DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

Ol' TALKING! JMCTUIIES. \Y”V (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, I 'Sept. 23. An American visitor to Dunedin lias voiced fs>me interesting observations concerning all dialogue pictures, their economic effect on the Dominion and the criticism which is being levelled at them. “Of course the talking in these pictures seems quite natural to me,” he said, “but at the same time I have to admit, that your British actors have more impressive matter to put over. Their speaking voices me rounder and fuller and they have more sense of the dramatic. A T es I think the Britisher is surely coming into his own.” He considered however that much of the adverse criticism being directed at the American-made talkies was futile, for after all if there was any blame attachable it all came back on the people. As long as New Zealanders thronged the cinema shows the theatre managers cpuld be depended upon to witli the enter- • tainnicnt they:vcvicier,tlv wanted. At present Great, Britain, could not hope to release sTßficigfft films to supply the demand,iiiid jii. spite of any protest against Avas ; certain that the would endure. One could America, and one could blainiv( ifjHthor the Government nor thVpJeife managers. X ‘V''A- t-'i AIYSTE.RTQUS, FIRES. NEW Sept. 25. The fourth myl%erfpus fire in Waitara within a niontS ’.occurred in the early hours this morfiing, when the house of Mr I). I. was destroyed. In previous’ fires suspicions wore aroused, and in\tms case is stated the floors of a 1),-Hie, rooms were ablaze house was covered by insurance. CHINESE AND AI.VORI GIRLS. AUCKLAND. Sept. 25. The inquiry which a Special Committee has been conducting into the conditions of employment of Maori girls in Chinese market gardens in and around been extended to inclu’’deV«(i|»akiU and Wanganui districts. SEWERAGE NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 25. The New Plymouth Borough proposal to raisq a loan of £172,000 to extend the sewerage was endorsed bv tlic ratepayers ,• by a majority of about three*' tosoii'fe. -j„ .WMf- ’‘ :■ ’ TAXI IaLLr'A'GED AIAN. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 25. John aged about 83 years, was kno'clced jdown by a. taxi this evening, and he died within a few minutes. The tax 1,---was driven by J. B. Fitzb.erliert. The night was somewhat misty,/ an'd ‘ the visibility was poor. v PRANK OF TWO BOYS. WELLINGTON EXPLOSION. WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. A ship’s rocket, an empty shell, and two small boys were responsible for a startling occurrence in Seymour, Avenue this afternoon, Jt was only by the menst chance ..that a tragedy was averted. The two lads,j,,aged about thirteen, buried an empty shell—a whizzbang-r----in which was. inserted a ship’s rocket. The rocket exploded with a noise that was heard a mile away, and the shell burst into a dozen fragments, some of them being inches, in length and about half pm i'v h in thickness. The wall nt an adjoining house re-i-f'vcd the full effect of the explosion several pieces of shell going right through file ’.vail, into.., a bedroom, which had just been vacated by the occupants. The boys watched the proceedings from a neighbouring garage. BUCKLEY’S CONDITION. AUCKLAND, Sept, 25. The condition.of the prisoner, John Buckley, who ,was by a warder when trying to escape from Afount Eden Prison last, Friday, and is now in hospital, is stated to-day to show a slight improvement. It is now expected that lie will completely recover. ALLEGED THEFT. NEW Sept. 23. George Stoclart, formerly secretary of the Inglewood Bacon Factory, Ltd., who was arrested at AVellington on Friday, appeared before a Justice of the Peace this morning, and was remanded oil bail. His arrest was due, it is alleged, to the loss of £3OO t)y the company. ’ “ " ■ KAPITI ISLAND SANCTUARY. AVELLTNGTON, Sept. 25. The visit paid by Lady Fergusson and a party to the bird sanctuary in Knpit.i Island showed cheering signs of a, revival of native vegetation, folilowing the destruction of the goats and pigs. Air Wilkinson, officer in charge, is helping ..by planting native trees and shrubs. Birds are increasing and becoming tame enough to *ocd out of the iiaiid. This was her Excel lonov’s third and last visit to the spot, in which she has always taken the keenest interest. The opportunity was seized to secure a number of photographs and sketches. (