DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

POOR COMPETITION FOR SETTLEMENT LAND. , (By Telegraph—Press Association). GISBORNE, Feb. 14. Two sections comprising the consolidated Crown interests in Native blocks on the East Coast have been submitted for selection, hut only one application was received for each. Tim .v-Ctions arc seventeen hundred and twelve hundred acres, respectively, and represent a very iair cuiss of Coast lands.

ILLEGAL GAMING. DANNEVIRKE, J Teb. J 4. Richard Jones, alias Preston, appeared before Justices charged willi playing ;i game of chance at ,I)aninvirke show grounds yesterday, to wit Crown and Anchor. The Police asserted that when detected, accused endeavoured to cover up the appliance he was using, and subsequently ■ offered the Constable a sum of mono:* to let the matter drop. Accused win. hat! a list of previous convictions,, for various offences, was lined £25, or two months. Mr W. Dobson, J.P.. commented upon , the fact that tne accused would never have been p< rmitted oil a racecourse, yet such human parasites were allowed on Hie show grounds to prey upon the public. The sooner the application ol Section 33 of the Gaming Act was extended to agricultural shows the better.

Raymond Quinn appeared to answer a charge of operating a roulette wheel at Wootlville show. Ho was convicted and fined £lO, in default a month. The fines were paid in cadi instance. A MYSTERIOUS*FIRE. GISBORNE. February 14 r A lire completely destroyed 11. Wil linns’ store at Waipiro Bay this.morn ing. There are no indications how the outbreak started, and no appliances were available to suppress the flames. The stock is insured for El.ooo in the New Zealand Office. The building is owned by Mr A. \Y. Kirk, and is insured for 075 in the South British, and Mr Kirk’s fittings are insured for £75 in the South British also.

A BOON TO TRAFFIC. ELECTRIFIED TRAIN TO LYTTELTON. CHRISTCHURCH. February 1-1, Sir .Joseph Ward, the Hon. Taverner and lit. Hon. J. G. Coates arrived in Christchurch to-day for the opening of the electrified Christchureh-Lyttel-ton railway line this afternono. -Mrs Taverner, the wife-"of the -Minister ol Railways, will sever the ribbon immediately prior to the departure of the, first electric passenger train for Lyttelton. ARCHITECTS INSTITUTE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. Mr 'K. R. Wilson, of Southland, was elected President of the Architects Institute.

SPEED BOAT RACING. HARBOUR BOARDS AUTHORITY. WELLINGTON, Fob. 14. It was recently stated legislation would be submitted at the next session of Parliament to limit the speed at which speed boats may travel on harbours. The Marine Department says this is Incorrect. What the Department intends to do is to give Harbour Boards the authority to prevent tho nuisance caused by speed boats exhausts. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. 'flic development of the Government’s policy of lessening State interference in private business is the agreement between the Commissioner of State Forests, Hon. Taverner and nurserymen. With regard to tho sale of young trees for planting it is understood the prices have been agreed on for the coming season satisfactory to nurserymen.

THEFT OF WOOL. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 14. Frederick Arthur Hayward Penfold, an Ainherloy farmer, was found guilty Irv a jury of stealing wool valued at £22, the property of neighbouring farmers. He was remanded until Saturdnv for scntenco.