DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1930, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

AGAINST RAILWAY CUT

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

INVERCARGILL, August 17.

A decision to hold a monster indignation meeting of all public bodies in Southland, and others interested against the action of the Minister of Railways in closing certain branch lines in this province, was reached at a meeting of the Southland Executive of tlie Farmers’ Union on Saturday. SUBSIDY OPPOSED. / FOR SHIPPING SERVICE TO MELBOURNE. INVERCARGILL, August 17. A recommendation to the Government to discontinue the subsidy for tlie South Island to Melbourne shipping service was approved unanimously at Saturday’s meeting of the Southland Executive of the Farmers’ Union, which expressed the opinion that the value of the service to New Zealand did not warrant the‘expenditure of public money involved, more particularly at a time when stringent economy was necessary. i‘‘lt. is absurd to. talk..of renewing the subsidy,” said Mr W. J. A. McGregor, who brought .the. matter up. He said: “The Union,Company had stated , that, notwithstanding the subsidy of- £39(600,' the service had shown a loss of £9BOO, but he. could not understand how this came about. The Union Company was strong enough to; carry on without a subsidy,” he said. SOLICITOR’S THEFTS. GISBORNE, Aug. 18. Arising out of the action of the Gisborne Law Society in instructing a firm of accountants to make an audit of accused’s books, Robert George Gardiner Bain, aged. 26, a barrister and, solicitor, appeared before Mr Harper. S.M., at the Police Court this morning on a charge of failing to have his trust account audited, and twenty ryes of theft by fraud. All the charges were admitted, and accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. FIRE VICTIM. GRESHAM HOTEL TRAGEDY. WELLINGTON, August 18. Further light on the identity., of Nicol Ferguson Cameron, who was suffocated in the fire at the Gresham, Hotel on Saturday morning, was given by the police, to-day. It was stated that the deceased, who was 39 years of age, came to New Zealand from Scotland about two years ago. 1 He was an ex-service man, and on leaving the army in 1928, he was an educational instructor. Prior t.b coming to the , Gresham. Hotel, he had been living at 29, Jessie Street, Pe-tone. His reason for coming into the city is not at present known. He had recently been engaged in clerical work. / .

MAORI BOY DIES. AFTER FALLING INTO BOILING POOL. ROTORUA, August 18. While playing hide and seek on Saturday afternon. at Ohinumutu Pa, a boy, King George E. Rangi, aged five years, fell into a boiling pool at the hack of the Maori eating house at Whakaturia. He was immersed to the neck. When extricated,, he was taken to his grandfather’s house a hundred yards distant, where he died. His mother lives at Muruip.ara., and his father is dead. The child;resided with his. grandfather, Rangi. Tauira. The boy’s brother met the same fate 18 months ago.