DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

AVIEELESS VALUE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. Using the experience of Stannage on the Atlantic flight with Kingsforcl Smith, as an example of the value of wireless in aviation, the Director of Air Services, Mr Grant Dalton, referred to the possible future developments in this way in New Zealand.

He stated he had asked the Government if it is going to give any money to commercial aviation, to spend it on wireless and night landing equipment.

He hoped to have wireless direction posts ah far east and west as possible. lor example, New Plymouth and Hastings. The idea was that a machine might fly, despite the weather, and link up the whole Dominion.

BOTTLE INCIDENT, 9 MONTHS

DUNEDIN, Dec. 1

Stating that when Stanley Redvers Butler struck a sleeping girl, aged six, over the head with a bottle was fully responsible for his act, Judge Kennedy sentenced prisoner to nine months reformative. The medical evidence was that the prisoner showed lio sighs of insanity, hut the crime could lie' attributed :to drinking prior to the offence. The girl’s skul] was fractured; ; The Judge said tjie prisoner wo & fortunate he was not' charged with murder. The true explanation of the prisoner’s conduct was that he had struck the, girl; to spite her father. Although it, was some time 1 since, .the prisoner took drink, his mind; at the time was apparently 'in -'s»; (irritable condition. It might be said ip <the prisoner’s favour that when he thought lie had murdered the girl- he immediately went to the police, and the lather’s Timely tassistance may have saved the girl’s life.

DEFENCE APPOINTMENT.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 1

The Minister of Defence announces that Captain K..L. Stewart, N.Z.5.0., has been appointed Staff Officer to. Ceylon Defence Force, as the result of negotiations between the New Zealand Government and the Colonial. Office.

This is the first appointment so obtained. The duration of the appointment is two’ years. .Captain Stewart was for some years Staff Officer in, charge of No. 6 Regiment District Palmerston North and recently graduated at the Staff College, Omberley. £3OOO FOR CANCER FUND. . DUNEDIN, Dec. 1. As the result of the Manufacturers Exhibition ahd Carnival in the Drill Hall, the Cancer Research Fund will benefit by £3OOO sterling.

LOCAL BODIES CONFER.

UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY.

CHRISTCHURCH, December 1

“That the City Council had been promised a subsidy of up to £2,C00 by the Unemployment Board for provision of work to tide men over the Christmas period,” was a statement made, at a conference of local bodies to-day. The conference, which met for the. purpose of considering the Unemployment Board’s office of £20,000 in subsidies for the Dominion for Christmas work, was addressed by Messrs Leadley and Hutchison, the two Canterbury members of the Board.

TE AROHA’S JUBILEE. TE AROHA, December 1. The jubilee of Te Ahora celebrations commenced yesterday with a united thanksgiving service attended by a thousand people. An air pageant is being held today, ten planes taking part. A feature of the week’s programme will be the entertainment of old .identities, for whom extensive provision Inis been made. SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, Dec. 1. “I have no doubt the girl was an! enticing party, and you did not need to exercise .persuasion,” said Justice Smith, when sentencing Robert Desmond Colhoun, 24, for unlawful carnal knowledge. “On the other hand, the law says young men are not to have enrnni knowledge of girls under ID, whether they consent or not. Men who are intimate with them, do so at their own risk.” A sentence of three months hard labour Was indicted. William Pearce. 69, for burglary and thefts was sentenced to four years hard labour. NEW PLYMOUTH, November 29. At the Supreme Court this morning the Chief Justice sentenced Donald Alexander Stewart, formerly clerk the Normanby Town Board, for theft olf £320, to six months’ reformative detention.