DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1936, Page 14

DOMINION ITEMS

[PEB PRESB ASSOCIATION.] FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. AUCKLAND, December 19. Discussing the danger caused by the use of improper charges in a certain type of hand chemical fire extinguisher, the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) said to-day that the experience of Government Departments was that regular maintenance, at least annually, was essential to keep extinguishers in effective order. A committee of departmental experts w-as considering the question, with the object of establishing a minimum standard for the construction of extinguishers, and also to advise on matters of maintenance. WOMAN ACCUSED. . AUCKLAND, December 19._ On a charge of unlawfully using an instrument on a girl under fifteen years of age, with intent to procure a certain result, Louisa Beuth, aged GO, a widow, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. She pleaded not guilty. Counsel applied for bail, on the score of ill-health. “This charge is' one of the gravest on the calendar,” said Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., “and I am not going to take the responsibility for giving her liberty.” Bail was refused. HEAVY BAIL. CHRISTCHURCH. December 21. Norman Sutherland, 35, a trimmer, formerly of the steamer Waiotapu, who was charged with knowingly instigating the escape of a patient from the Templeton Farm School Mental Institution, on August 26, 1936, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, this morning. Sutherland was remanded until December 28. .Bail was allowed in self of £3OO, with one surety of £3OO, on condition that he reported daily to the police. Sub-Inspector Mac-Lean asked that bail should be substantial. It has taken us many months to find this man,” he said. "It was only by chance that we found him on board the ship at Lyttelton.” CH.CH. TRAMWAYS LOSS CHRISTCHURCH, December 20. A deficiency of £2,255 in four weeks’ operation of the tramways to November 8 was shown in a report presented to the Tramway Board at a meeting on Saturday. The deficiency during the corresponding period last year was £955. The substantial increase this year was attributed to additional costs, caused by the new agreement, restoration of cuts, and the introduction of the 40-hour week. The nett earnings were £3,369, and the standing charges £5,624; leaving a deficiency of £2,255. Reference was made, later in the meeting, to a proposal of the Works and Traffic Committee for slight increases in the fare schedule To meet the partially increased costs caused by the new wages and conditions amounting to more than £26,000 per annum. Consideration of this report was deferred until next meeting. DARGAVILLE ELECTRICITY. DARGAVILLE, December 19. Dargaville, the largest town in New Zealand not connected with the Government’s hydro-electric power schemes, will lose this distinction during the week-end. A 70-mile highpower line, stretching from Auckland City to Mareretu, North Auckland', and serving Warkworth town and Rodney County en route, has been completed. Testing on the North Auckland Power Board’s reticulation connecting Dargaville and district with Mareretu (Otamatea County) will occupy some days, but business interests in the town look forward to having electricity available for Christmas. The Paparoa, Matakohe, Ruawai, Mittai, Arapohue, and Turiwiri settlements, along the route of the main reticulation line to Dargaville, have already been connected, and the major portion of the borough has been reticulated and premises wired in anticipation.

MAGISTRATE FAREWELLED AUCKLAND, December 21. An enthusiastic tribute to the retiring Magistrate (Mr. Hunt) was paid at a dinner, on Saturday evening, which was attended by over 130 members of the legal profession, medical officers, and others associated with him in his work. Mr. L. K. Munro (President of the Auckland Law Society), proposing the toast of the guest, said that except for three years, when he was stationed at Wellington, Mr. Hunt, who came originally from Christchurch, had sat in the Magistrate’s Court, Auckland, since 1918, and had become a civic flgure with a reputation in and beyond Auckland for correctness of speech, and vigorous commonsense. Rising, to respond, Mr. Hunt was given an enthusiastic ovation. A cordial welcome was extended to Mr. Hunt's successor, Mr. C. R. OrrWalker, formerly of Timaru.