DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

VOLUNTEERS FOR SAMOA

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Feb. 7

At noon to-day one hundred Auckland men had volunteered for the Samoan military police.

NEW MOTH /PLANE,

AUCKLAND, Feb, 7

■ The Auckland Aero Club, with 550 members, decided to purchase another Moth plane, making five.

BANANAS

AUCKLAND, Feb. 7

Four hundred cases of ' bananas, brought from Norfolk by the Maui Pornare on Wednesday, remain in the wharf sheds, the consiguess .refusing to take delivery. Jhe ships agents maintain control of the cargo until it has passed to consignees. Meantime the bananas will soon be a nuisance.

IMPORTATION OF CATTLE. NAPIER. Feb. 7. t The A. and P. Society decided--to request the Government to prohibit the importation of cattle, sheep and swine from the-United- States.-... The question arose out of a discussion on foot 'and mouth disease, speakers averting that importation -from... the Channel Islands were forbcsidden, but pattle from those places reached New •Zealand through Ameria, .thus compelling farmers here to pay extra, profit. •• ' '* TOO MANY STOWAWAYS. FINES.INFLICTED. WELLINGTON, February 7. “It is necessary that the Court should inflict some punishment to act as a deterrent to others who contemplate having a free trip from Australia to New Zealand,” remarked Mr T. B. McNeil, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when sentenceing Francis Patrick Cherry, labourer, aged 20, and William David Quarrington, carparenter, ager 23, on charges of stowing away on the Westmoreland from Brisbane to Wellington. Accused, said Senior-Sergeant Ward liad gone to Queensland from England under the immigrant scheme. . They had both worked in. Queensland for a time, but latterly had been out of work, and had decided to try New Zealand.

Stating that shiping companies had

'•fid a good deal of trouble, of hate with stowaways, the Magistrate fined each accused £2, and ordered them to repay to the shipping company the cost of their keep. Default was fixed at fourteen days’ imprisonment in each case.

. jfc ifi Sf* f* •di.fid.vLcsJS' .u •« !• CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

WELLINGTON, February 7

“I have no doubt in my mind that I should enter a conviction in this case,” said Mr T. B. McNeill, S.M., to-day, after hearing evidence iri a case in which Wall Hing was charged wit’ll Cruelly ill-treating a horse by permitting it.£b.be-worked while in an unlit condition.

Inspector Henry said he saw defendant’s horse pulling a cart load of vegetables in Rex Street, Miramar. The horse was very lame in tbe near foreleg, and there was no shoe on the foot. Tbe heel of the foot was badly cracked, and the frog was showing signs of thrust, and smelt very bad. The evidence was corroborated by a man named Harris who was with Inspector Henry at tbe time. Tlie defence was a general denial that the condition of the horse was as alleged by witnesses for tbe society. Defendant was fined £5, and ordered to pay costs.

BOY SCOUTS

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 8.

A ..meeting of tlie Dominion Executive of the Boy (Scout movement decided: “That New Zealand boy scouts shall in future work under,the Imperial Policy Organisation and Rules, until such alterations as are deemed necessary by tbe Executive to suit local conditions in New Zealand.” Districts will be organised and controlled by district commissioners, with district committees. Where large centres have twenty .or more groups, the commissioner in charge will be designated Metropolitan Commissioner. A MAORI CANOE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. Recently a settler oil Moera Estate, Hutt Valley, digging in bis garden, came upon tbe hull of an old Maori canoe at a depth of 6ft. below tbe surface. It proved to be sixty feet long and six feet wide but bad never been finished.

The authorities ,of tbe Dominion Museum have been negotiating for its purchase but on more complete investigation being made tbe relic was discovered to be in such a decayed condition that it will not be worth removal. ' '

Interesting speculations have arisen as to bow such a large canoe came to be left on what is now part of tlie Moera settlement. None of the present day Maori inhabitants of Hutt Valley can remember a canoe being buried there nor can they shed any light on the mystery. . .