DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P?r Press Association.) FIRE LOSSES. WELLINGTON, July 11. At tho opening of the new suburban fire station, allusion was made by several speakers to the excessive fire losses in New Zealand. Sir Maui Pomare said in proportion to the population the loss was 18s 3d per head, the highest in the world. It had advanced from 12s lid in 1022. In Canada it'was 13s and in the United States Ms. Last year’s loss was £1,331,508, and that covered only half the country. Statistics showed almost the whole of tho fires were caused by carelessness in some form or other, The Chairman of the Fire Board put the matter another way, when he said one-half of the daily loss by fire would pay the interest on twelve milliions. A ROUGH TRIP.

AUCKLAND, July 11

The Ulimaroa arrived from Sydney at 8 a.m., twenty-four hours behind schedule time. Captain Wvllie said — ‘lt was tho worst trip I have had for years. We dropped into it from the moment we left Sydney. We had a heavy sea and a strong south-west gale all the way across. We hove to last night for an hour off North Cape. Fortunately nothing busted on the trip, except tho carrying away of some canvas on the deck.”

A list developed on tho voyage and Captain Wvllie. imagined it was due to tho coal. One passenger said:—“ft was a terrifying time. The ship started to roll off tho Sydney Heads. I thought wo wore in for a rough trip, and we got it. The seas were washing over tho rail. I was frightened, that is no exaggeration I assure you.” Another passenger said:—“On the first day out several cabins were flooded. Portmanteaux and luggage were floating about on the floors and several passengers were saturated by the water that poured into the vessel.”

Mem hors of the crew stated some of them were lucky, not being washed overboard. The Captain and the Boatswain had a very narrow escape. “Wo had a list of ton , degrees,” said one man, “and this must have developed to thirty-five• degrees, tine heavy sea ripped up tho iron casing over the steam pipe alongside Number 3 hold and threatened to wash x some of us overboard. It was a case of hang on by your eyebrows.”

CARGO PILLAGING. AUCKLAND. July 11

Detective McHugh and R. Foreman, acting marine superintendent for Shaw, Savill, Albion Coy. last night discovered eighty-four rolls of artificial silk ami other' delicate dress material hidden in a stokehold of the Arawa, the value running into several hundred pounds. They searched among coal from 8 p.m. till midnight using electric torches, but failed to find any trace of suspected smuggling, till the Detective broke the wooden casing covering insulation pipes along the side of the vessel and discovered a blanket carefully wrapped, containing a roll of artificial silk. Move wooden casing was ripped off and another roll of silk was discovered. Two large sacks bulging with dress material were also found under a heap of coal, piled high in a corner. In each Instance the places where the goods were concealed was well covered with coal. Pillaging on tho Arawa which arrived from Southampton on Thursday assumed extraordinary proportions. Many other classes of goods, in addition to dress materiiU were stolen, including large quantities of tobacco. .

AIR SIDEY RETIRING. DUNEDIN, July 11

Air Sidey. member of Parliament for 27 years, informed a meeting of his committee last evening that ho would not again stand. A motion was passed of appreciation of his services, and AV. Taverner (present Mayor of Dunedin) accepted the committee’s nomination for Dunedin South as the United Party representative.

THEFT CHARGE

ROTORUA, July 11

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr Platts S.M., Leslie Vickers, a well-known resident, and until recently a. secretary of the local -Building Society, was charged with misappropriation from the Society of £BOS Bs od, between 13th. August 1926 and 28th. May 1928. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. Bail was allowed of £IOOO.

A LECTURER. APPOINTED. PALMERSTON N., July 11

F,'L. C. Scrivener, B.Sc. (Agric.), of South Eastern Agricultural College, University of London, Wye, Kent, has been appointed lecturer on soil and inorganic chemistry at Massey Agricultural College.

DAIRY BOARD CHAIRMAN. ! WELLINGTON, July 11. W. A. lords was elected chairman of the Dairy Produce Board to-day.

RAILWAY COACH. WELLINGTON, July 11

A new railway coach specially built as a travelling office and reception room for the General -Manager ol Railways bad a trial run to Nnpiei yesterday and to-day was attached to the 2 p.m. express for Auckland. It comprises a lounge, general managei s compartment, four-berth .sleeping compartment, secretary’s office, kitchenette, lavatory and observation.

P.P.A. MEETING. WELM.NGTON, July 11

The annual meeting of the P.P.A. is proceeding to-day, I J. Bridget- presiding. In his presidential address he mentioned that the national lecturer had l>een able to carry on a vigorous campaign throughout the dominion dealing with the new Prayer Book controversy. DRUNKEN MOTORIST. TIMARTI, July 11. At the Magistrate’s Court, .Tames Pnnnett. on a charge of being intoxicated whilst in charge of a motor car was fined £2O and costs. Accused pleaded guilty* SUPREME COURT. ' WELLINGTON, July 11. Prisoners sentenced bv Justice Reel at the Supremo Court :—T antes Albert Michael McMahon, aged 36, bigam>.

to 18 months’ hard. His Honour said • “We are having eases from time to time of people comm- out from England and deceiving women with regard to their marriage state, and it has got to ho stopped.” William John Thomas Mhnlle> 30 for forgery and littering at Auckland and Gisborne, to 2 years’ probation, a special condition Wing the taking out of a prohibition order, and renewing it, paying costs andi making restitUßal'ph Russell Brumn, 23. for theft from his father at Palmerston TNorth, three years’ Borstal. , > Walter John Hamilton, 4 1, breakin- entering and theft at Nelson, to . two years’ and declared an habitual I criminal. ■ , Horatio Mortimer, 23, breaking and theft at New Plymouth. 2 years,