DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

ARBITRATOR AGREED UPON BY MINERS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WESTPORT, November 21. A meeting convened by Mr Davies, Inspector of Awards, of the Stockton Coal Mining management and the Coal Miners’ Industrial Council to-day to consider a mining dispute, agreed to refer tlie matters in dispute to an independent chairman for him to give his decision. Air C. I). Betts was chooscn as arbitrator. SECRET COMMISSIONS ACT. ALLEG ED INFRINGEMENT. WELLINGTON, November 20. In a written judgment, Mr Page, S.M., has decided against Laery and Co. on the points raised in the action arising out of the sale of Samoan bananas, which was brought by the Government undei' the Secret Commissions Act, and sends the case on to the Supreme Court for trial. In regard to the defence of custom or usage, Mr Page says that for usage of this sort to be implied in a contract such as was made between the Government and defendant it must have acquired such no-tority in the branch of the trade, or amongst the class of persons affected by it, and that any person in that branch, or class, who entered into the contract must he deemed to have done so with the intention that usage should form part of the contract and must not offend against the intention of any legislative enactment. Mr Page also decided that there was evidence to go before a jury in respect of the charges under the Act governing auction sales.

POLITICAL. WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. Mr Kenneth McLennan announces liis candidature for the Wellington Suburbs neat in the United Parly’ ls interest. Mr McLennan contested this seat for the United Party at the last general election. GOLD MINING. AUCKLAND, November 24. An optimistic no-te concerning the revival of gold mining in New Zealand was sounded by Mr Murdoch (Minister of Alines) at a united reception to Cabinet Alinisters and visiting Parliamentarians. He said they had an area at Thames, Coromandel, which lie believed would pay for development. They were now prospecting there, and seeking to discover means whereby low-grade ore can he treated satisfactorily. In the South they had a number of propositions on tap, which may create quite a mining boom in the South Island, and will provide work for men and produce a. considerable amount of gold. In one South Island proposition, if the borings are found correct, Air Alurdocli believes that £2,000.000 will come to New Zealand for gold alone. “LIMITED” HELD UP. WELLINGTON, November 24. Tlie Limited from Auckland was 57 minutes late, as the result of a holdup, bv a small slip between Mataroa and Ngaurukehu. THE TARANAKI AIURDTvRER, AUCKLAND, November 22. Alexander Townsend, found guilty of tlie murder of his wife'in Taranaki, lias been brought to arid lodged in Mount Eden gaol. No intimation of Townsend’s transfer lias yet been received by the Auckland Sheriff (Mr C. J. Hewlett;, nor will any until it is decided whether the prisoner is to be executed. Should there be an appeal, tlie matter w|i come before the Appeal Court, but in any event, the sentence will be referred to the Executive Council. who will decide whether to advise the Govern-or-General to grant a reprieve or not. Should the latter be the case, the fate of the prisoner will lie decided by the words “The Governor will not interfere.”

The Sheriff within seven days after receiving a notice, that tlie GovernorGeneral will not interfere with the sentence of death has to cany the sentence into effect. The scaffold at Alt. Eden gaol can be erected in a couple of days. The last execution in Auckland was that of Arthur Thomas Aiunn, on July 29 this year.

AUCKLAND PLANES’ CRUISE. ROTORUA, November 24. Tlie air squadron of five planes, under Squadron-Leader Seabrook, arrived unexpectedly at Rotorua at 2.15 p.m. from Hastings, which it had left at 12.45. It experienced very strong winds of forty miles an hour, and exceedingly cold conditions. A perfect landing was made at Rotorua aerodrome. After refreshing and refuelling the planes departed for Auckland at 4.20 in wind blowing hard w.s.w. CTRL’S SUDDEN DEATH. DUNEDIN, November 24. To-day a girl named Catherine Aitken, who was enploved in the sweet stall of the Phoenix Coy, Ltd., at the Manufacturers’ Exhibition in the Drill Hall, collapsed suddenly while at work, and, on medical aid being summoned, it was found that life was extinct.

An inquest will be opened to-morrow