DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

A TRYING EXPERIENCE. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 10. Allen and Bartholomew, the fishermen, who were driven to- sea in the launch, report they had an arduous experience.

They left port at 7.30 a.m. on Friday with a few sandwiches and a flask of tea. The weather was fine. The engine gave trouble, and after fishing some, time,.the wind increased aipl the launch drifted down the coast before heavy seas. All day Saturday and Sunday they drifted helplessly. On Monday morning the-wind changed and blew them landwards and at 9 p.m. the launch grounded near Puniho, and they reached the shore and after a long walk reached a settlers house very exhausted.

NEW GUINEA GOLDFIELD.

DISILLUSIONED ENGINEER

AUCKLAND, July 9,

Gold was tho lure which took Mr 0. Moen, a New Zealand mining engineer, to New Guinea, but disillusionment has accompanied him back to the Dominion. He was a passenger by the Tofua to-day after a visit to Fiji for the purposo inspecting a mining proposition there. Air Moen is an Otago man, his old homo being near Lawrence. A year or so ago, while engaged in tin mining in New South

Wales, he was engaged by an Adelaide company to go to New Guinea. “I really prefer not to say anything about New Guinea,” Air Moen said. He did, however, give a little information, and it is possible to contrast this with the colourful reports which have been coming from Rabaul in recent times. The South Australian company which Mr Aloen represented bought out an interest on the new Bulolo field below Edie Creek. They paid £OOOO in cash, and were to pay another £SOOO later. Representations were that tho claim was producing an ounce of gold per square yard, wliich was equivalent to about £2 10s per ounce. Air Moen’s disillusionment consisted in working out the. return of the Bulolo claim at Is 10c! per yard instead of an ounce per yard. He advised his company that the claim was not worth going on with. Air Aloen says that any New Zealander who might contemplate going after New Guinea gold should weigh the consequences. “Let them beware,” ho added.

AI.OLYNEUX CLAIAIS. REVIVAL - OF DREDGING. DUNEDIN, July 9. The likelihood of a big revival of dredging on the Molyneux is indicated. 'Clio whole of the river from Alexandra to Dumbarton Rock, near Ettrick, has been pegged off within recent days, and from Alexandra up the river to Clyde claims have been pegged off. This makes the full distance of the proposed, claims nearly forty niilevs. In

addition to this long stretch of the river the Hartley and Riley Company hold all the river from Cromwell down to Clyde. The whole of tho river lias liojv been taken up. There was a recent rush to file claims following on reports that London investors were being interested in several parts of the river. The interested parties are in communication with London regarding the linking up of all tho interests. According to some of tlio parties it is quite on the cards that in the near future the Molyhelix will be worked by powerful dredges capable of coping with tho river conditions.

BANDSAIAN’S DEATH

DUNEDIN, July 9,

The well-known bandsman, Robert Bernard Wills, commonly known as “Bud,” died to-day. He attended the opera on Sunday and though in pain he played witli his theatre orchestra. His trouble originated with the paring of a corn on Thursday night. Ho had to bo medically attended, and died at 2 o’clock this morning. Air AVills learned his playing from his father, who was conductor of tho Hibernian Band at Invercargill for many years. ’ He first took to tho soprano and played that instrument with the Hibernian Band when it won the quickstep at Dunedin. Subsequently he studied the B flat cornet and developed into oue of tile very best performers in New Zealand. He was solo cornetist in the Kaikorai Band at the two latest contests.

SAMOAN ADAIINISTRATION

AUCKLAND, July 9

Home on furlough after seven and a-lialf years in the Western Pacific, Captain AY. AI. Bell, of AVellington. arrived by the Tofua- this morning and will proceed south by the Main Trunk express. Captain Bell is Commissioner of Savaii, one of the largest islands of the Samoan Group, and much as lie enjoys his work out there, lie is delighted with the prospect of spending five months in "New Zealand. AA’hile preferring not to make a statement concerning affairs in Samoa, Captain Bell said that in a general way -tho outlook was distinctly hopeful. He thinks highly of the service which was rendered by General Richardson as Administrator, and considers that tho new Administrator, Air S. S. Allen, will also do good work. The present Administrator, lie said, is not of the kind who consider they know all there is to know of tho Islands after having been there, figuratively, for five minutes or so, but he is gradually gaining a knowledge which is essential to enable him to administer the group.

CUSTOAIS STAFF CHANGES. AVELLINGTON. July 9. A number of changes in the Customs Department are announced. Air J. AP In tosh, Collector of Customs at Dunedin, becomes Collector at Auckland. Air AV. Howartli, Sub-Collector at Christchurch, bccoiries Collector of Customs at Christchurch. All- B. Anderson, Sub-Collector at

Dunedin, ■ has been promoted to tlie position, of Collector at Dunedin. Air H. W. S Ruffell,' Collector at Invercargill- is transferred to he Collector at Naipier. Air H. S. Cordev, inspector at A\ ref- < lington, fills the Invercargill vacancy. Mr K. H. Smyth, Collector at AA’estport, takes a similar position at Gney- ' mouth, the Westport vacancy being j filled by Mr J. Bayldon, of Chnstj church, while Air AV. G. Aface, examining officer at AVellington, becomes Collector of Customs at Oamaru. WAITRESS'S claial CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. In tho Alagistrate’s Court, Air Mosley, S.AL, gave judgment to-day in favour of a waitress who sued a restaurant proprietor for payment of meal allowance in licit of meals not supplied over a period of nine months. The plaintiff was Isabel Stribbling and tho defendant was Catherine Blogg, and amount of claim was £22 10s. The Alagistrate allowed £ll 15s less 10s paid on account. I Giving his judgment Air Afosloy | said: “There arc absolutely no merits in the claim, hut the law entitle?, plaintiff to get the judgment.”