DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. A FIR If. TE AWAMUTU, April 22. A lire totally destroyed a sevenroomed farm house at Prinngia road, early on Saturday morning, owned by Collins and Downes, and occupied by W. 11. Morris, farm manager, who had left ihe home half an hour earlier to visit Y<. Awamutti. Insurances on the building LTSO and contents L' 100. Roth ow ners and occupier experience severe loss.

shearing shed fire. DARGA VILLE. April 22. A lire early this morning totally destroyed a .shearing shed and its contents on Hired F. Harding’s Maungaru estate. Ihe building, a large and valuable one. was insured but the amount is unavailable. The origin ol the lire is not known. The owner’s loss is considerable.

MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT. GISBORNE, April 22. Dismissing a charge of alleged vagrancy against a man alleged to he a bookmaker's assistant and always loitering about the street. Magistrate Levey said : ” I suppose the legislature in passing section 211 ol the Police Offences Act 1020. gave it some consideration. hut if it were applied as it could he applied. God help the community! I cannot support the portion that gives the police the right to bring a man before the court on such a charge as this, which has the cfleet ol assuming that a man is guilty belore lie is proved innocent.

GAMING HOUSE FINE. AUCKLAND. April 22. Phillip George Hugh Mulligan was lined COO by Mr McKean. S.M.. in default one month's imprisonment mi r. charge of using premises in National Chambers, Swanson Street, as a com-

mon gaming house. Seninr-Sorgt. McCarthy said the premises were equipped with a telephone and complete betting outfit. The hooks showed business ran into big figures. In some cases there were double bets of 2(10 to one and 200 to one. a half page of " In the Shade bets. .Mahomed Annul Sunni, a professional wrestler, was charged with being found on the premises. He explained that Mulligan was assisting him regarding his professional match in Australia, and he went to the premises to collect correspondence. The charge against Sunni was dismissed. SCARLET FEVER. CHRISTCHURCH. April 2.2. There are 175 cases of scarlet lever now in Bottle Lake Hospital. Man.\ oilier patients are being isolated ill their own homes. Ihe outbreak is regarded as serious by medical men. Inti the notifications are decreasing. HOUSE BURNT. X!•;W PLYMOUTH. April 22. \ six-roomed house at Hcllhlock. ~V. ned by Russell Unity and occupied bv Rrucc .101 l was totally destroyed by a* c ilii-. morning. Insurances on lions. ■ i! >. !inili tii re L‘2tl >. i; Ft LIVING AGENT CHARGED. AUCKLAND. April 22. At the Police Court William George Franklin, receiving agent, appeared on : hirfeeii (barges ol receiving and I belt, twelve being rclal ing to liipior and one concerning a ease of oil. Counsel for accused pleaded guilty to two charges of then and three of receiving goods known Of have been dishonestly obtained. Tim case excited great inter-

ost- The Court was crowded. Customs officials were present and heard the magistrate again comment upon lhi 1 laxity alleged to prevail amongst ( in-1 unis nfibor* in regard to ''ortili calcs given in respect ol broken hollies las eived ill shipment. Accused was coDll 2 p.m. l-r -ciiicme.

WHEAT PR ICE'S. CHRISTCHURCH. April 2:

The following statement has been -lied by \Y. \V. Mulholhiiid (Chairman f Hie Wheat Committee) : ‘Mu a mmiHiiique issued on April I'.Hh. the aurmilh r.s of .New Zealand informed ariiters that they had made an agreement |o pay 5s 7d on trucks for next car’s Tuscan wheat. Members ot the Vlient Commitee consul-red tin* aii(.niieeiiieul. and decided to recommend

■ tviWei"- not to make eoilracts at this :.,.,v pH,,. 1,0 l m await the Committee's prop/isals " hicli will l.e ready shortly. I'll.. Committee draws particular alleiilhm to this dirot 1 evidence of buying organisation on the part ol millets which is given by this announcement a,,,! stresses Hm great need (if action to meet if on the part of grower*.

AN EXPLOSION. AFC Is [.AND. April 2:1. Two shops at the corner of Queen and Query Streets «ere partly wrecked ~,t 10.20 .on Sunday morning by an explosion caused by the fusing of an undei ground electric cable m the premises of Keans Ltd., men or- ami men’s outfitters. Four plate ghi-s Windows were shattered and the adjoining d,.,p of B. R. Anmlt. tobacconist, sustained i onsiderahlc damage. The Hour was buckled and forced upwards, an interior partilinll for'ed out of posilin. the safe moved ten feel, and several counter eases broken. Alter the power had been turned off the brigade using chemical appliances extinguished' the flames. The pavement in the vicinity is usually well peopled on Sunday morning, but fortunately imI: ; :|v was near enough to he in an\ danger. The explosion had its origin (•lose to where the service box had been coupled to the main. I’OPPY DAY AT PALMERSTON north. pai.mkrston x, April 2.1. Poppy Day realised £l6O. being £l3 short of last year's total.