DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1928, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Pgr Press Association.) BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. PROFIT OF £841,878. WELLINGTON, June 7. The annual statement and balance sheet- of the Bank of New Zealand for the year ended March 31, 1928, shows a slight reduction in profits, but an increase in the reserve fund. Tlie profits last year were £860,870 7s 3d. This year they totalled £841,878 5s Id. The -reserve fund, at March 31, 1927. stood tit £3,025,000. This year it is £3,150.000. Profits, after providing for expenses of management, all bad and doubtful debts and other contingencies, and after making provision for tho annual donation to the provident fund and also for a bonus to the staff, are £863,077 14s. From this has to be deducted interest on guaranteed stock. £21,190 8s lid, leaving a balance of prbfit for the year of £811,873 5s Id. To this litas to be added surplus on realisation and on maturity of Government and other securities, £73.510 13s lOd, and the balance brought forward from last year, £584,655 12s 10d. a total of £1,500.044 11s 9d. from which has been paid dividends totalling £350.882 5s Id, leaving available for distribution £1.149.162 6s Sd.

VETOED BY TREASURY. AUCKLAND, June 7. At a meeting of tlie trustees ot* the Auckland Savings Bank, the chairman announced that a difficulty had arisen in connexion with the bank’s recent donation of £2OOO towards the building fund of the Salvation Army Congress Hall in Auckland. In. reply to a request for formal approval, the Secretary to the Treasury had said that the purpose for which tlie grant was' made was not in accordance with the definition of an institution as provided in Section 29 of the„ Savings Banks Act, 1908. It was resolved that, in view of the position disclosed, the trustees must regretfully allow the donation to lapse.

BACON-CURING. ..MINISTER AND REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, June 7. A report published a few days ago stated that the long-standing dispute between the Health Department and the bacon industry in reference to boric curing bad ended in a- compromise, and that the regulations recently gazetted by tlie Department prohibiting bacon-curing by use of boric acid would be suspended pending further investigation into the position. This was submitted to the Minister for Health to-day, who made it clear lie had no intention of moving to gazette regulations which would permit the use of boric acid, as he fully believed that good bacon and ham could be made without the use of boracic preservative. He said be had in bis possession evidence of firms curing' bacon and bam without the use of boracic. and who were strongly opposed to. any proposal to permit its use. If a temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the regulations was going to assist tlie industry,, then he was prepared to accept the criticism which wouh£ inevitably be directed against him by those manufacturers wlio were able to place .a first-class product on tlie- market without' the use of boracic preservative. MILITARY CHANGES. A RPOINTM ENTS <5 A ZETTED.

WELLINGTON, June 7. A notice iu to-night’s Gaxette states that Colonel S. S. Allen, Hauraki Regiment, relinquishes his appointment of honorary aide-de-camp to his Excellency, the Governor-Gen-eral. Colonel A. B. Charters, Commander of the Ist New Zealand Infantry Brigade, is appointed honorary aide-de-camp to the Governor-General. The period of command of Lieu-tenant-Colonel L. C. Chaytor, NelsonMarllxirough Mounted llifles. is extended to May 31st. 1929. The period of command of Lieuten-ant-Colonel H. E-. Barrowclough, Otago Regiment, is extended to May 31st, 1929. Colonel S. S. Allen, Hauraki Regiment, relinquishes command of the Regiment and is transferred to the reserve of officers. Major F. Prideaux. Hauraki Regiment is appointed to command the Regiment. FIRE STATION DAMAGED.. NAPIER-, June 7. Napier’s old fire station was damaged 'by fire this morning, the building only being saved by the good work ol the brigade. The building was owned by the City Council, and was insured for £SOO with the Alliance Office.

Mr J. Stewart occupied the lower portion as a garage. His plant, which was damaged beyond use, was insured for £4OOO in the London Office. The first floor was occupied by a shirt factory. The material on hand escaped serious damage.

DOCTOR TOO LATE. DUNEDIN. June 8. An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of a boy Graeme William McDonald, aged three years, who died yesterday at the home of his aunt, Mrs Bain. 178 Mac Andrew Road, South Dunedin, was held at Dunedin Hospital tin's afternoon before Mr J. B. Bartholomew, S.M.. as Coroner.

ilrs Rain said the lad commenced to cry oil Wednesday night, complaining of pains in the stomach. He then vomited and went into a semi-conscious condition. A doctor was summoned immediately, but did not arrive. Meanwhile every attention was given ttie sufferer, and at midnight ill' Bain went for the same doctor, but he could not get into touch with him till G. 45 a.in., shortly after the hoy had expired. The child had always been healthy.

Dr Bath (Pathologist Hospital) said he performed a post mortem and found the body was well-nourtshod. He Winsidered death was due to strangulation of portion of a bowel.

The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, no blame being attachable to Mr and .Mrs Bain.

THIEVES SENTENCED. WELLINGTON, June 8. The following prisoners were sentenced to-day by Judge Sim : Edward Wilson, alias Teague, breaking and entering at Hastings, with intent to commit a crime, three years’ re for in a t i vc detention. Henry Roland Barr, breaking, entering and theft at Palmerston North, two years’ reformative, and declared an habitual criminal. Patrick Joseph Carr, breaking, entering and theft at Wellington, three years’ probation. John Briton Clark, forgery and uttering, three years’ reformative. Edgar Riilwer, clerk, and meter render, theft as servant from the Hutt Valiev Power Board, three years’ probation, to take out a prohibition order, and pay £1 12s fid costs. Albeit Ayling, a' steward, when charged with the theft" of a bicyclo

to-day, -put up the defence that he was not guilty, as he did not actually commit the offence. The facts were that another man actually stole the machine, and asked accused to pawn it. Accused kept guard while the theft was committed. Ayling was before the Court last week, when Jio got three months’ imprisonment for theft of a ring from a package of stolen jewellery he was minding for a friend. He will now serve an additional month.

FREE FERRY TRIPS. WELLINGTON, June 8. Under a new arrangement, tho members of tlie Legislature will in future have passes for the LytteltonWellington ferry service, and the Wel-lington-Picton service, instead of orders, as previously. The passes wIM remain the property of the holders long as they remain members of tlie Legislature. MAN LOSES ARM. ATJCKDAtvD, June 8. § Injuries to an arm and severe shock were sustained by Hector Park, aged 26, a single man, as tbe result of falling when attempting to hoard a moving train at Avondale railway station at 7 o’clock this morning. The hospital reported to-night that it had been found necessary to amputate the arm above the elbow. Park’s condition is serious. ’ Hector Park died at the hospital at 7.15 a.m. MOTOR TRAGEDY. WELLINGTON, June 8. R. L. C. Phillips, aged 30 years, a Government Valuer, was killed to-day, when tlie cat- be was driving plunged over a bank alongside Saar'Street. Kaiwnrra, down to the railway track below. The car was found across tho railway line, with the deceased, face downwards, alongside it.