DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

NATIVE SETTLERS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, Jan. 7. A party of Wairoa natives, under the leadership of Turi Carroll, arc leaving Gisborne for Rotorua to take up land under the group occupation and development system authorised last session. They will take'rip a block of pumice land and work it as a group, being paid sustenance allowance in the early stages of occupation. DWELLING BURNT . PALMERSTON N., Jan. 7. The occupants of a dwelling in Nash Street, had a narrow escape when the building caught fire early this morning. Aroused by heat and noise they made a hurried exit from the building, which with its contents was extensively damaged. , The house was occupied by Mr and Mrs W. H. Honour who had as visitors Mrs Clifford and three children. Mr Honour was awakened by his hair being singed and immediately an oil painting fell from the wall in flames above his head. The other occupants were hastily aroused and made their exit from the blazing hou;)3. The insurances are unavailable. A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. * \ PALMERSTON N., Jan. 7. A five at. Bunnythorpe at 3.30 o’clock this morning destroyed the main binding of the Bunnythorpe Stores, Ltd. Nothing was saved. A buckcjt brigade was formed hastily, and saved a bulk store close by, but the goods inside were affected by' water. Particulars of the insurances and losses, etc., are unavailable.

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. BLENHEIM, Jan. 7. On Christinas Day at Pictori a well known resident was brutally assaulted and robbed. As a sequel, Alfied Croft was charged with robbery with violence in attacking Ferdinand Frederick Wiese and stealing £9. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence. Clara Kennedy, alias Walker, alias Wylie, a woman who acted as decoy for Croft pleaded guilty to a vagrancy charge and was sentenced to three months in Wellington gaol. gray brothers remanded. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. James Wilfred Gray, aged 19, and Charles Robert Gray, aged 17, were charged with breaking and entering J. J. Brookes’ boot store with intent to commit a crime, and were remanded to January 14th, Charles Gray was also charged with carrying an offensive weapon, a gun. . FOUR STOWAWAYS. DUNEDIN, January 7. Four stowaways, all sea faring men were before the Court this morning. The Captain of the Kaituna said the men were discovered when four days out from Sydney. He did not put them to work. One of the men told the Court he had come here to get work. Anothei said he had been told there was work to be had in New Zealand bush. They had no money. The Master stated the men’s conduct was good. They volunteered for work. Each were sentenced to twenty-one days imprisonment. COCK BURN PLEADS GUILTY.

CH RISTCHURIT, January 7. deeding guilty be'foie the Magistrate this morning to six charges of breaking entering and theft, Robert Cock burn a miner, 23 of Greymouth was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court. The police evidence was that accused admitted breaking into many places, using gelignite with detonators and wires at one place. He put in a charge hut failed to fire it, so left a warning “Dangerous, sorry works gone wrong better luck next time.” MISSING LAUNCH LOCATED.

AUCKLAND, Jan. 7. A private cable states tlie Auckland launch Marere, which disappeared four months ago has been located at Pago Pago, Eastern Samoa, with 2 men, a woman and four children on board. The Marere left Auckland ostensibly to cruise bn the New Zealand coast when the vessel disappeared. A long search proved fruitless.

F UIITI-lER PARTICULA RS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 7. ! The Marere was owned by Beaven Boat and Engine Coy of Auckland. A member of the company states he was approached by' Eugene Fitcher with an offer to purchase the boat to run hides and skins to the Great Barrier. Fischer paid a small deposit taking the boat on a fortnight’s trial, conditionally that the boat did not go outside the Hauraki Gulf. The Marere left Auckland on November 18th. Fischer taking with him his married sister and husband, Mr and Mrs Walker and their four children. After the Maore had been away several weeks inquiries were rnado and it was ascertained Fischer, before leaving, had laid in £75 worth of stores and 500 gallons of crude oil for the engine, indicating his intention to make a long voyage. The Marere is a good sea boat,