otago Dock can take her, as it would he foolish to suggest that the insurance people would take the risk of allowing the damaged vessel to travel any further at sea than was absolutely necessary. The repairing of the C. A. Larsen, it- is said, u ill heothe greatest undertaking of its kind ever carried out in the Dominion. Word was received at Dunedin to- ; day that Mr Plunkett, at one time a Lloyd’s surveyor in Auckland, had liven instructed from London to pro- ' coed to Stewart Island to assist in the salvaging of the vessel. t BUS AND TRAM COLLISION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 28. There were no passengers in the railway department has which collided with a tram car at Thorndon Quay { this morning. The wind screen in 1 front of the bus was badly damaged. ' The woodwork on the left side was * torn away. The driver. Alfred G. Cot- I terell .suffered bruises. The bus engine ’ was not working well, and Colterell 1 had to use a choke while leaning over, 1 thus the mishap occurred. AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH. ' AUCKLAND, Feh. 28. < A. New Zealander, who has distinguished himself in the field of aero- 1 nautical research, 11. F. Parker, an ( old Nelson College and Canterbury 1 college hoy, arrived from Vancouver 1 by the Niagara yesterday. As the result of Parker’s researches, helium instead of hydrogen, was adopted by the United States Navy Department for inflating airships and dirigibles. Ho discovered what is known as the water recovery apparatus. Leaving Canterbury College in 1915. Mr Parker went on active service, and was engaged as pilot with tho Royal , Air Force. He received injuries as . the result of a crash in 1916, and on being invalided liyme, interested himself in aeronautical engineering. On ( completing his water recovery apparatus, he took it to England and America and eventually it was adopted ill America. Since then he has made his name in the United States, doing a considerable amount of work ioi the United States Government. He is now making a short holiday visit to New Zealand. » i I ACTOR CHARGED WITH PERJURY. WELLINGTON, Fell. 28. An actor, aged 39, charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day with having ] committed wilful and corrupt perjury ( in the Supreme Court at Melbourne, . was remanded on hail, his name being , suppressed in the meantime. - . < ASSAULTED WARDER. HAMILTON. Feb. 28. The Supreme Court Session opened j to-day before Mr Justice Blair, there being twelve criminal cases tor trial. Edward AYilliam Slattery Corless, a , young man, was charged that, with inintent to break prison, he attempted to render Warder John Kennedy incapable of resistance, causing him actual bodily harm, and with common assault. Prisoner conducted his own defence, putting the warder through a rigorous cross-examination. The case is proceeding.