DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

A NOTH ER CONFER ENCE, !By Telegruph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, March 15. The Dominion Conference of Societies for the Protection of Women and Children is being held. It was decided to approach the Government and request greater assistance for the Child Endowment Bill to he amended so that deserted wives may be eligible as well as those women who have their nusbands with them. Resolved that the Society endeavour to obtain a similar pension for a wife with a permanently sick husband, as women whose husbapd is in a mental hospital. T _____ **:) CRUELTY TO BULL. ? ASHBURTON, March 15. At the Magistrate’s Court, Thomas Pernall, a drover, was sentenced to fourteen days hard on a charge of cruelty to a bull by cutting its nosirds m order to remove-a ring. The animal was at the time in a truck in the Ashburton railway yards.

COUNTIES CONFER. ASHBURTON, March 15

A Conference of sixty delegates representing forty Counties in the. South Island sat here to-day. It was resolved that as hospital levies on County Councils are a heavy, burden oil the farming community, the Conference is of the opinion that the basis should he altered. One , remit recommended being fifty per cent on capital value .and fifty on population.

HOTEL BURNT

TA U R ANG A,. „M arch 15. A fire at three ; mbriung totally, destroyed the T.ljjisiiifin jiHotel, a familiar landmark; atvKattkatji. The licensee, Mr Anderson, ,\y£fs.‘ luvfkeiicd to find the place. in 'flaiueft.apd with Mrs Anderson, staff and oneboarder had to escape in their night attire, all losing everything. Anderson made an attempt to get the safe. He succeeded in opening the door, hut the flames burnt the hair off his face and lie had to escape leaving the door open. There was a heavy wiiid from the west at the time and the hotel outbuildings, with contents, were totally destroyed in less than an hour. No water was available and nothing could be clone to save the building. Had the wind been in the other direction it would have been a serious outlook for the township. The insurances are unavailable.

C.O.D. PARCELS

NELSON, March 15

The effect upon New Zealand traders of the C.O.D. parcels system was discussed at the Conference of the Now Zealand Federation of Draper, Cloth : iers and Boot Retailers, when' the latest returns received from the Post Office disclosed the fact that The tonal value of the C.O.D. parcels received in the Dominion has jumped from £12,000 in, 1924 t0r£154,000 in 1928. It was resolvedi.a telegram be sent to the Postmaster-General again urging upon the Government to remove the gross injustice inflicted noon New Zealand' traders and manufacturers by the operations of the C.O.D. system under which the -New Zealand Post Office acts as the agent for overseas mail order houses which contribute nothing to the national reveuue of New Zealand. .

STORE DESTROYED

PALMERSTON N., March 15

A fire at Terrace Enel at midnight destroyed the • contents of a grocery store leased by H. J. Kevar. The fire also damaged the building. Hie residence adjoining was saved. Insurance on contents, £BSO, does not cover the loss. The builpig was owned by A. B. Rowlands, ,-of Auckland. Insurances thereon are unknown.

HIKURANGI MINE; WHANGAREI, March 15,

Official intimation has been given that the employees of Wilson Portland Cement Coy’s mine at Hikurangi resumed work this morning, thereby considerably relieving tlie coal shortage anxiety. The men have been on strike since. March 6th. i •' The terms of the settlement are not available for publication. The dewatering of Hikurangi Coal ( iimpanv's deeded mine is proceeding ut: the rate of two fee; daily, but there is still a depth of ore, ninety feet to deal with.

SERIOUS CHARGE. PALMERSTON N., March 15. with indecently assaulting a years of age at Rongtoteu, a farm labourei, jßled not guilty and was committed