DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. GIFT TO COMMONWEALTH. WE IAdNOTO X. Ma rch 23. •Sir Charles Wakefield lias received a communication Iroin the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bruce, suggesting that tlie most suitable occasion for the presentation of the Avro Avian aeroplane to tho Commonwealth, in commemoration ot Mr Hinkler s flight, would he March 31, at the mascot aerial pageant. It is proposed that the aeroplane will he handed on loan to the aerial club as a mark of appreciation of its activities in civil aivation. RARE N.Z. I’ART). KILLED BY DOMESTIC CAT. AUCKLAND, March 22. In an Arch Hill garden yesterday, a cat killed a kolieperoa, or long-tailed cuckoo, one of the rarest of New Zealand birds. The cat belonged to Mrs E. Olsen. Commercial road, who brought the dead bird to the Auckland Museum, where it was identified and retained as an exhibit. The kolieperoa is rarely seen in Auckland. It leaves Samoa and other ( South Sea islands in the early spring , in company with tho pipiwharnuron, or shining hack cuckoo. The hitter bird is fairly common in Auckland at eer- . tain seasons of tho year, and after first landing in North Auckland gradually works ils way south. Before ! tin l winter comes the kolieperoa wings I its way hack to the warmer climate. I Mrs Olsen -stated that on Tuesday night she heard a curious call, but thought it eaino from a seagull. She ! saw the bird struggling to get away from the eat. hut. was unable to save it. LICENSING QUESTION. ATTITUDE OF ALLIANCE. NAPIER. -Mareli 22. Addressing a meeting at Taradale loI night. Mr C. Edmonds, secretary of ' the New Zealand Alliance, reviewed the history'of the licensing question ' during the last session, and continued:— " On the last day of the session a deputation of ■■ dry ” members ol the Reform Party waited on the Prime Minister when it was suggested that a caucus he held in January in order i that the party might dismiss the ques- . tion. So far there are no indications that the caucus will he held at an early date. From my knowledge of our movement in the Dominion, there ' is not the slightest chance of any departure from the principle ol a hare majority on a two-issue ballot-paper. We are assured by our friends in the Government party that the question must he considered again during ticcoming session of Parliament, and we are still hopeful that the 1928 licensing referendum will he taken on the twn- , issue ballot-paper, and he decided on a hare majority vote. If the matter is ! not settled during tho next session, tin'll the question must become a vital issue at the next general election. Responsibility for this must rest on tho Legislative Council, and, in the main, on tho leader of the Council. No question is ever settled until it is settled right, and we intend to continue to fight for the right of the people to abolish the liquor traffic by a tree democratic vote.” STRUCK ICEBERG. WHALING SHIP LOST. INVERCARGILL, March 22. The whaling ship C. A. Larsen, which is anchored at the top of Glory Harbour, frequently communicates by wireless with the Sir .Tamos C lark Ross, whiih is now close to Panama. The Sir James Clark Ross reported that the Southern Queen, a ship of OCtIU tons, had just become a total wreck through striking an iceberg in South Georgia waters. As she had 13,000 barrels of oil, valued at over €200,000, and the ship was worth about the same amount, the underwriters will he hard hit. The message stated all members of the crew had been saved by chasers. The vessel was owned by Lever Brothers and had a Norwegian crew. A later message says that thirteen men went down with the ship. MAGISTRATE- AND EUCHRE. AUCKLAND, March 22. With a Magistrate as president, tho Dunedin Club, of Auckland, wonders whether it would he wise to conduct euchre tournaments during the winter as was done last year. At the annual meeting of the club a member asked Air E. C. Cutten, S.AL, what hearing Air Justice Adams’s recent decision would have on card tournaments. “1 will reply by telling you a story,” Air Cutten said, and related an incident which occurred in Arelbourne many years ago, when an eminent Queen’s Counsel was asked: ‘‘Can I shoot a burglar if he comes to my house?” The lawyer replied: “You shoot him first, and come and ask me afterwards !” 11ANFURLY SHIELD. NAPIER, Ala rch 22. Reference was made as follows in the amnial report of tho Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union to the Ranfurly Shield: “It seems fitting, now that the Ranfurly Shield has departed from this district, to place on record the immense value the shield has been to Hawke’s Bay province, both from the playing and financial points of view. ( It has created a public interest in football previously unequalled. and our only regret is that through the loss of the shield public interest, to a certain extent waned, although the .subsequent matches provided were fully up to shield standard.” Last season's profits, with only one shield match, totalled £823. bringing tlie union’s accumulated funds to £3722. FARMER’S SUICIDE. WELLINGTON. March 24. George Rogers, aged 01 years, a single man and a farmer, was found shot at Tarurutangi, this morning in the workshop of his farm. . He had boon in ill-health for some time. Suicide is assumed. FIRE AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. March 25. On Friday night a dwelling of six > rooms, occupied by Air P. G. Ward, and owned by Airs E. Burnette, at J Roseneatli, was totally destroyed, i There was a' high wind, and notwithstanding the Fire Brigade’s two hours’ fight, the adjoining house was severely j damaged by fire and water. Tlie contents of Mrs Burnette’s house were insured at the United Insurance Office ■ for £3OO, but the insurance on the' , building is not known. j , ACCIDENT TO .THE AORANGI. | . AUCKLAND, March 25. ! . The Royal Alail liner Aorangi arrived , at Auckland from Vancouver to-day. , She developed a leak in her ' rudder j trunk after leaving Honolulu, and < since then water has been leaking into ( the engine room. The Harbour Board’s diver inspected the underwater part of ; the ship’s stern to-day, and arrange- j ments have been made for the Aorangi a to clock for repair at Sydney. The re- I pairs tri.il.,necessitate lifting out the 3 rudder, which weighs 41 tons. v