DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

VITAL STATISTICS. ' (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 20. During May the total live births registered for the Dominion urban areas amounted to 1149 as against 998 in April, an increase of 151. Deaths in May were 595, an increase of 110, as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 326 and females 269. Sixty-three of the deaths were ol children under five years of age, being 10.54 per cent of the whole number. Forty-five of these were under one year of age. THOROUGH OVERHAUL. MAUI POM ARE TO SAIT;. AUCKLAND, June 20. Repairs to the Government motorship Maui Pomare are now practically completed and the vessel is announced to sail for Norfolk Island tomorrow. Since she arrived from Samoa via Southern ports on May 9th, the Maui Pomare has been undergoing a thorough overhaul. Her engines were practically dismantled, and every part carefully examined and tested. During this time the sailing'date of the vessel had been several times postponed as it was found that the task of reconditioning her machinery was more extensive than was at first expected. This morning the engines were once more in running order.. It was at first intended to take the vessel for a trial run in the Gulf, but this was postponed and the engineers were busy to-day “tuning up” the engines, which were reported to need only a few minor adjustments. The vessel is to leave early to-morrow for a trial run down the Gulf, returning to port' to load cargo and mails and embark passengers. She will be a full ship when she sails; forty passengers having taken berths. TRAIN HITS SLIP. THREE CARRIAGES DERAILED. WELLINGTON, June 20. Shortly after 5 o’clock to-night the express train from New Plymouth with the Governor-General on board, ran into a big slip on the line at Pugerua Bay, about two miles on the Wellington side of Paekakariki Hill. The engine and three, carriages were, derailed, but no injuries whatsoever were received bj r anyone on the train. Another train was sent from Wellington .and the passengers of the New Plymouth train were transhipped and brought to Wellington. The: Auckland express- went' roiuj.l by the Wairnrapa line. The slip will not be cleared for several hours.

TWO LIMBS FRACTURED.GORE, June 20. Thomas Barclay, of Mataura, while assisting to push a lorry up a greasy cutting last night, was run over by the machine and received a fractured arm and leg. His condition is serious. ‘ awards foR bravery. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. At a meeting of the Court of Directors of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, the following awards for bravery were made: — William Gell. aged 23, Teoraroa— Silver medal for attempting to rescue a man from drowning in shark infested waters at Tupare Rock on January 27th, 1929. Gell was brought ashore exhausted by Cliarlp® Puha, aged 36, who was also awarded a silver medal. Allan William Henderson, aged 16V. and Noel Francis James Gardiner, aged ’ 16. of N<uv Plymouth, were awarded the silver medal for rescuing a boy from drowning*'on March 3, 1929. ENGINE DRIVERS’ ATTITUDE. WELLINGTON," June 22. It again appears that the Engine Drivers’ Union will precipitate a general coal strike. Atkins (Union Secretary) made a statement which in effect repudiates the undertaking ol the Combined Mining Unions to accept a shilling reduction per ton, if the Commission finds the owners’ profits less than two shillings per ton.