DOMINION NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 25 July 1924, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS

SEIZURE OF OPIUM. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 24. Smart work by the local detective office to-day resulted in the recovery of some tins of opium which found their way into the country undetected the value of the drug is estimated at £lO3. The investigation was m the hands ot Detectives Walsh and Kane, and tonight they arrested a man who is said to have arrived bv the Ulimaroa from Sydney yesterday. The arrested man will appear before tlie Court to-morrow morning on a charge of having uncustomed goods in his possession.

FOUND ASLEEP. DANNEVIRKE, July 24 Herbert Harold Payne, a middlea°ed, powerful man, was found, apparently asleep, on the premises ot the.,Hawke’s. Bay Farmers Co-opera-tive Association this morning. He bad evidently gained admittance by breaking the glass in a door last evenkm. The till was rifled and the man was found locked in the inner office asleep about 2 o’clock. Payne was charged with burglaiy and stealing £4 in money and cheques. He was remanded till Monday.

LAND AGENTS. „ AUCKLAND, July 24. The Real Estate Institute of JSew Zealand Conference passed resolutions that in addition to satisfying a magistrate as to financial standing and character, every applicant for a license shall he required to pass an examination, the scope and character of which are to be determined by the institute; that affiliated associations should notify members that they and their employees should strongly discountenance business being followed on Sunday. The following officers were elected : President, Mr W. F. Harrop (Auckland) ; vice-presidents, Mr V . S. Foote (South Canterbury) and Mr S. Haicourt (Wellington); treasurer Mr H. C. Temslev (Auckland); secretary, Mr W. J. A. Thomas (Auckland); Parlia—>°ntary secretary, Mr 11. G. Stott (Wellington).

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 24. A miraculous escape from death was experienced by a party of three motorists, comprising Mr and Mrs S. Gibson, of Palmerston North, and Miss McConocliie, of Dunedin, when motoring through the Manawatu Gorge this morning on the way to Dannevirke. Tlie car was the first through the gorge since the big slip occurred a feu days ago. About a mile and a half through the gorge, men felling trees on the sloping bank above 'the road were seen, and when passing the spot a large tree crashed down,, tlie branches smashing the car and injuring the occupants. Mr Gibson was momentarily stunned, but managed to prevent the car from toppling into the river. Mr and Mrs Gibson were bruised and shaken, and Miss McConochie was also badly bruised, but it is understood that no serious injuries resulted. Tlie party were brought back to town in another ear. Mr Gibson’s vehicle was badly wrecked.

BENZINE CARGO ABLAZE.

MOTOR-LORRY DESTROYED

BLENHEIM, July 24. A 30-cwt motor-lorry which had been in use by Messrs Callaghan and Rayner on the Wairau Valley service for a matter of about eight months, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning, about two miles on the Blenheim side of the Waihopai. The lorry was proceeding to the Wairau Valley with' a load consisting of ten cases of benzine and general cargo for the settlers, Mr F. Callaghan driving, when the engine backfired through the carburettor, and the machine burst into flames. Two men happened along in a car at the moment, and, realising that it was impossible to save the vehicle, they turned their attention to salvaging the load. It was a dangerous business as the flames crept closer to the benzine. However, everything was shifted, except one case of petrol, which had to be left owing to the risk, and it went to feed the greedy flames, which soon enveloped and completely consumed the lorry. The destruction of the lorry null be a severe blow to tlie owners, because the £4OO for which it was insured will not fully cover their losses.

PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

WELLINGTON, July 24. The Public Service Association Conference decided to endorse the action of the executive committee in the matter of regrading improvements. It was resolved that the executive committee should continue to press for an increase in salary based on the Association’s 1920 salary agreement on account of the increase in the cost of living. It was resolved that the Association should convey to the Government appreciation of the decision to grant fortnightly pay to public servants in accordance with the repeated claims of the Public Service Association.

The president announced details of negotiations with the Public Service Commissioner in regard to alterations in salary scales, and the general secretary read a confidential report of an interview with the Public Service Commissioner, giving particulars of the proposed changes.

NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

WELLINGTON, July 24. An indication was given by Mr Massey, when replying to a deputation to-day, that the Government will very soon have to commence the completion of the Parliamentary Building, in old Government House, which now is part of Parliament Building. It was no credit to Parliament, the country, or Wellington. The new wing should be completed without delay. The present wooden building was not a fit place to entertain distinguished visitors. The completion of Parliament Budding had been allowed to stand over, but ho did not think, it could bo delayed Rtuch longer.