DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1928, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

SEQUEL TO HOLD UP. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 11. As a sequel to the hold-up of Miami Mrs George Pearce, on Mountain Road, on the night of September 28th, Norman Travel-, aged 22, and Roy Edward Trask, aged 22, were charged with personal violence, stealing £6 in money, etc. at the Police Court. Both were further charged with wrongful conversion of a car valued at £200.Trask alone was charged with stealing two gallons of petrol. They were committed for trial on the major charge and each was sentenced to three months for conversion, Trask also getting fourteen days for the benzine theft. Joseph Henry Trask, father of Roy, was jointly charged with his son and Travers for unlawfully converting, at Hamilton, a car (hired at Auckland after the robbery), in which all three subsequently were ' arrested at Te Kuiti. He pleaded guilty and was gaoled for six months therefore, and an additional three months for obtaining £33 18s 6d by valueless cheques.

BUSH, FIRES OUT. GISBORNE, Oct. 11. . Heavy rain yesterday quenched the scrub and log fires. An inspection of the ' properties affected reveals the stock losses are much less severe than expected. The loss in feed and fences is considerable. BAPTISTS CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH,, Oct. 11. At the annual Conference of the Baptist Union the report stated that the membership had risen to 7385. Two new churches were formed during the year and extensive building operations undertaken in addition. A remarkable feature of the reports of the various departments of work at Home and foreign was that in spite of the depression every account was in good credit. £17,500 was subscribed for various activities exclusive of a gift of a college building. FARMED BY CROWN. TWO BIG PROPERTIES. WELLINGTON, Oct. 9. A return discloses that only two properties purchased by the Crown for closer settlement are being farmed by the Government. .Mataikona, an estate of 12,595 acres at Castlepoint, is the larger, and it is to be opened for selection within a few weeks.

The Te Wera Estate, of 9922 acres, at Matawai, in the Gisborne district, cost the Crown £64,630, against £BO,947 for Mfitaikona. THE HUNTER ENQUIRY. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 11. The Works Committee of the City Council has decided that the inquiry into matters arising out of the resignation- by ; G. R. Hunter ,of his seat on the City Council, shall he open, to the press and to all citizens desirous of giving evidence. Hie inquiry begins to-morrow afterneon.