DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

OBITUARY. (By Telegraph—Press Association). MARTON, July 19. Obituary.—Alexander G. Simpson, Chairman of Tlangitikei County Council. He was prominently identified with numerous local bodies and aged 65 years. He was a son of the late Hon. R. K. Simpson and was at one time one of the foremost leading athletes in tlip Dominion. TRAWLER. STRIKE. AUCKLAND, July 18. The trawler s rike remained unsettled to-night. A conference of the parties was held this afternoon, and the men’s representatives agreed to • meet the Conciliation Commissioner to-morrow. If the negotiations break down the owners are prepared to send the vessels to sea'with free labour, but none of them has yet been dispatched. • . . i ''•; ■> . ■; Vi ; • * CHEAP EXCURSIONS. WELLINGTON, July 18. In order to give residents in ihe earthquake area an opportunity to take a holiday, the Railway Department has decided to issue holiday ex- • V cursion tickets from officered stations on the Westport and Nelson sections of the. railways) to any station on the 7. main lines of both islands. The tickets are oh issue until July 27, arid - • are available for return until August 21, 1929. STEWARD’S THEFT. /", -.> v . ■ ’ • • ./ i I , . DUNEDIN, July 19. § In tlie Police; Court, William Syd-r ' hey King, aged 26, pleaded guilty ! to stealing a sheet, knives, forks an! spoons, valued at. one pound, 'die property of the Union Coy. The Chief Detective said the accused was a steward and >vhen he left the ship he took the stolen property. The cutlery" had been recovered. He was remanded for the Probation Officer’s report. COAL SHORTAGE RELIEVED. DUNEDIN, July 19. More regular siipplies of coal are now coming to band and the shortage at the Corporation Gas Works has been relieved. Yesterday six trucks of State coal were received/and today’, fewelye trucks of State coal * and ■ two from a co-operative mine at Grevmouth, came to h%nd. rt : h , v # FLOODS RECEDING. / CHRISTCHURCH, July 19. The flood waters are now receding in North Canterbury and fine weather is prevailing. Breaks op the. Lake Color-’. ,idge /electric power);/lines /havle |Jh|>!i| repaired. i FLOODS SUBSIDE. ■ • •..• '. > i.V.fi” 1 DUNEDIN, July 19/ Floods in Taieri and in Palmerston districts are subsiding as quickly as they rose. Road and rail communication north and south was restored:' this morning. . . . ... ° . ' -'■ *V SEAMEN GAOLED. AUCKLAND, July 19. ‘ Four firemen of tl>e Canadian Conqueror were charged at the Police Court with having combined to defeat the lawful commands of the master, while the vessel was on the high seas. Counsel for Captain Hocking, said the ship had her proper complement. The shipping company was put to needless expense through the vessel having to be brought back to port. Counsel for the firemen admitted they had refused duty, but said they complained that the Chief Engineer had called them names and threatened to put them in irons. Mr Hunt, S.M., sentenced each ’ accused to one month’s imprisonment, adding that the shipping company’ would have to ship them away again. Ernest Ives, employed as a greaser; was charged with being absent from the same vessel without leave. " He was also sentenced to one month and ordered to be placed °n the ship before she sails finally from New Zealand. * • ••> WHEAT AND FLOUR. THE COMING INQUIRY. •WELLINGTON, July 17. \ ' The Government, states the Prime Minister in reply to the member for Riecarton, has already announced its intention to refer the question of wheat and flour duties to a special committee of the House, representing all parties, to review the whole question this session. The present duties will remain / in force for the coming season’s crop, but subsequent policy will be decided - after the committee has taken evidence from 'interested parties and made its recommendation to Parliament. The Minister of Agriculture, answering a question by Mr Field (Otaki) regarding the heavy nricerof ifowl wheat charged to North Island poultry farmers, and the parlous condition, of the industry consequent thereon, stated that it is intended that this shall be one of the matters to be dealt with by the select' committee which will be • set up to go into the subject of the wheat industry as affecting both producers and consumers. FRAUD AND THEFT. NEW PLYMOUTH/ July 17. i’ Frank Edward Yates, who appeared - ; , on remand for fraud and theft was ' ' sentenced to three months hard labour.