DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

BOOKIE FINED

PALMERSTON N. Jan. 28. At the police court Darcy. Ball, pleaded guilty to a charge of - keeping a common gaming house iii Fpxton. The police evidence stated accused when visited on Saturday admitted making bets totalling £6. Magistrate Stout commented' that business must not lie flourishing with the flaxgi’owers. Counsel for accused said, lie did a small cash business and had to pay for providing conveniences for Fox ton bettors. ' Accused was fined £3O. PROBATIONER SENTENCED. NAPIER, Jan. 28. The probation officer told the Court to-day that the year spent in the Borstal Institute by Basil Hodgson for obscene language, at Hamilton, was only a farce and the prisoner there learned had habits. The Magistrate said that apparently the accused was determined not to he reformed. A sentence of four months on each of four charges of theft of cycles was imposed. A FIRE. ROTORUA, Jan. 28. Ine refreshment room and dwellings at Mnmakau occupied by Airs Wheatley and owned by Mrs Rowe, together with the hall adjoining was totally* destroyed by fire this morning. It was directly opposite the railway station which was in danger, the paint being scorched and windows broken by .the heat. Insurances are unavailable;; AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS. ROTORUA, Jan. 28. The Australian bowlers played a Rotorua team on Saturday, the local 'team winning by 198 to 187. The Australians left this morning greatly pleased with their visit to Rotorua and 1 the sights.

GARAGE FIRE.

EKETAHUNA, Jan. 28.

A fire at Alfredton on Saturday destroyed a garage, Morris truck and motor car, with a quantity of tools belonging to the Eketahuna County Council. When discovered it was too far advanced to save. The truck was insured for £l5O, the car £IOO.- The shed was uninsured. The building was left apparently safe between five and six. The outbreak was at 10 o’clock.

VALUELESS CHEQUES

AUCKLAND, 'Jan. 28

Pleading guilty to seventeen charges of false pretences by tendering valueless cheques in various parts of the country of a total value of £127,145, George Thomas Nelson, aged 27,, a salesman, was sentenced at the Police Court to two years hard labour. Last March he completed a term of three years reformative treatment. He is to appear at Hamilton on a charge of forgery. A further charge emating from AVellington was withdrawn.

THE UNEMPLOYED;

WELLINGTON, January 26

A survey of the number of unemployed in New Zealand shows that over the last seven weeks, the number has varied considerably, but this variation may be attributed to the ’Xmas period intervening. In the period' under review, since ’Xmas, the number lias risen, and it now stands at 2.470.