DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By. Telegraph—Per Press Association. THE KAWARAU. PROPOSED CLOSING. DUNEDIN, July 27. Although there lias been a pronounced tliaw for over a week with no frost the Ivawarau River still stands at a low level, and to-day is seven inches below last year’s closing level on the gauge at the town. Despite the mild conditions it is still falling slowly* Efforts in the direction of closing under modified terms of insurance have advanced to a degree of hope, telegraphs the “ Star’s ” Cromwell correspondent, the only pity being that these were not forthcoming earlier in tho season. Daring a recent visit to Wellington, Mr James Ritchie, a director of many of the local companies, put a strong case to the controlling authorities, stressing the vast amount of public money* invested (£100,000) and the unreasonableness of the insurance conditions. He received a very encouraging reply*, but was informed that the Ivawarau Company had stated that closing would not he sought this year, and any* proposal must come from that quarter. The local companies are following tlio matter up anil have written to the Knwarnu Company to make application for closing if the level proves favourable. The first oppoitunity was lost several weeks ago, when the river was twenty inches below last year’s level at the town. Those at the head of the amalgamation proposals are favourable to closing provided heavy insurance is not demanded.

POSTMASTER’S DEATH

DANNEVT.RKE, July* 28,

Obituary.—Samuel James Bolton, postmaster at Dannevirkc for three and a half years, after a brief illness. Deceased took a keen interest in .military* matters, having been connected with the Volunteers and Territorials for many years. He was Lieut.-Colonel in tho Army Pay Corp of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, serving at ’Gallipoli, Egypt, France, Germany and Base Records, England, and holder pf the O.Bh'E for bravery in the danger zone. Deceased was gassed while on active service. He leaves a widow, sou and daughter. A HIGH HONOUR. DECORATION FOR, WELLINGTON MAN. WELLINGTON, July 27. The lion secretary of the Dominion .executivo of the St John Ambulance Association has iust received a commtiniication from Colonel R. C. Bingham, secretary of the historic order of St John of Jerusalem, that H.K.H. the Duke of Connaught and the Chapter General, has, with the sanction of His Majesty the King, admitted Mr T. T. Dutton, of Wellington, as a member of the Order of St John for devoted service to the ambulance department and its subsidiary red cross branch.

Mr Dutton is widely known for his spirit of gratuitous service to the •sporting community* and the honour referred to entitles him to wear the famous eight-pointed star instituted by* King Baldwin 810 years ago during the Crusades. AVitli the view of modernising the venerable Order of St John, Ring George recently commanded Sir W. Joynson Hicks to intimate that tho order will in future hear and use, according to tho laws of arms, the armorial hearings. His Excellency* Sir Charles Fcrgussou is to bo asked to present the insignia of the Order of St John of Jerusalem to Mr Dutton.

JENNINGS MILLIONS. • ANOTHER CLAIMANT. AUCKLAND, July 27. An Auckland claimant to share in the fortune of 253,000,000 said to he in Chancery in the Jennings Estate was discovered to-day. He is Mr F. •Sinclair, who came out from Scotland 17 years ago, and married a daughter of one of the direct descendants of the Into'William Jennings, one of three Birmingham ironmasters who amassed a fortune in the latter part of the 18th century._ Miss Elizabeth Jennings, as she then was, came to New Zealand about 19)1 with her sister, Miss Mary Jennings, now residing in Whangarei, Slie had strong religious convictions, having been brought up in the home of the Rev. F. S. Swnndell, later Dean to the Bishop of Birmingham, and some time after landing in the Dominion entered domestic service at the y.M.C.A. Hostel in Wellington, where she met Mr Sinclair. They were married at the Registry Office in Wellington in 1917. All- Sinclair, who is at present a lodger at the Salvation Army Workmen’s Home, conies of a good Border family with a home in Carlisle and emigrated to Australia about 1911 to learning farming, coming on to New Zealand a year later. After his marriage he took up his residence in Hawera and later established a farm of 160 acres at East Tamaki. On the death.of his wife’ three years ago at Auckland Hospital he abandoned farming and engaged in bush felling, an occupation which lie has followed ever since. , KYEBURN MURDER. DUNEDIN, July 28. William John Hardie, charged with the murder of the Chinese, Joe Slien, at the Kyeburn diggings on July 17th. was to-day remanded for a week in custody. FALL FROM WINDOW. WELLINGTON, July 28. Mr J. B. Andrew, ex-A fay or of Napier, and delegate to the Power Board’s Conference, fell from a bedroom window at the Grand Hotel on Friday morning. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries to the head and a fractured pelvis. He is doing as well as can he expected.