DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1929, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

COLLISION WITH CAR

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

TDIAR'U, Feb. 24

Ernest Latimer, a married man, 2.5 years of age, died in the hospital this evening as a result of concussion following a collision yitli a motor-ear whilst he was driving a motor-cycle near the racecourse about 0.30 p m. yesterday. Deceased was a well-known member of the local orchestra. An inquest will be held "to-day.

AN INTERESTING LAWSUIT,

AUCKLAND. Fob. 21

Does a church building which is exempted by law from local rating lose that exemption when it is temporarily diverted to other purposes than that of pubic worship or left disused? That is the problem which -*ji - Justice Blair is called upon to decide in an action brought in the Supreme four! by the Thames Borough Council against the Thames Congregational Church trustees for the recovery of the rates on a church in Mary Street, Thames, for the 1926-27 period. The building has for some years been used as a Union Church by the combined Con gregationa! and Baptist committees in Thames. On February 26, 1926, it wa* damaged by fire to such an extent that it could not be used for worship until it was repaired. Repairs were no! effected and the property was placed in the hands of a land agent for sale. The agent advertised it as suitable for a garage or warehouse. Before, however, any commercial firm could huv it , the buliding was bought by the Bap list section of the congregation. The Borough Council now seeks to re cover rates upon the property for tinperiod during which it was practically held out as a commercial proposition.' The legal argument hinged mainly upon the question of what constitutes a church building. His Honour incid entally suggested the hypothetical case of a country church which was used lot worship only at long intervals. Judgement was reserved. ANOTHER THEFT CHARGE. mail robbers implicated. . I WELLINGTON, February 26. The four men arrested last week in connection with the mail robbery on the Wahine appeared again in court this morning each charged with another offence. The two Ryans and Gordon were charged' with having <n or about 11th. January, broken and entered by night the shop oi Ro-ieit Young Shearer of Lower Hutt, and stolen ladies’ and men’s wearing apparel to the total value of about £9O. Beaven was charged that between January 22nd. and February 3rd. he received from Gordon goods valued at £ll 6s 6d, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. All wore remanded till to-morrow, the date to which the previous charges were remanded; Beaven alone was a bowed bail.

FRAUD CHARGES. NEW PLYMOUTH, Fob. 26. At the Supreme Court, William Draper pleaded not guilty to seven I charges of fraud against the Post Office Bank at Waitara, by forging the name of Hannah Free to three withdrawal slips for sums of £SO, and also forging the same name to authorised agents forms.