DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS

(Per Press Association.) ACCOUNTANT’S SUICIDE. DUNEDIN, July 26. Hugh Mitchell, sharebroker, accountant and secretary to the Otago branch of the Farmers’ Union, com-

io milted suicide this morning, by ham ■e- ing himself in the cellar of his resit . ence. He was 51 years of age. H had appeared worried lately, and ha e " been sleepless. a- AMATEUR BILLIARDS DUNEDIN, July 25. e _ The tournament for the New Zea land Amateur Billiard Champion I ship was continued to-day. In th ’ first round Siedeberg (Dunedin) beat Mason (Dunedin) by 750 to 420 d The second round commenced to d night, when Stewart (Dunedin) bea d Anderson (Dunedin) by 750 to 537. It each case the winner had an easj victory. Roberts, the present chains pion will meet Howison (Dunedin) , to-morrow afternoon. AMUSEMENT TAX. WELLINGTON, July 26. I A remission of the amusement tax f payable upon entrance charges to foota ball matches was urged upon the t Prime Minister to-day by a deputation from the New Zealand Rugby . Union. “ Mr. Massey said that while he could ’ net make a definite promise he was hopeful that he would be able to get legislation through Parliament, reducing tax to a certain extent, but not . perhaps this year. L PARTNERSHIP CHARGE. . WELLINGTON, July 25. Herbert MacKnelly was charged with fraud in obtaining £lOO from one Hart by false pretences. It was stated 1 that the accused caused an advertisement offering a working partnership for £2OO, and guaranteeing £8 to £lO weekly to be inserted. Hart responded and an interview was arranged. Accused said he had a business when at Auckland for advertising the “School Journal.” He claimed the sole rights. As a result, Hart advanced £lOO. Upon ascertaining that the accused did not possess the rights as represented, Hart informed the police. Accused was committed i..r t. i?ail Jf £2OO. CHURCH ON FIRE. DUNEDIN, July 25. Shortly before 9 p.m., St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Caversham, caught fire. The vestry was in a hopeless condition when the machines of the

uujiuiliuil wiieii Liie nictuii ui liiu South Dunedin and City Fire Brigades arrived, so the firemen confined their attention to preventing the flames attacking the church proper, where the , fire commenced to take hold. The fire was under control in twenty minutes hour’s strenuous work. The vestry and was extinguished after half-an-was gutted and the contents (valued at about' £175) demolished. The church is damaged to the extent of £2OO. The organ, which ’was situated near the fire, was fortunately not damaged by water. '' KING COUNTRY LIQUOR WELLINGTON, July 26. A large and influential deputation from the King Country waited on Mr Massey to-day, urging that the licensing pact made with the Maoris in 1884 should continue to be respected. Mr. Massey said that he recognised the difficulty about the pact, and was not prepared to suggest a way out. Ho was as keen, as anyone in maintaining good faith, and unless there were good reasons to the contrary, that applied to the pact. He did not expect any licensing legislation to go through this session. He believed the time had come for drastic reform of the liquor traffic in the interests of the public. He would not go into details, but did not think the present state of agairs could continued. If it was going out, well and good, but if it was not, we should have something a great deal better than we have now. That would take legislative effect when opportunity offered. PRISONERS SENTENCED WELLINGTON, July 26. The following prisoners were sentenced at the Supreme Court to-day: James Leslie Mackay, theft at Foxton, probation for twelve months. Roy Edward Neill, theft at Palmerston, two years on probation, and or-

dered not to visit racecourses or gamble. John Robertson and George Curtis, theft of postal packets, three years reformative detention. Nattu Dau, a Hindu, breaking, entering and theft, 6 months’ hard labour. Edgar Arthur Peterson, theft, three years’ reformative detention. Patrick Ernest Furlong, forgery, two years’ reformative detention. Albert Ernest Turner, sending false telegrams and forging, at 'Wanganui, two years’ reformative detention. Arthur Reginald Borland, false pretences at Marton; the prisoner was already on probation, the term of which was extended to three years. Whitely Couch, theft at Wanganui, three years on probation. ESCAPEES’ GRIEVANCE. AUCKLAND, July 26. “Since our recapture we have been in solitary confinement for 21 days,” complained (the prisoners, Richard Hayes and Charles King, when appearing in the Police Court to-day, for hearing of charges connected with their escape. “Your treatment is at the discretion of the gaoler,” replied Mr. Boynton, S.M. ; “But we are on half rations, ’ protested King. “Well, that is a matter fur the gaoler.” “Nobody knows what goes on m gaol.” “Nobody outside has power to interj CJ’6. * * “But we are only waiting trial, and are treated as though undergoing punishment.” Chief Detective Mcll.veney said that the men were not in solitary confinement. “We are in the punishment- cells and only allowed out for an hour a day for exorcise. We are undergoing the same punishment as if in solitary confinement.” . The chief detective explained that they were on No 2 diet, because they were not working. King replied, “We don’t mind working if they stop starving us.” The Magistrate replied that they were in the, hands of the gaoler, and could make any complaint in the usual way, but it would rebound on their own heads if it were frivilous.