DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P°.r Press Association.), GAMING HOUSE CHARGE. HAWERA, August 25. Patrick O’Connor, billiard saloon keeper, pleaded guilty at the Manaia Police Court yesterday, to a charge of keeping a common gaining house. The police said documents seized showed defendant took £2OO in hots during the Christchurch race week, hut counsel submitted the real amount was disguised and defendant was operating only in a small way. Magistrate Tate said he would take into account the action of defendant in making a full confession. He inflicted a fine of £SO.

BOOKS FOR PARLIAMENT. VERY MODEST OUTLAY. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. The Parliamentary Library as a national institution is run on a remarkably close financial margin. Its annual report shows an income of £SO from Bill fees and £7OO as a grant from the Legislative Department, which also pays about £3OOO in salaries. The Chief Librarian declares that it is impossible to maintain proper accessions for a library of this size and character within the limits of the annual vote for look-huving purposes and the revenue from private Bills. The vote was fixed at £6OO sixty years ago, when the library was a very small one and the output of books inconsiderable. In recent years the annual publication of hooks on serious subjects lias very much increased. There has also been a considerable increase in the cost. It is obvious, therefore, that if £6OO was considered a. reasonable sum for hooks sixty years ago it is not possible to do anything like justice to the niticli larger library at the present flay on £7OO. At least four public libraries in New Zealand are spending more than the General Assembly Library on the purchase of books, ‘.‘which is hardly compatible with the character of this library as a national institution.”

LICENSING QUESTION. THE MIDDLE WAY LEAGUE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. Archbishop O’Shea says he believes that the proposals submitted to Mr Coates by the Middle Way yesterday are on the right lines. “Most of the evils resulting from the abuse of intoxicants arc due to excess in the use of spirits and the stronger brands of liquor,” lie said in an interview to-day. “I believe that reform is necessary in the liquor business, and the proposals of the Middle Way League should he given a chance of consideration by the people.” He felt sure that moderate people who believed neither in total prohibition nor in tho present state of things under license were in the great majority in this country and their views should he given consideration.

PLIGHT OF OLD COUPLE. WANGANUI, Aug. 24. Living in a shed at Putiki in a. deplorable state of filth, an old couple. Archibald Nelson and his wife, were located by the police and brought before Mr Barton, S.M.. this morning. Sergeant Sivyer said the conditions, almost beggared description. The shed had a tin chimney, but no flooring. In one half was an indescribably filthy bed on tho floor. , There was practically no furniture. The floor was littered with tho excreta of fowls, eats and a dog which also occupied the living premises. At the time of tlie police visit, the woman was nursing a fowl. The place was draped with thousands of cobwebs, and had not been tidied for months. The husband was in receipt of a pension of 17s a week, and on this the old couple lived. Tho wife was poorly clad in Court, a pair of felt slippers almost falling off lver feel, and there being a big rent in a stocking. licith refused to go to the old people’s home, so the Magistrate said there was no alternative hut. to remand them in custody for a few clays for treatment and observation, in the hope that they would ultimately make up their minds to go to a home.

SCIENCE CONGRESS. PREPARATIONS IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Aug. 24. The next science congress of the New Zealand Institute will he held in Auckland from January 24tli to 29th next. It will be divided into six sections, namely, agriculture and forestry, biology, geology and geography, chemistry and physics, anthropology and history, and social science and economics. A large number cf scientifically minded people from all parts of New Zealand are expected to be present. The council of tho Auckland Institute and Museum, which is responsible for the preliminary arrangements, adopted a tentative list of presidents, vice-presidents, and secretaries of tho different sections an decided to appoint in duo coui.se finance programme, general and social committees. It was announced that as a result of negotiations the'Auckland City Council had decided to print a special number of municipal records in January dealing with the scientific and .scenicaspects of Auckland c-'ty and surrounding districts. It was resolved that circulars regarding the Congress should be sent, to all persons who could ho considered likely to attend tho sessions.

AN UNFAMILIAR FISH. AUCKLAND, Aug. 24. An unfamiliar deep sea fish, which may be a sea snake, was caught on a. line in Mercury Bay, and is now being exhibited in Thames. It is over eight feet long and has a peculiar mouth and a sharp-pointed head. It has been frozen with a view to ascertaining its species. Lou Cblhoun, the fisherman who caught it, has had many years’ experience cm the New Zealand coast, hut says it. is different from anything he has scon before.

CYCLE ROAD RACE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. The cycle road race fifty miles for the Provincial Championship resulted.—C. Fleet 2hrs 4mins 7see 1; Gane2, a length further away.

COURSTNG. NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 26. The Waterloo Cup Coursing was concluded at Waitara yesterday, when Messrs Hurly and Willis’s (Hurly Villo) Diamond Blot bent Air L. Sampson’s (Sentry Hill) Golden Morn.

Mr F. Barriball’s Sleepy Son won the Waterloo Plate and Air D. H. Knowles’ Scottish Archer won the Waterloo Purse.

A FATALITY. AUCKLAND, August 26. A waterside worker. Air AY. Marshall, collapsed while loading timber on to a lorry on the Central AVharf on Saturday morning. Afarshall was nil elderly man and was employed as a casual hand. He 'flied on the way to tho hospital.