DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

THE CHIEF JUSTICE

WELLINGTON, Alay 9.

Sir Charles SKcrrett’s condition this afternoon is reported by his medical adviser to be satisfactory. During tlie past fortnight Sir Charles Skerrett has been under ••medical treatment. There was evidence of the increasing obstruction of the circulation of the left leg, which culminated yesterday in complete obstruction, necessitating amputation.

SPEECH BY PHFAHER. WELLINGTON, Alay 9,

New Zealand’s achievement in testing out the world’s money market and breaking, down the rate of interest that • has held for some years was commented on by the Prime Alinister (lit. Hon. J. G. Coates) in the-course of bis address before a large gathering held tonight under the auspices of tiie Wellington North Branch of' the Junior Reform League, “f feci convinced,” said the Prime Alinister, “that, as far as our country i.s concerned, we. arc on the verge of an era of steady prosperity. This does not necessarily mean boom times, or anything approaching that, but everything seems to be gradually clearing iipt It is a matter of considerable pride that, during the last few wfcoks, Now Zealand has stood the test of the searchlight of the© keenest financial brains in tlTe world. New Zealand was chosen to test the money market of the world. We had the opportunity lo avoid that test, but had sufficient confidence in the status of the country to believe that, if our past status and credit were tried outon the market, we would lie able to accomplish the breaking of the interest rate that has held for the last four or five years. This object was attained, and the result rebounds to the credit. not only of New Zealand, but of every individual in it.”

RECEIVER OF STOLEN GOODS. CHRISTCHURCH, Alay 9. Described by the Crown Prosecutor as “A receiver in a large \fny,” and its it handy outlet for criminals for the disposal of stolen goods, .lames \A ill.iam Falkinghaiu was charged at t lie Supreme Court to-day with receiving, on AI arch 17th. and 18th. a quantity of tobacco; cigars and drapery. valued at LI (it), knowing the goods to have been stolen.

'I he prisoner, said the Crown .Prosecutin'. had practically retained two burglars, and Imd instructed them where to make their robberies. The two dangerous criminals named Trctheway and Brisbane, toured, up and down the country by ear, breaking into country stores and taxing goods to Falkinghani. These two men are both now ■serving sentences. The accused, they stated, got nil tho proceeds of the rolsberics, giving them only a trifling sum. When the police searched accused's house, they found goods concealed in various parts of the house. The nceused had sold some of the goods to traders, declaring that they were part of a bankrupt stock, lie was in the act of trying to sell mote to a tobacconist in the city when the police arrived.

Evidence was given by stmekeepers who had been robbed, by a hotel licensee. and by two tobacconists to whom tho accused had sold goods, and also by George Trctheway, oiicpif the thieves, now serving a .sentence of three years.

The jury, after fifteen minutes’ deliberation; Inti lid a verdict of guilty. Tlie prisoner was remanded for sentence. VALUELESS CHEQUES. WELLINGTON. .May 9. James Bruce Will Alillcr, a clerk, aged 37, pleaded guilty before Air E. Pago. S.M.. to six charges of obtaining money totalling L'3!l, by means of valueless cheques issued to hotel licensees. Five offences related to Wellington, and one to Auckland. He had been sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Christchurch last Saturday, for a similar offence. Air Page sentenced Miller to six months on the first charge, to bo concurrent with the present term. On the other, lie was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months.

COM PENS AT lOX CLATAf. HAAHLTON, Afay 9

Judgment by consent for £998 compensation was granted at the Arbitration Court to-day to the widow of Lewis Faimlon. a labourer, who died from injuries received while working at a sawmill at Pirongia.

The defendants were Caslunore Bros', Newmarket.

THE UNEMPLOYED. WELLINGTON, Afay 9. A meeting of unemployed ai tho Trades Hall this morning was so crowded as to overflow into the corridors. Air Black, secretary of the Amalgamated Engineers’ Union, pre-

sided. Five men have been out of worktwelve months and over; six for li'e months and over; twenty-two for " three months and over; and tli i 1 1\ - five for two months and over. ’ Addresses were delivered by Afr b Bromley, Secretary of the Labour and - Arr R. Semple. Resolutions were passed agreeing to t leave the affairs of the unemployed v in the hands of the District Council of the Alliance of Labour, and that c deputations lie arranged to the Ire- x rhier and Afnyor. BIBLE IN' SCHOOLS. 4 WELLINGTON. Alav 9. 1 Bv a large majority, the Annual f Conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute to-night carried a t Wellington remit to the effect uio * the introduction of Bible reading into the Primary Schools was not desirable.” „ HECTOR AUTHORIAL MEDAL. WELLINGTON, May 10. New Zealand Institute has awarded the Hector Afemorial Afedal and prize for 1928 to Professor D. M. A - Somei ville, for general ■ mathematics! *■ a,i<l investigation in non-Euclulean geometry. The Committee winch recommended the award was- T)r Cole idge Fair, Sir Ernest Riithcrtord, 1 u> fessor Yon Wilier. M V N BURNED TO DEATH. ATARTON. Alav 10. William Connell, a carpenter by trade, elderly, with a wife and bund, residin'' at Wanganui was burned to death in a two-roomed wharc on a «d«. road at Alarton Junction. > Ih-c was discovered shortly alter four this morning and when the Brigsu e arrived the task of saving tlio hml - i„,r was almost hopeless. Despite good work the whole building was destroyed. It was honed that Connell. I known to be the only oertip* ut. had es- ] taped, but his charred remains were later found in what was once his bun v The building was in am isolated spot and consequently it was some time before the outbreak was discovered. The cause is a mystery. ; alleged theft. CHRISTCHURCH, Afav 9. Charles Arthur Kirk was found not gyiltv on nine charges of stealing bicvoles of a total value of £49. t It was alleged that Kirk had stolen • the bicycles and taken them to cycle o dealers borrowing sums* of money on qaeh one, Evidence of identification

was given by tho dealers, and a bank officer gave evidence as to tlie handwriting on J.O.U.’.s, but the Jury were not satisfied that identification had been proved. On one charge they failed to agree, and on the others found him not guilty. At the Judge’s direction a complete verdict of not guilty was given.

Kirk will appear at the Lower Court on five summary charges heard recently bv Air Lawrv, S.AI. AI AD .MOTOR CYCLING. AUCKLAND, Alav 9.

Fines totalling £l3 were imposed on a motor cyclist, Thomas Dennis, aged 25. who was charged in the Police Court with dangerous driving on two occasions, causing undue noise, driving without a license, and giving a false name and address. The Traffic Inspector said the defendant travelled at about 50 miles and 56 miles an hour. Ho had five previous convictions for dangerous driving, in addition to fines, Dennis was prohibited from bolding a motor cyclist’s license for live years.

POLITICAL. AUCKLAND. Afay 19.

W. T. F. Kells Mason, a solicitor, has been selected to contest Alanukau in the interests of the United Party.

THE NIAGARA’S CARGO AUCKLAND, Afay S

A shipment of butter totalling 8532 boxes was taken from Auckland by tho Niagara, which sailed .for Vancouver. Of this amount 5050 boxes are consigned to Shanghai, 900 boxes to Victoria, British Columbia, and 1202 boxes to Honolulu. Tlie vessel also carried 3000 crates of cheese for Vancouver and Victoria, in addition to a quantity of frozen beef arid lafnb for Honolulu.

i POLITICAL. THAMES, Alay 10. At a meeting of the Thames Reform League last evening Air A. AI. Samuel, present member for Oliinemuri, was asked to represent the Thames electorate at next election. Air T. V . Rhodes having announced he was not standing. Tho latter was present and stated that Air Samuel was an energetic worker, and no one abler could serve the electorate. Air Samuel agreed to accept nomination.