DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

HON. RANSOM. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, February 1(5. 'flie Minister of Public Works (Hon. A. Hansom) accompanied by Mr FFurkert (Cheif Engineer) and Hawke’s Hay Departmental officers, arrived at Wairoa. on Saturday evening and re. ceivod several deputations from the hlackhlocks settlers asking for road access, besides Borough Council requests for a new courthouse and assistance in works to prevent river erosion, .Mohaka Bridge maintenance and other matters.

Mr Ransom yesterday visited Lake Waikaremoana and inspected the hydroelectric works. To-day he will inspect the inland railway route on the way to Gisborne, returning by the coast route to Waikokopu to-morrow. DAIRY COMPANY’S QUERY. WELLINGTON, February 18. The Executive of the newly-formed New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Coy. Shareholders Association Incorporated, decided to circularize all shareholders of the Company, calling for an investigation to inquire why the pay out lor butter fat compares unfavourably with smaller co-operative daily companies, despite the many advantage and the savings claimed by management to accrue from largo manufacture and marketing.

SAFE STOLEN: WELLINGTON, February 18. A Phillips safe, measuring about 3 feet by 2 feet, containing . Saturday’s takings was removed from the premises of J. Middlehrook, butcher, during the week-end. It is believed some time after 1 p.m. on Sunday entrance was effected by the back door and the safe taken away on a hand track to a back street, where it was loaded to a motor track. The premises are right opposite Te Awamutu Hotel and the Post Office adioins. Telephone attendants, who have a view of Middlebrook’s office, saw nothing. The police scoured the district yesterday without finding any trace of the safe. TOTE ODDS. ' PALMERSTON N,, February 18. For laying totalisator odds at Levin on the result of the Taranaki races Leonard Carmichael was fined £o and costs at court this morning. the police stated defendant was agent fci some other person. TO CROSS COOK STRAIT.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. On Friday night Charles Barwell set out in his tiny collapsible canoe to cross Cook Strait, but after proceeding a short distance lie decided it was wise to return, and he landed at a fishermen s hut just south of Mnkara Beach. Barwell states he is finding a difficulty m receiving accurate weather reports. All he receives is a forecast transmitted over wireless, but in the main lie is relying more upon his own judgment than on anything else.

A DISASTROUS FIRE. WAIROA, Feb. 18. A disastrous fire broke out. at 4.30 on Sunday morning in an old wooden block known as Corkill’s Buildings, practically the whole being gutted. Upstairs the building was occupied as a Cabaret and Druids’ 'Lodge room. Downstairs shops wtere odeupied by McLeod (confectioner), Carr (watchmaker), Gay (upholsterer), Hague (tailor), Storey (auctioneer). Corkill and McLeod are heavy losers, also the Druids who lost a piano and all the Lodge property and regalia. Other occupiers saved most of the contents. The building was owned by J. Corkill (Mayor ,of Wairoa). The amounts of insurances are unavailable.

BOARDING HOUSE DESTROYED. DUNEDIN, Feb. 18. A fire at Taieri mouth at midnight on Saturday guttod an 18-roomed wooden hoarding house, owned and occupied by John Gust. There were only two boarders who lost all their effects. .

BUS ACCIDENT. ROTORUA, February 18. An accident in the neighbourhood of To Puke yesterday was caused by a bus laden with passengers coming to Rotorua hitting a bank and landing on end. The passengers were huddled, a screaming mass in front. With, the exception of two, the driver, Roberts, and an elderly Maori, Rihi Rerehana, they escaped injury. The two injured were brought to King George’s Hospital and: were reported to be doing well.

PRESS CONFERENCE OUTING. ROTORUA, February 18. A large party (rf members of the Press Conference, now sitting here, were taken by the Mayor and Councillors of Rotorua round the district and through the Government plantation on Kairgaroa plains. The principal object was to show what could be done with pumice land, once thought to but now being turned into profitabe holdings. The visitors were considerably impressed with what they saw. Some of them went as far as t-ie soldiers holdings at Peporoa and inspected the settlement growing up there.

ESCAPEE CAPTURED. TAUMARUNUI, Feb, 18. Walter John Gower, a prisoner at Waikune Prison Camp, escaped from the Oio sub-camp yesterday, but was recaptured in the afternoon, two miles away in the bush by Gaoler Glynn and Constable Shearman.