DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1929, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

UNCENSORED FILMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association). HAMILTON, June 19. For having permitted an American woman, Nella Walker, who is making ■! a world walking tour, to show films of | her travels in Hamilton last month- ■ Sydney Tombs, manager of .the local theatres, was convicted this morning , of permitting an exhibition of uncen- . sore pictures. i The Magistrate (Mr Blatts) said he . recognised that the breach was due , simply to inadvertence and recorded . a conviction without penalty.. The case is said to be the first of the kind brought in New Zealand. FLOODS NEAR DUNEDIN. . DUNEDIN, June 20. A report from north of Dunedin shows last night rain caused minor floods in Palmerston' South. The Shag River is over its banks. Thei;o is ten feet of water over the i;oad bridge at Bushey and the roads are impassable. ' SEVERELY BURNED. | HAMILTON, Juno 19. Michael Me.vlon, aged over HO, was severely burned about the arm and bead when a two-roomed cottage in which be dwelt alone was destroyed b.v fire yesterday. A dog in the building was burned to death. Meylon is in hospital, blit his condition is notserious. GALE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Heavy sea causes damage. | NEW PLYMOUTH, June 19. A terrific gale from the north-west to-night whipped the sen into fury and a high tide invaded the sea t’ron: to an extent not known for some years. Minor damage was caused by erosion ! at various beaches. The pavilion at i Motorua was surrounded by water for ! some time. An old shed at the foot j of the • wharf was washed away and • small craft in the harbour were severely battered. A man standing on the foot of tho wharf watching the fury of the sea was amazed to see a schnapper fly over bis head in a mass , of spray and land on the whai'f. He promptly secured his prize and proudly displayed it. OPOSSUM FINE. KILLING buT OF SEASON. j WAlfvOA, June 20. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, , before Air Harper, S.M., James Boothman was fined £2O for killing opossums out of season.

NATIONAL ,BANK DIVIDEND, AVELLINGTON, June 20

The National Bank of .New Zealand, AA T ellington, has received the following cabled advice from London :

“The Directors of the National Bank recommend a final dividend of 12 per cent per annum for the half year ended March 31, and a bonus of two per cent, both tax free. This dividend and bonus are the same as last year.” NEARLY A DISASTROUS FLOOD. BLENHEIM, June 20. Marlborough experienced heavy rain yesterday and during the night, and its cessation just saved the probability of a heavy flood. Some idea of the phenomenal rainfall of the last 2i hours can be gained by the fact thn ; the gauge at the Marlborough College revealed that the fall for 24 hours was 4i inches, while 39 points was recorded for the previous 24 hours. At Marshlands the rainfall for the 24 hours up to 9 o’clock to-day was 4.77 inches. "At Spring Creek the rainfall for the 24 lioup ended 9 o’clock to-day was 4.50 inches, which is the heaviest 24 hours fall during the 35 years that Mr T. C. Pritchard has been keeping records there. In May, 1923, the fall for 24 hours was four inches. The low-lying seer tions are inundated b.v surface water. For a time the situation looked grave with the Omaha River running bank to bank and trickling over in places. S.I. RAILWAY. WELLINGTON, .Tune 18. At the Chamber of Commerce meeting, Mr E. Salmond, the chairman, denied the statement made by the Prime Minister that the Chamber was actuated by motievsof jealousy fiy the North Island against the South Island in its opposition. to the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway’ without further inquiry. If the Prime Minister by further inquiry could convince the public, he said, that the line would pay’, the Chamber would who! i-heartedly support the scheme, but the Chamber objected to the country- being saddled with an extra £200,000 for a line which, from present indications, would n.ot anywhere near pay. The charge of , jealousy was only an attempt to draw a red herring across tlie trail and avoid further inquiry. WELLINGTON /CITY FINANCES. “WELLINGTON, June 21. Wellington; City Council last night adopted estimates for the ensuing year and struck rates for all purposes, which 'are a reduction of one and three-quarter pence in the pound sterling oh last year. In the estimates themselves, the tram why surplus was £BOOO sterling lower than last year.' The profits on the sale of electricity was £50,053 sterling, and" buses showed a debit balance of £13,109 sterling.