DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

NEW LODGE. \

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.]

HASTINGS, July 4.

The Governor-General, Grand Master of Masonry in New Zealand, consecrated the new 'lemata Lodge at Havelock North last night. He. was assisted by Grand Lodge officers. Some 200 were present, including visitors from all parts of the Dominion and from Australia.

REPORTED SAFE. AUCKLAND, July 4. Rev. Mason (Secretary of the Presbyterian Foreign Missions) says the only missionary on Ambryari Island is Air C. R. Stringer, of Oamaru, who was sent there last year. A radio received by Rev. Mason from Mr Stringer, despatched on Monday and received yesterday, reported all safe. , AN UNDESIRABLE. CHRISTCHURCH, July 4. James William Webber, a .labourer, aged twenty-three, who pleaded guilty on Ttiesday to thirteen charges of false pretences, appeared before Mr Levvy, S.M., for sentence. At the first hearing the Chief Detective said that accused was one'of a gang of three, the" ringleader of which was still at large. “ There is nothing to be said for this inati,” said the Probation Officer. “He is fi bird of passage and has tried his tricks everywhere he has been.” “ Accused is sentenced' to reformative detention for two years,” said Mr Levvy. “Should his case come under the notice of the Prisons' Board, they would do well to send him out of New Zealand back to the country lie came from.”

FRUIT RESEARCH. WELLINGTON, July 4. , A suggestion that a fruit research committee should be set up to investigate the problems of coal storage for fruit and temperatures at which fruit should be held while-in transport, was made by Hon. H. Atmore (Minister in Charge of Scientific Industrial Research) at the Fruitgrowers’ Conference to-day. After dealing with many of the problem's involved Mr Atmore spoke of experiments - carried Vat Cawthron Institute, which showed the possibilites ahead, and suggested a levy of a farthing per case might be made to provide the necessary funds. On a million' cases this would produce about £IOO and if subsidised by Government would make £2OO available. He* urged growers to give consideration to a comprehensive scheme by which the fruit “industry at present in a state of its,development might 4*sivp the fullest' * possible”- “assistaittce• '.that scientific knowledge and research/could give. . • 7 v ' . ' ‘' /

AN. INQUEST. : WELLINGTON, July 4. At the inquest to-day on Anne Doyly, aged 69, a widow injured by motor on 27th May and who died on 28th June, a verdict was returned that-death was due from a; cerebral injury received in a motor accident. The Coroner added it was right,to say the evidence seemed to negative any suggestion of negligence by’ the driver of the motor-car. ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY. PALMERSTON N., July 4. In order to supply Piri Piri settlers in the Pohangina Valley with power, the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board had to take the line over the Pohangina River, involving , a huge span across the deep gorge. The distance between the anchor poles on either side is 3,300 ft. and the actual leap across the gorge nearly half a^ jnile. Special cables were necessary to withstand the breaking strain of two and a-lialf tons. The Board has a number of special long spans between the quarter and the third mile, but the Pohangina Gorge span eclipses any yet built in the Dominion on country (reticulation.

SCHOOLS TO REOPEN. v. NELSON July 4. « All schools in the Murchison district re-open on Monday or Wednesday next, except those in the completely evacuated localities, such as Newton Flat (school completely buried by slip),' Mid Maruin, Glengarry, Lyell and Katanga. Wherever there is at jlcast one pupil in any particular district school will be carried on. y-