DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(Dy Telegraph—Per Press Association. NIGHT iNGALES IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. -March 24. English nightingales, which were released on C hristmas Day at St. Heliers, may now be heard singing nightly in the Tamaki Reserve, near Auckland. A lew unmistakable notes wore heard by residents during recent moonlight nights. This week birds have been in full song. Ir England the nightingale sings only during the mating and nesting season, so the news from St. Holier’s suggests that the immigrants have settled dow u comfortably to married life. ‘•f feel confident that the experiment will be a success,” asid Air Angus Milson. who introduced the birds. Definite proof, however, will not he available until next spring, when the migrating season is over. If their song is heard then the nightingale may be accepted as a permanent resident ot New Zealand." (’A Ml NET RUMOURS. AUCKLAND, March 21. •■ I know nothing about it at all. I have not been approached on the matter, and as far as 1 know it ha. 1 never been suggested. During my visit to Wellington I was in the company nl the Prime Minister quite a lot. and the position of .Minister of Internal Affairs was not mentioned.” These remarks were made by Mr J. S. Dickson, M.P. for Parnell, and chief Govcriiemnt whip, when he arrived from Wellington this morning. Mr Dickson left Auckland on Wednesday to attend to private business in tbe Empire City, and prior to bis departure it was rumoured that lie bad been approached to take over the portfolio ol Minister ot Internal Affairs. Mr Dickson added that ho did not know who was in the running, and as far as filling the vacancy was concerned nobody know the Prime Minister's mind on the matter. RAIN IN TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH. March 25. The first serious rain in North Taranaki for about three months fell during the week-end, and was extremely welcome to the town and countryside. The bushfires, which have been burning in various parts of tbe district, have been extinguished. SETTLER SHOT. NEW PLYMOUTH. March 25. George Rogers, a settler of Tanirutangi, was fatally shot yesterday in a workshop on a larm he partly owned. A few minutes previously his brother, Harry, had been in the workshop, tut tlie two did not speak. Harry went to the house and asked another brother where the gun was. He was tobl that George was cleaning il in the wornshop. Just then a shot was board. George was found dead wirli Hie gun beside him. Rogers, who we- 61 years ot age. and single, had ‘*l' n ill-health for some years. WATERSIDE DISPUTES. WELLINGTON, March 24. Ot' four waterside disputes referred to it by the National Disputes Cbmmitree, the Arbitration Court has reserved its decision regarding three affecting Wellington. The fourth dispute was whether Auckland employers should adopt the amended Wellington scale lor wording hot coal. The Court referred this matter back to the National Disputes Committee to allow Auckland to hare a say in a matter which is vital to that port. RADIO INTERFERENCE. SUGGESTION RIDICULED. GISBORNE, -March 2-1. The suggestion contained in a New York cablegram that two amateur radio stations in Auckland are interfering with communications between Captain Wilkins, at Cape Barrow, and other American stations is ridiculed by Mr Ivan O’Mearn, who is constantly working on similar wave-lengths, and who lias been in actual contact with Captain Wilkins and other stations in Alaska. What difficulty may have been experienced, Mr O’Meara says, is primarily due to Captain Wilkins working outside the recognised American wavelength baud, 37 to J2 metres. New Zealand amateurs operate from .’II to 3(5 metres. Therefore there should be no overlapping even if Captain Wilkins came down to a lower wave-length. Air O’Meara- says that it would be absurd to suggest that his signals were seriously interfered with. If Captain W ilkins finds he is on the same wave as one or other of the Auckland stations mentioned, he would merely shitt his wave slightly one way or the other, and that would end the difficulty. MINISTERS ON TOUR. ROTORUA, March 26. Tliis morning the Ministers for Lands (Hon A- D. McLeod), Public Works (Hon. K. S- Williams), IC. M. Graham (Commissioner of Crown Lands) accompanied by F. F. Hockley (member for Rotorua) visited the Atiniuri Homestead Settlement, and examined the claims of the settlers for a scheme of development, including l'oading. schooling, and dealing with the existing educational reserves. The Ministers were sympathetic-ally inclined. and promised an investigation into the points raised. In the afternoon the .Ministerial Party visited the local farms, where work is being carried out in regrassing. They also received local deputations. To-morrow they proceed to Te Puke on Kaituna drainage matters, and later to AYaihi Swamp Works; proceeding thence to the Tauranga Railway opening on A larch 28th. A AIOTOR SAIASH. AUCKLAND, A [arch 26. On behalf of a young medical man, who did not appear in court, Mr Singer entered -a. plea of ’’guilty ’ to a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car in O’Neill Sreet at a late hour on St. Patrick’s Day. Counsel after stressing the fact that the offence took place late at night in O’Neill St.. Ponsonby, said there was no question that accused had consumed sufficient liquor to make out the charge against him. “Tt is not a bad ease.” said counsel, “and in view of tbe fact that the defendant had suffered considerable expense and worry, and was distressed, a penalty other than a monetary one would be out of all proportion, while the publication of the name would spell ruination for this young medical practitioner who is just commencing in life. I would therefore ask the court to exercise its discretion and suppress the nllme. It has been done before in this coitrt in the case of professional then.”

Sub-Inspector P. J. McCarthy stated that the accused was very much under the influence of drink. The accused and another occupant of the car Were •‘rather badly cut about,” he said, and one had to go to the hospital. The accused was held in custody until he was sober enough to he bailed out. Air Singer said that it was established beyond doubt that there was an accident, which was caused by an inner tube blowing out. The doctor was fined £ls. "I think the application for the suppression of tho name is a reasonable one. and the name is ordered to be suppressed,” said AFagistrate Cutten. fatal ACCIDENT. PALMERSTON N., March 26. A motoring fatality occurred alxmt three miles from Palmerston North, on the Aokautoro Tload, on Saturday afternoon, a well-known resident, A. C. Rutzback being killed. The car, which was driven hv Airs Butzbark, stalled on the hill. The occupants got out to make an examination. Butzhack re-entered the car, when it commenced to slip backwards down tin 1 lull and ran over a steep bank. Death was instantaneous. Deceased was aged 46 years. SHOOTING MISHAP. CHRISTCHURCH, March 2(5. A young man, Andrew Neill Henderson, aged 20, the third son of Air A. I). Henderson, of Okford, met with a serious gun accident at eight o’clock ibis morning, while on a shooting expedition in mountainous country beyond the Lees Valley. With a companion, Colin Bassett, Henderson left Oxford on Friday. This morning they were striking camp. While Bassett was extinguishing the fire, he heard a shot and on going out he found Henderson shot in the right shoulder, his rifle having fired when he was picking it up. Bassett knew something of first aid. and he was able to leave bis wounded companion fairly comfortable before going for assistance. It took lour hours to reach a settler’s homestead. A party with Dr Burnett, left Oxford this afternoon for the scene ol the accident, which they expected to reach at 0 p.m. They will bring the wounded man out to-morrow morning. DOST iX FOG. WAIAIATE, March 26. Parties have been out all day to-day (.Monday) searching the hills tor .Messrs A. R. Cooper and II .W. Scott, who are missing. They set out at i o’clock on Sunday morning to walk to and climb Mount Studbolme, aiming to do it all and return by the evening. They w*rc not home by daybreak on .Monday, and anxiety has been thus ix casioned, particularly as the night was cold, and heavy rain fell. Air Cooper walked to a farmhouse many miles from Mount Studbolme this (.Monday) afternoon, after a nineteen hours’ tramp across hilly country, he having lost touch' with Mr Scott, and lost Ids bearings in a fog. Mr Scott was discovered by searchers ibis evening at dusk in an exhausted cundit ion. DRUNKEN AIOTOR IST. AUCKLAND. A larch 26. A charge of intoxication while in charge of a motor' car was beard before Magitsrate Cutten to-day. The accused was James Wallace livin. aged 50. a mechanic. Air Sellar said that Irvin bad been in the lock up since Saturday evening at about 5 p.m. On Saturday, after having successfully driven bis old car out to Penrose from Greeslane, Irvin pulled up outside the Ellerslie Hotel. “ The constable was evidently mostly jealous for lie arrested accused as lie was about to crank up bis car.” said counsel. Air Sellar pointed out that Irvin was not driving the car or even sitting in it. He had a friend with him, who could have driven Irvin home. There was no suggestion of any accident being involved. Tbe whole tiling was merely a Saturday afternoon jaunt. Sub-Inspector P. J. McCarthy said that the facts were as stated by counsel. The constable had arrested Irvin for safety’s sake. Irvin was no doubt “ well under tbe influence of liquor.” ■■ I would ask on behalf of my client that his name be suppressed.” said counsel. “Have you any special reason why it should be suppressed?’ ’asked the .Magistrate. Mr Sellar: "None, sir. except that the offence was comparatively a small matter, and Irvin is a respectable man in poor circumstances.” Irvin was fined £5, Afr Cutten icfusing the-application for suppression of tbe name. THE LIBERAL PARTY.

CANDIDATES FOR AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND. Alarch 24. \ snecial meeting of the executive of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Liberal Party was held last cvcnii) tv to consider nominations of prospective candidates for the forthcoming election received from several pro vincial sub-brandies. It was considered advisable, in view of the possibility of an election being forced on the country at an earlier date than usual, that provision should he made for Liberalism to be represented fully at the polls, and to this end candidates were selected for the following olectonatck: —lt’osk ill, Eden, Afanakau. Suburbs, and Parnell. Tlie selection of candidates for se>\ - eral of the country electorates was deferred to allow of further discussion of recommendations from the local committees. , The executive enthusi&,sicnlly endorsed the principle laid down some months ago that where an agreement could 1 not he effected with other opponents of Reform, a Liberal candidate would go forward to the poll. The standard of the candidates offering has given added confidence in such endorsement.

OREGON TIMBER. TRADE. AUCKLAND. March _25. The timber industry in tlie United States is not in a very healthy position at present, according to Mr EA. AVyld, president of the First National Bank. Portland. Oregon, who was a passenger from Yancomer y the Aorangi to-dnv. Afr Wyld is m constant touch with the industry, Portland being in the centre ot a large timber-growing district. Air AYvld said that much of IVe trouble seemed to lie in over-produc-tion. many mills having to produce at a loss in order to keep going. “Thev cannot get a good price or their'timber,” lie added "It is not because there is any slackening in the demand, but is due to the act that the markets are being overfed. I expect tliis will right itself in time. The question of reafforestation was creating wide interest, and » nothing had yet been attempted on a national scale, the Government realis-

ed the necessity of doing something, if the great timber assets were to be maintained. Air AVyld said the cost of putting an afforestation scheme on a good footing would be enormous. A FIRE. PAHIATUA, March 27. A fire at one o’clock this morning gutted an eight-roomed house owned by Airs W. Eager, of Wellington, and occupied by AV .A. Tapp, a hides and skin representative. Tiie fire had a big hold. The family, which includes live young girls, escaped in their night attire. Insurances on the house are unavailable.. Contents £‘J2OO in New Zealand office. JURY’S VERDICT. TAUMARUNUI, Alarch 27. At an inquest at Mnugntarn, near Oliura, concerning the death of Robert Peter Humphrey, nineteen, who was killed by a tree lie was chopping falling on him, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.