DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

tty Telegraph—Per Press Association

WESTPORT HARBOUR

WESTPORT, June 13.

I here was a large ami representative public meeting here to-night, convened by the Mayor, at the request of tlm Roller Progress League to voice the public’s discontent with the state of. the harbour. The Town Hall was crowded. The Mayor (Mr Harkness) read letters received from the heads o' coal and shipping companies stating; the position was very serious in the harbour, owing to the failure of the ; powers that be to keep up a continuous policy of dredging and to adopt, other means to ensure deep water in the river and on the bar. Speakers: expressed the opinion that since the Government took the control of the. harbour over from local management, the conditions had become worse. ,

The following resolution, moved by the Mayor and seconded by Mr J. C. Brown (District Manager of the Westport Coal Coy), was carried unanimous, ly: “That this meeting of residents of the Boiler District view with alarm the shoaling of Westport harbour, both in the river and on the bar. These conditions are seriously hampering shipping operations by short-loading and by restricted draughts thereby imperilling the progress and prosperity of toe district. We therefore strongly urge on the Government the necessity of:—-(I) The three dredges—the Eileen Ward, R.ubi Seddon and Ainu—being kept as constantly at work as the weather will permit; (2) the appointment of a competent resident Harbour Engineer; (3).the procuring as early as possible of a. thoroughly up to date bucket dredge, with two hoppers; (4) the appointing of at least two local representatives on the Advisory Committee of the Westport Harbour.” . It further was resolved, in the event of the reply being unsatisfactory, to send a deputation to to interview the Prime Minister and the Minister for Marine.

LAND SETTLEMENT. WELLINGTON, June 13. -Mr IT. L. Patterson, of Dunedin, reported to the X.Z.R.S.A. Conference to-day that ho had interviewed the Minister of Lands. The "Minister said the present financial position did - not favour further loans under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act for housing. He said it had not been repealed, but. that at the present time it was inoperative. In regard to land settlement, a large number of blocks were vacant, and although the price had been reduced by fifty per cent, many blocks still were vacant. He said also that if applications for these were not received from returned soldiers, the blocks would be thrown open for settlement. Mr Patterson said bo agreed the land could not bo allowed to remain idle. SMALLER. CLASSES. WELLINGTON, June 13. The Director of Education issued a staement to-day .emphatically denying that 'the Department has reduced the primary schools stalls since 1925. He said :—lt is merely a matter of arithmetic. In 192.5 the average number of pupils per adult**’ teacher was 36, and now it is 35. Further, in July there were 663 classes of under 43. pupils and in February, 1928, there were 972 such classes. The figures for classes over 60 pupils were in 1925, 335 classes; and in 1928, 100 classes respectively. In regard to scholastic result, in 1925 the percentage of proficiency passes was 77.70; in 1927 it was 81.9.

VERY LIGHT SENTENCE.

HAMILTON, Juno 13,

At the Supreme. Court, Air Justice Blair sentenced James Corrin to one month’s imprisonment for illegal knowledge of a girl of fourteen years. The Judge accepted counsel’s pica of extenuating circumstances. At AN AIiSSTNG. WELLINGTON, June 13. Although iscarch parties are still scouring the district in the Orongorengi for Afervyn Hodgkin son, who has been missing since Sunday last, no word of him lias yet come to hand. Searchers were out ; a.ll night, and were well equipped with supplies.

WATER. IN BUTTER. INVERCARGILL, June 13,

At the Magistrate's 'Court to-day, a farmer was proceeded against by the Health Officer, charged with having for sale butter containing 16.40 per cent of water, which did. not comply with the standard proscribed under the Act. Counsel said that to gauge the percentage correctly, was extremely hard for a farmer, who did not have the delicate instruments required for this class of work.

A witness staled that tho ordinary farmer .might churn all day and then not remove the* water, contents, In only result being that he would probably spoil the texture of the butter. If the farmers were to be prosecute.: on this charge, it would do them great injury. in reply to counsel, witness said that cofitrol 6f the temperature was the main thing in estimating the water ‘contents of butter, find this- cofitiol could not be exercised by farmers. Only a nominal penalty was asked for, and defendant was convicted and discharged. BOGUS INSPECTOR. CHRISTCHURCH, June 13. , An unusual prosecution was con ducted by. the Labour Department at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when William Brian was charged that on December 13, 1927, at Southbridge, lie falsely pretended to be an Inspector for the Labour Department. The evidence was that a mail called at the Southbridge Hotel on that date representing himself as an Inspector ai\d interviewed the staff regarding their grievances as to wages,, overtime, and the hours worked. They had grievances. lint he told thefii that they were well treated, and were getting all the wages they were entitled to, .and that they should hold on to their jobs. It was suggested by the prosecution that the man did this to help the licensee, who was committing obvious breaches of the award. ■ Other evidence was to the effect that tlie bogus inspector was Brian. The case was dimissed, because the proceedings had been instituted too late, namely five months after the offence, while the legal limit was three months. , . , . Counsel for Brian Mated, however, that he had witnesses to prove Brian was not the bogus inspector. £3,849 DAMAGES. WELLINGTON, June 12. v i Percy-, John. Aldridge., and. Norman Parnta-were awarded damages totalling

£3849 by Air Justice Sim, in a reserved judgment which fie delivered in the case in which Aldridge and Pa rata claimed damages against Albert Goodman, horse trainer, of Trcntliam, in respect of injuries they received when a motor-cycle on which they were riding collided with a motor-car driven by Goodman. Each plaintiff lostpi leg. In the course of his judgment his Honour said that lie found as a fact that before and after the collision plaintiffs were on the proper side of the road and were riding at a reasonable speed. Ilis Honour said: “On a coifUideration of all the'evidence, the conclusion 1 have arrived at is this: Defendant was not satisfied to follow in the wake of Hazelwood’s car, and made up his mind to pass it. He accordingly accelerated the speed of the ear and dashed acoss the other side of the. road without having first taken the trouble to see whether or not there were any vehicles or pedestrians on that side of the road. Before he knew where ho

was his motor-car had collided with Aldridge’s cycle and the damage was done. . . 1 find, therefore, that the collision was caused by tile negligence of defendant ,in crossing to the wrong side of the road without first ascertaining whether or not there was any vehicle on that side of the road and by travelling at an excessive Speed. . . The result is that plaintiffs are entitled to succeed in their actions. They are entitled to recover the special damages they claim, subject to the deduction suggested by Mr O’Leary in respect of tlio claim for wages lost. Tin’s deduction in the case of Aldridge is say, £2O, and in the case of Parata, say, £ls. I assess the damages Aldridge is entitled to recover at £IB9O 6s 6d and. the damages Parata is entitled to recover at £1959 2s Bd.”

ROW AT A DANCE. WELLINGTON, Juno 13. Norman Allan Millar, 18, and Joseph .Mallia, 19, were charged with assaulting a man unknown, and with resisting the police. They were at a dance, and when the police arrived had a man on the floor, anil were punching him. They also resisted the constables. The police stated that youths had caused trouble at the dance hall on previous occasions. Millar was described as a hoodlum and leader of a gang of larrikins. 110 did very little work.

Magistrate Page was half inclined to send the accused to gaol, but os they were young, lie inflicted fines. Millar £7 and Mallia £3, in default seven days’ imprisonment.

BIBLE LEAGUE’S AGITATION. INVERCARGILL, June 13. Rev. E. O. Blamircs, Organising Secretary of the Bible in ( Schoals League, with Mr H., Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North,. who is the sponsor of the League’s Bill in the House of Represntatives, addressed a largely, attended public meeting to-night; a resolution was unanimously carried as follows:

Condemning the present system of Education of New Zealand for its entire secularity, and demanding from Parliament restoration of the Bible in primary schools.” Interviewed on the question, they stated that meetings were being bold this month throughout New Zealand, which were clear evidence of a popular feeling in favour of Bible in Schools. No stone would bo left unturned to show that the present secular system was.out of date, and out of harmony with principles of education. , , ... - .i

Referring to the Nelson System, they stated that while their Bi.ll embraced this system, as far as it was being satisfactorily worked,, their League would not accept it as in any way adequate. It was impossible, to find voluntary workers sufficient to, work Nelson system as a, Dominion wide, scheme, and it was merely a scheme in use outside the proper school time on one day in the week ck a. makeshift under a. system that is entirely secular. None of the heads of the Department of Education viewed it as, preferable u> religious exercises, which the League proposed to have given at the opening of the school day, which, they said, was bringing primary schools into line with secondary schools.

At, the aanolusiton , ctf, to-night’s meeting, ,Rev. C. J. Tocker, Presbyterian Minister, strongly denounced treatment of . the Bill in Parliament and expressed his 4 resentment that “such a great cause should be given less than honest treatment in the manner in which Bible in Schools Bill had been given.” SHOOTING .PIGEONS. ~W» WELLINGTON,. June 14. A fine, of £lO was imposed at UppeiHutt. Court yesterday on Richard King for , shooting four native pigeons. For killing opossums without a license, Albert Bennett was fined the maximum of £2O, and:£3o for being in possession, of skins. He was trapping on a wholesale scale. A case against, a companion was remanded., On visiting the camp tne ranger collected eiglity-six traps.

THE! iBIDIBIBI PEST. , WELLINGTON, June 13

The Noxious Weeds Committee ,of the Department jOf: Scientific and Industrial Research has received advice that Mr, Chilian,,, entomologist, has undertaken to send supplies of .an insect which, attacks bidibidi to. New Zealand in. order that they may be tested at the Cawthron Institute. In tlie meantime, the insect is being subjected to further investigation in Chile.

SUICIDE.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 13

.Snintiel Moncrioff, aged 54, a gardener, was fpund dead at his, home. 189 Indris Road,. Bryndwr,. at .5.30 this evening, witji a shotgun alongside the body. , He left home in the afternoon, apparently in his usual health,..aiid later returned. His wife found his body shortly afterwards.

MAGN S. CHART A CELEBRATION WELLINGTON, June 13.

The Prime Minister stated to-day: “On Friday next next will lie celebrated,tlie anniversary of the signing of Magiia Carta, .that , groat charter oii which is ..based the freedom and liberty, of .Ehfelish-speaking peoples throughout the world, and which forms such an important , link between the citizens of tlie British Empire and of tlie great American Republic iti ibis age of democracy. I think it particularly appropriate that our ancestors’ first successful assertion of .tlieir rights of liberty should fie'fittingly remembered, and I heartily commend the movement to ensure that this day shall t not pass unnoticed, especially by .the, jouriger genenitiort of New -Zealanders.'! TIMBER WORKERS’ DISTRESS. AUCKLAND, June 13. -Tlie Auckland Timber- Workers’ Union, fit a indtrfiUg tesoitSS:^

(1) That this meeting respectfully requests that immediate steps be taken to render assistance to those engaged in the timber industry. (2) That the Government be called upon to take, immediate steps to prohibit the importation of sawn timber under the size of I2in. by 12in. or its equivalent. (3) That in order to relieve distress and render assistance to timber workers in the various country' sawmill centres, the Government be asked to provide work under, an employment scheme, such \vork if possible to be adjacent; to the sawmill township, thus enabling those in dire distress to provide for their dependents'.