DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

FALSE DECLARATION. CONVICTION QU ASI 1 ED. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, .March 31

Reference was made in the Cqurt of Appeal to-day to the conviction entered at Wellington by Mr .Justice Reed against James William Hudd, who was some time ago charged with making or causing to he made a false declaration for the purpose of entry in a marriage hook.

Mr Justice Reed convicted the prisoner and reserved the question of law involved for argument before tlie Court of Appeal. The Solicitor-General Mr A. Fair, K.C., to-day informed the Court that he could not on any grounds support the conviction . He suggested that the Court might make order quashing the conviction. Such an order was accordingly made.

TWO BIG UNDERTAKINGS. WELLINGTON, March 31. As planned originally,' the three great hydro-electric schemes of the North Island will be connected by liigli-teiision transmission lines, so that they can help each other in peak times or conditions of . stress. A inrtlier instalment of this connecting system is to be provided shortly, as Cabinet has authorised calling tenders for the materials. required to erect a transmission line from Arapuni to Stratford, thus linking up the Arapuni generators with the Taranaki load and enabling power if necessary, to he led into the system served hv Mjangdhoa and Waikaremoana; which are already connected. The new transmission line will run through Te Kuiti, down the valley of the Ongaruhe River, and through Wliangamomona to Stratford, the total distance being 120 miles. The voltage used will be 120,000.

Another important connecting line between Arapuni and Waikaremoaiia, about 100 miles long, has been surveyed through difficult and remote country, and it is not expected to have construction work complete on this route for twelve months.

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE v . IN AUSTRALIA. ' NEW PLYMOUTH, March 31. Members of the Taranaki Clianiber of Commerce paid farewell to Mr LJ. Schmitt, who is leaving for Sydney in A fay to take up the position of New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner. Air Schmitt has been the employers’ representative- oil the Arbitration Court.

Air Schmitt said ho had noticed that the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand deplored the Tact that trade Volutions -between Australia and New Zealand were not as good as they should he. He had lived twenty years in Australia, so he understood l oth countries and the temperaments of both peoples. He hono-l In he able to do something to break down what might appear to be undue harriers preventing trade between them. This would be one of his main objects. Australia and New Zealand were -thoroughly....interdependent,. If Austi..l- - prospered more tourists woiild vi.-it New Zealand and vice versa. It was a peculiar thing, that New Zealand iseiit- 12,000 tourists a year, to Australia and Australia, sent only 8000 te New Zealand, though the Australian population was four times greater.

VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, Afiril 1. Heavy increases in the number of births recorded during last month and also for the quarter ended March 31st, are shown in the returns for the period issued. The detailed returns are as follow, the figures for the corresponding periods of last year being given in parentheses: — For the quarter: Births (530 <'o(s6); deaths 250 (250); marriages 380 (388) : marriages by registrar 96 (99). For the month: Births 198 (180) : deaths 70 (79); marriages 128 (182); marriages by registrar 39 (41). • COUNCIL ELECTION. WIN FOR CITIZEN’S CANDIDATE. CHRISTCHURCH, April 1. A by-election was held to-day for a City Council vacancy caused by tbe death of Mr P. W. Sharpe (Labour). The result was as follows: C. E. Jones (Citizen’s Association candidate) —11,924. IT. T. Armstrong (Labour) —8,690. The poll was much larger than had been expected. The return of Mr Jones gives the Citizens’ Party a majority on the City Council. The Labour Party lias previously held control with the aid of Dr Thacker, who was returned as an Independent. OBSTETRICAL FUND. WANG AN UPS CONTRJBUTI ON. WANGANUI, April 1. Wanganui City lias exceeded its quota of £750 for Ihe obstetrical appeal fund by £l4. RUGBY LEAGUE. AUCKLAND. April 1. The annual balance sheet of the Auckland Rugby League slates that the working expenses for the year ended December 31st. were £2,634, wh,ich shows a profit of £1,742 for tbe year The gate receipts were £3,466, while the grand total of revenue was £4,377.

VICE-REGAL VISIT. AUCKLAND, April 1. .. A civic welcome •■•was. ...tendered to Lord and Lady Bledisloe to-night, at the Town Hall, which was crowded. An address was read by the Mayor Mr G. Bnildon, and Hon. Mr .Stallworthy extended a welcome on behalf of the Government. His Excellency replied.,- • This afternoon . they visited places of interest in the city. Visits will be, blade’to the hospitals etc., to-morrow, and Their Excellencies leave for Wellington to-mor-row night. ; > PA IIN ELL BYE-ELECTION. WELLINGTON, April 1. Although the official; anouncement will not be made until to-morrow, it is understood that the National Executive of the New Zealand Labour Party lias selected Mr T. Bloodworth, of Auckland, as the official Labour candidate for the Parnell bye-election.

PRESENTATIONS. . WELLINGTON. March 31. The staff of the Customs Department presented Mr Herd with a binocular,, a golf bag, and a stop watch as a token of their esteem, and also with a travelling clock for Mrs Herd.

Dr McLaufin was presented by the officers of the Department of Scientific Research with an oak desk for himself and a radio set for Mrs McLaurin. / BROTHER M OTOR-CYCLI STS COLLIDE, LEG INJURIES INFLICTED. AUCKLAND. March 31. Two brothers, Norman Harold Church and Joseph Church, of West Taiiiaki, were injured when their n o-tor-cycles collided at the corner of St Helier’s Bay Road and Howick Road, JPamnure, at seven o’clock last evening. ; Harold, aged twenty-one sustained a fracture of one of his legs, and was admitted to the hospital, while his brother was treated for a lacerated leg and was able to go home. One of the brothers was riding fiem Jiomo and tile other was returning when they met in. a liead-on collision. A pillion rider on one cycle escaped injury. ... ,