DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

A SUICIDE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Assoc u. turn i. AUCKLAND, March 20. James Tui Niehlson, 22, committed suicide by poison, on the verandah of his sister s house late last night. He had been out ot work for some time, i nis, together wiih the fact that he was deaf, depressed him. He was given a return fare from Mangere to the cnty by a sister at 1T.30 last evening, .but,at 1.30 this morning he was found groaning on the verandah. KICKED A CONSTABLE. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 20. “The defendant alleges that he need under severe provocation extending over eight years ; that this trouble has been brewing over a long time; and that the upset over cups and saucers was merely the culminating point,” said Counsel in the Magistrate's Court to-day when Sydney Douglas George, a prominent resident of AVaitara, pleaded guilty to assaulting Constable Lapouple, and to using obscene language. Counsel said there was a private quarrel, the nature of which he was not at liberty to disclose, it was advised that he should not disclose it. The quarrel had arisen over a small commercial transaction with Lapouple, not as a constable, but as a private citizen. George had knocked him down in the street, kicked him in the face, and used obscene language. George was fined £2 for assault, and £5 for obscene language. TRADING FRAUDS. I WELLINGTON, March 26. Plain illustrations of the means adopted by some people to llout the law which requires the fruit and vegetables on tire top of a container to be a fair sample of what is below, were •brought before tho notice of the Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Air Forbes, to-day by a deputation representing the vegetable producers and retailers. A complaint was made by Air J. AY. Ransom that the present system of inspection of fruit and vegetables was totally inadequate. This was especially so in Auckland, where a paid official was employed to protect the retail interests. Alembers of the deputation showed samples of vegetables, etc,,! widely differing in size, to support! the contention that some producers packed their produce in a dishonest way, displaying the best on top and ;the inferior produce underneath. Tho Alinistcr said lie would go into the matter of ‘the inspection immediately, and see how it was that the present system permitted sueli a thing, and how to find a way to check it. •' \ v A FATAL FALL FROM TREE CHRISTCHURCH, March 26. As the result of head injuries ieceived when he fell from a tree, Lennox AVilson, a married man, - died at the Christchurch Hospital this afternoon. AVilson was cutting branches from a he foil' from a high bough to tho ground. SUDDEN DEATH. v ■ 'DUNEDIN; March 26. .Alec Cations, aged 55, when playing billiards in Balclutha last night, collapsed and expired in a few minutes. The,, deceased leaves a widow and four of ,a- family.! • ■ r ' i : LETTER STAMPERS. AVELLINGTON, March 26. It is not proposed to abolish the automatic letter stamping machines at present in use, but after the iud of this year no more machines of the present type will Ibe installed. Tins statement: was made by the Chief Postmaster (Air J. AL McLean) at a meeting of the council of the AVellington -Chamber of Commerce, when a. letter was received from the'l aim-, erston North Ohmifber drawing atlcn-. thin to the trouble to which business firms would he put; if they.: hiid to instill. new • machines; The .Chief Pcstmnster said that, the change the Department proposed to make had been fully explained in the newspapers, but it had not been made clear, iliowev'”.:,.. that there, was no Intention .to interfere with' the machines already; in; lisp. ; Aiehiberk expressed! : satisfaction i.at'jtlle , announcement.

MISSING MAN TURNS UP. HAMILTON, March 26. William Paul Brown, thought to have 'been lost in the bush m the ranges between Whatawhate and Raglan since Saturday, was found last evening. He had reached a settler’s home, and is none the worse for his experience. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCERS. WELLINGTON, March 2(1 Hon. G. W. Forbs, replying to a deputation of.fruit and vegetable producers and retailers, promised to confer with the Minister of Industry and Commerce, to see whether it would le possible to conduct’the marketing inquiry in public, and extend the personnel to give representation to all those affected, instead of holding a departmental inquiry. MAORI ’S Til EFTS. WELLINGTON, March 26. After having escaped from Wi Tako prison on .March 19, a young Maori, John Tabu Andrews, 19, broke into several houses, stealingvarious articles and money. He was recaptured

to-day and at the Court pleaded | guilty to four charges of breaking, entering and theft involving £J2 15s in articles and money. He was remanded for sentence. LIAIPED INTO PORT. SHIP .SHED PROPELLOR BLADE. AUCKLAND, March 25. AA’ith one blade of her propeller missing, the steamer City of Lincoln, running under the charter of the A. and A. Line, limped into Auckland this morning. She berthed at 9 a.m. and went into dry dock this afternoon for repairs. How the vessel lost her blade is a mystery. Eighteen miles off Pitcairn Island on March 10, the small talk at the dinner table was interrupted by a convulsive shudder. Speed slackened down noticeably and the .ship made slow progress for the rest of her voyage. When she’ arrived in port this umrirn" she was just over three days behind schedule. HARBOUR REDUCTIONS. AVELLINGTON. Afareh 27. In addition to reductions in charges during the last five years of thirty thousand, the Harbour Board brings into force further redu tions on April Ist. of £15,880. In answer to an assertion that exporters are favoured, the Chairman of the Board, says: “Little more than half is on inward charges since August 1926. MODEL TOWNSHIP-. AVELLINGTON. Alarch 27. Over half a million was paid for the sub-divided Government land in Lower Hutt, where a model township was laid out and new railway workshops built. This is said to be the largest example of suburban close •settlement in New Zealand. PERFECTLY SAFE! ON SUPPRESSION FOR SMITH. AUCKLAND, March 25. Charlote Josephine Smith, aged sixty-one years, charged with stealing a curtain valued at 7s, belonging; to t» large drapery store, was fined £2 in the Police Court. Major Gordon asked the Magistral, to make an order for the suppression of the woman’s name. “Now. if there is one name that you should not worry about, it’s Smith, said the Magistrate. “No, I will not make any order.” -• • "FOUR CAAIPS CANCELLED. •■■PALMERSTON N-r March 27. Four camps, arranged for units in the Central Command with headquarters at Pajmerston North, were cancelled following the pronouncement issued by the Prime Minister regarding..the Government’s review of the system-of land defence. These are:— The Central TDeoot of the New Zealand'Medical Corps at Trentham, from ' nril 2 to April 9. Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles at I)annevirke, April 15. Alamuvatu mounted Rifl >s at Levin on April 23 to Alav 3. Queen .Alexandra’s AVellington-AYest Coast Mounted Rifles, May 10 to 20.