DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

SUSPENDED LICENSE.

WELLINGTON, June 15

The police made no objection today when Wm. Wolland, junr., fined in 192 G and suspended for three years for being intoxicated while in charge of a car, sought a remission of the remainder of the term. Flo has not touched liquor and is in steady employment by his father and is industrious, but is handicapped by not being allowed o drive a van. The Magistrate took the action desired, FRUIT CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 15. The following cable from the Fruit Control Board’s London representative was received at the Fruit Conference to-day:— Stunners, 10s to 11s a, case; Statesmen 11s to 12s Gel, Delicious 12s to 14s, Jonathans Ss to 13s. A shipment was ex-Herminius at Liverpool. Objection, was taken at the conference to the use of the term “Regarded,” when the grade of fruit had to reduced, as it might be taken as a stigma ancl the Department is t'o be asked to consider the advisability of making an alteration.

LORRY OUT OF CONTROL

AUCKLAND, June 14

Becoming out of control on a steep grade of Grafton Road shortly after eleven o’clock last evening, a 15-ton steam navvy careered backward down the hill for a distance of eighty yards before it snapped a hardwood telegraph pole like a match and came to rest on the footpath. It is remarkable that the navvy was pulled up in so short a distance. It had the steepest grade of the hill yet to come, and, with every yard, was gaining speed. The telegraph pole saved almost certain disaster. The driver, 11. Fenton, and Allan Jones, who was working the gears, managed to jump clear, and were unhurt. The navvy at tho time of the accident was being removed under its own power from work in Vulcan Lane to Newmarket. A letter-box attached to tho pole was smashed, and forty or fifty letters were scattered over the footpath. They were all recovered, and later posted in Symonds Street ■ under police supervision. The footpath was considerably damaged, the wheels cutting three to four inches into tho surface. The navvy was not damaged at all. Three men who witnessed the accident stated that it was the most fortunate escape from serious damage they had seen. NEW MAGISTRATE. MB J. MILLER. APPOINTED. WELLINGTON, June 14. The appointment of Mi 1 James Miller, Ke"istrnr anti Sheriff of the Supreme Court at Christchurch, to the Magisterial Bench was announced to-day by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. F. J. Rolkston. It is not yet determined where lie is to ho located or when he takes up his new duties. BENZINE CARGO ABLAZE. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 14. The south-bounci express from New Plymouth this afternoon crashed into a. lorry heavily laden with cases of benzine at tho West Street railway crossing, where a number of accident have already occurred. The lorry was smashed and caught fire, but the two occupants, Ken Kersal, of Palmerston North, and Frederick Lester, of Auckland, miraculously escaped from the wreckage. Both are suffering badly from shock, while Kcrsal is in a serious condition as a result of burns. Later hospital reports -state that the condition of both is improving. The train was delayed over an hour until tlie fire brigade smothered tho flames and the lino was made safe to proceed.

The lorry, which was the property ot Kersal, was utterly consumed. Only a few eases of benzine were saved.

MUNICIPAL AERODROME

WELLINGTON, June 14

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. J. Eolleston) stated to-day that the Blenheim Borough Council has notified General Defence Headquarters that it has set aside a portion of the Omaha Domain, with an area of thirty acres, as a municipal aerodrome, and that hangar accommodation is available. The area is being prepared and sown in grass, and in the meantime arrangements have been made by the Borough Council for the use of a suitable paddock situated some four hundred yards west of the hangar. The council asks that pilots desiring to make use of the ground shall notify their intended arrival, and states ffiat upon receipt of that information arrangements will be made to lay out a landing “T” and to indicate the wind direction. FALSE DECLAR ATION. HAMILTON, June 14. Leo Constant Francois Marie Janssens was charged with making a false declaration on a marriage license, and was admitted to two years’ probation by Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court to-day. The Judge advised him to make his present marriage valid. SHOT NATIVE PIGEONS. WELLINGTON, June 14. Rjichaji'd King, a labourer, of Akntarama, wont out pig shooting in April, a .ml, according to his counsel in Court at Upper Hutt, when he could not get a pig for food he shot four native pigeons. King was charged with having taken or killed absolutely protected birds. The Acclimatisation Society’s ranger said that on the very tree from which flic birds were taken was affixed one of the Bird Protection Society’s warning notices.

Mr .Salmon, S.M., imposed a fine of £lO.

CROWN OFFERS NO EVIDENCE. HAMILTON, Juno 14.

An unusual procedure was taken in the Supreme Court to-day, in a case in which Ernest Alexander Cooper pleaded guilty to the theft of a ring and a. cheque, hut denied the theft of £G from tilie home of Cecil Samuel Cooper, farmer, Waihoii. Mr Justice Blair pointed out this morning that the jury, had considered the case for four hours and disagreed. Mr H. T. Gillies, for the Crown, agreed that it was not advisable to have a new trial so he proposed to call no evidence, so that a formal verdict could ho returned. Tho jury accordingly declared accused not guilty.

VITAL STATISTICS,

WELLINGTON, June 14

l>uriiiK May the total live births regislerod for urban areas amounted to 7099, as against 1029 in April, an increase of 70. Deaths in May were 495, an increase of 33 as compared with tho previous month. Of tho total deaths males contributed 268 and females 227. Forty-six of the deaths were of children under five years of ago, being 9.29 per cent of the whole number. Thirty-one of these were under one. year of ago.