DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Press Asasocigtjpn.) COLD TEA. A- LICENSING CASE. HASTINGS, Aug. 1. The nine months old “cpld tea” case Was jjrought to a poppHtsfipn to-day, wlien charges! against Donajfi Hugh M’Leod, licensee of the Hastings Hotel, of selling after hours, selling liquor tp Athol Griffiths, and celling liquor to a person already .intoxicated, wero dismissed. Athol Griffiths, charged with being found on licensed premises during prohibited hours, wqs fined £2 and costs £3 18s 6d. It will be remembered that certain bottles submitted as evidence at the earlier hearing were alleged to contain cold tea and not beer, as believed, and the ease was adjourned pending an analysis of the contents. To-day an analyst’s report showed that the contents were not alcoholic and the charges against M’Leod were edHis Worship said the position of Griffiths was different. He was charged with being found on licensed prpnv ises, aqcl the onus was on him to satisfy the Court that he had a legitimate excuse. Griffiths said he went to see M’Leod about a racehorse, but this was a story which lie (the Magistrate), was not going to accept. Griffiths had no rightful excuse. It was made upon the spur of the moment. There Was a great deal more in this case than met the eye. He had no hesitation in convicting Griffiths.

COOK ISLANDS FRUIT.

WELLINGTON, Aug. 1

For some time the administration has been endeavouring to improve the quality and pack of fruit exported from Cook Islands and to place the industry on a sound basis, to compete with California and Australia in the orange market and with Fiji in respect of bananas. The annual report, tabled to-day, says that, the administration is obtaining the services cf additional inspectors from the De r partment of Agriculture, Now Zealand, to assist in the work of inspection and suoorvison at the sheds during the orange season. The present, system of inspection at the wharf during shipment will only be carried out as a check. The scheme of having one large shed in each district under tlie supervision of an inspector nssissted by tlio shed committee, and also having a trained staff of packers for each shed should make a marked improvement in tlio quality and pack of fruit for export. A weakness will appear in the scheme should tlio natives not stand together and completely fulfil tlio requirements of the Administration in regard to packing sheds, in which event the Government will step in and control Its own packing sheds.

STUDY OF SOILS

SIR JOHN RUSSELL’S VISIT.

AUCKLAND, Aug,

Sir John Russell, director of Rotliamsted Experimental Station, England, arrived by the Mnheno from Sydney. His tour extending over nearly three weeks is expected to afford much useful data for the proposed Imperial Soil Bureau to be established at Rotlianisted. of which Sir Omni is the director designate.

“I make my visit to New Zealand with a perfectly open mind, desirous of studying your soils and methods of husbandry, and keen to meet as many of your farmers as possible,” lie said, rn arrival. “We have visits from quite a number of Now Zealand farmers at Rothnmstcd. They appear keen to acquire knowledge of new deyelopments, and we arc at all times glad to see them.”

S UEER ANNUATION FUND. WELLINGTON, Aug. 1

The annual report on the Government Railways Superannuation Fund, tabled to-day, states that the balance of income over expenditure was £125,255 as compared with £123,089 for the previous year. Receipts from members’ contributions showed a steady increase, being £158,600, ns compared with £157,784, an increase of £8.15. A net increase of sixty-two members is disclosed. Contributors at 5 per cent have increased by 138. Contributors at 3 and 4 per cent have decreased .by 45 and 37 respectively.

During the year thirty-six casual employees elected to contribute to thefund, so that in the event of their subsequently becoming permanently

appointed they would not he faced with having to pay accumulated arrears on account of service prior to permanent appointment. The total number of employees so contributing at the end of the year was 191, and the amount standing to their credit £5744. A sum of £170,000 was paid into tile fund by the Working Railways Department. The interest amounted to £58,293, an increase of £7577. '

FOUND KILLED

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 2

Tb}s morning the dead body of a young man beside a damaged motor cycle and side chair, was found at the bottopi bank at a cutting on Kuikpura Road, five miles from Waiau. Deceased was apparently from 20 to 24 years of age. A motor cyclist’s license, found in a pocket, bore the name, “Herbert Clark, labourer; care of Murray, Kaikoura.” Marks on the road seemed to indicate the man had been going up the cutting, and the cycle was in second gear when found, fi.q that it is difficult to account for tile accident. It is believed tlie accident occurred on Wednesday.

LINER DELAYED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2

TJie Maupganuj arrived to-night from Spn yrancisco, Papeete and Rarotonga, three days late. She was boarded in the stream by the Port Health Officer and Customs officials, and without dropping anchor, berthed at 8.10 p.in, The cause of delay was the main shaft slipping the web about a day prior to arrival at Papeete, necessitating llip vessel working with tlio starboard engine only. She made her usual call at Rarotonga. Fortunately fine weather prevailed, and tlie Maiinganui made nino knots.

Tlip passengers state that but for the obviously reduced speed, nothing indicated anything was amiss.

The Maunganui had only 105 passengers, about 33 for New Zealand landing to-niglit. The ship’s engines will undergo repairs at Wellington. Tlie voyage to Sydney has been abandoned. She will’ sail from Wellington on August 14tli for San Francisco, via Rarotonga and Papeete, as usual. The ■ Well i n gton-Lyttelton ferry steamer Maori, was bold back to 9.10 to-night to receive the mails for the south. The officers report that nothing was seen of tlie Argentine training frigate “Presidcnte Sarmien.to,” which left Wellington last Sunday and the mails from the Argentine for her were left at Papeete.

R O.T. CONFERENCE. PUNEDIN, Aug. 2. The New Zealand Railway Officers’ Institute concluded its sittings today. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year President, Mr V R J .Stanley (re-elected) ; Vice-Presidents, Messrs B. S. Skinner, K. W. Barnes, M. K. Carroll, J. McAloon; 'l’reasurer, Air D. Barclay; Executive Committee, Messrs V • G. Hnrdie, P. D- Clark. A. S. Henderson, W A. Finlayson, F. W. McKane, O. Gallagher, .T. G. Fergie. READING FOR' THE BLIND. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2. The Wellington City Council tquirrht decided that 148 volumes of literat. -re for the blind, at present stored at Nowtpwn Library, bo donated to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Auckland, where they will bo circulated to readers throughout New Zealand. APPEAL, fails. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 2. The Racing Conference appeal judges Messrs S. Watkins, H. F. Johnston and J. G. Duncan, dismissed the appeal of G. A- Beid, owner of Lucky Rose, against the Onslow Stakes at the Auckland autumn meeting, lining awarded to White Wings, on the ground that she was not retained under the personal supervision of her owner, IV. Scholium, as provided under Part 20. Rule 3. of the Rules of Racing. DAYLIGHT SAVING PROJECT. DUNEDIN, Aug. 2. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce and sports bodies waited on the Otago Trades and Labour Council this evening for the purpose of enlisting the favour of tlie Trades Unions in a proposed scheme of daylight saving in Dunedin. The deputation suggested that the business places should open half an hour earlier and close half ail )ioiir earlier in the evening, the system to have effect over a period of six months.

After discussion, the Council passed a ’resolution endorsing tlio scheme, and decided to solicit the support of the various Unions. ALLEGED “READY.” AUCKLAND, Aug. 2. A report from Alexandria Racing Club regarding an inquiry held into certain allegations made by one jockey against another, that the latter had attempted to “Ready” the hurdle race at Pirongia last Boxing Day, was received by tlie Auckland District Committee to-day. The report was received and tlie Committee considered the jockey who complained failed to sustain his allegations.