DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1935, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] BODY IN HARBOUR. WELLINGTON, August IG. The inquest on the Aucklander, James Hill, aged 75, whose body was found floating in Wellington harbour on August 11. concluded to-day. The verdict was one of death from drowning, without there being evidence to show how the body came to be in the harbour. BOOKMAKER FINED. CHRISTCHURCH, August 16. Following a surprise* visit to Spreydon premises by Detectives McClung and Halcrow, this morning, Douglas Johnston, of 117, Cobham Street, appeared before Mr. E. C. Leevey, S.M., and was fined £2O, with costs, on a charge of using his premises on August 16 as a common gaming house. SHOPLIFTER SENTENCED. WELLINGTON. August 16. Sentencing Danish seaman Bjorn Hansen, to three months’ on one charge of shoplifting, and to come up for sentence if called within twelve months, on three other charges, Mi. Mosley, S.M., remarked that a considerable amount of this petty thieving had been going on in various towns in New Zealand, especially in the main centres. There was a difficulty in detecting it, and when detected, adequate punishment ought to be meted out to the perpetrators. Hansen’s wife was placed on probation for .theft, and was ordered to come up, if called upon on charges of receiving. SCHOOL COMMITTEES. PALMERSTON NORTH, August 16. The Dominion Federation of School Committees’ Association elected Mr R. S. Vercoe (Dunedin) as president, Mr W. G. Black (Palmerston North) as senior vice-president, Mr R. A. Barrowman (Greymouth)) as junior vice-president, and Mr H. H. Johnson (Dunedin) as secretary-treasurer. The next conference will be held at Dunedin.

It was decided that the Government be urged to see the evidence in regard to the optional reinstatement of'five-year-olds, be taken early in the session: also that the executive communicate with the Association of Education Boards with the object of ascertaining whether they are prepared to join the Federation in making representations to the Minister on certain points dealing with primary education, and administration on which both bodies are on common ground. ■

JAPANESE MISSION. WELLINGTON, August 17

The Japanese goodwill mission will arrive on Monday by the Marama, which is scheduled to berth at 7 a.m. After the official ceremonies, including a visit to Government House, Mr. Debuchi will lay a wreath on the Wellington war memorial., have a civic reception, and attend a State lunch at Parliament House. He will dine at Government House. On Tuesday afternoon, he will hold a discussion with the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet, and will proceed to Auckland in the evening, by train, accompanied by a Minister representing the Prime Minister. He will leave Auckland for Rotorua by motor on Thursday morning, and will motor afterwards to join the train at Frankton Junction that night. He will spend Friday in Wellington, and will be in Christchurch on Saturday, leaving in the evening for Timaru. and spending the night there. He .goes to Mount Cook on the Sunday, and on to Dunedin via Kurow, on Monday, leaving Dunedin on Wednesday morning for Christchurch and Wellington. Civic and other functions have been arranged at all places.

“I’m not sure I quite understand those knee-action wheels.” “Why, it’s like this—the wheels give. So if you run over a pedestrian, you hardly feel it.”

There is danger in carrying a courtesy too far, if you believe the following: On a street-car a man gave a woman a seat. She fainted. On recovering she thanked him. Then he fainted. .

“Your girl called up and said she will be unable to meet you to-day.” "Well, that’s a wait off my mind.”

“But couldn’t you learn to love me?' “No, I could not.” “Ah’ As I thought. Too old to learn anything,”

“Now, wouldn’t your mother be very annoyed if she saw you in that backless costume?” a dear old lady rebuked a flapper on the beach. “She just would —it’s hers. She only bought it last week.”

“Riley,” said Finigan. “I can’t pay my rent, so I want to hire your horse and cart to do a moonlight move.” "Sure," said Riley, "and ye couldn’t have come to a better man. Believe me. that horse of mine is so well trained he'll walk past the landlord’s house on tip-toes!”

A Scotsman had just had a serious operation, and a friend called to see him at the nursing home. As the friend loft, the nurse noticed that the invalid was very quiet and remarked: "I hope you said something to cheer the patient up after his operation?" "Oh.' yes.” replied the friend. "1 told him he might not live to pay for It!”