DOMINION NEWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 9

DOMINION NEWS.

USE OF HIGHWAY FUNDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIAI, Aug. 17. Sir Joseph Ward’s so-called raid on the highways 'funds to the, extent of £350,000 has been discussed by the Marlborough Automobile Association, and tlie, following resolution has been carried unanimously: “That this association views with alarm the reported: intention of the Government to eliminate the annual grant of £200,000 from the Public Works Fund to the Main Highways Fund and divert a portion of the netrol tax from the main roads to other purposes. The association considers these proposals, if carried into effect, would constitute a distinct broach of faitli oil the part of the Govcrnmetn towards motorists of the Dominion.” GISBORNE DREDGE SOLD. GISBORNE, Aug. 17. Negotiations for the sale by the Gisborne Harbour Board of its dredger Maui, now on hire to the Government at Westport, have been completed, the Government having acquired the vessel for £16,000. INSPECTION OF AVAIKATO RIVER AIERCER, Aug. 17. The Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Public Works) _and a large party oF Government officials, engineers, members of Parliament, and public body representatives are touring the YVaiakto River to-day. The river is gradually silting up, and it is hoped the. Government will give material assistance towards dredging. Tlie present shallowness causes winter flooding. affecting 100,000 acres of swamp land, which," if brought under cultivation. it is estimated would carry 1001) families. It is believed the deepening of the river channel will drain this land 1 . STRIKE AT SAMOA ENDED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. Advice lias been received by the Prime Minister from the Administrator of Samoa to-day stating: that trouble between the Chinese tongs, which led to the recent strike and police intervention has now ended and the men .have all returned to work. HEAVY GALE AT WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. Surprisingly little damage was done by a, heavy north-westerly gale which reached GS miles per hour in spasms early this morning. Tlie structures damaged consisted: chiefly of houses in the course of erection, sheds, fences, etc. Two houses which were being ■built at Island Bay were rendered roofless. The gale had a peculiar effect on a half-completed bulk storage tank for an import company at Lower Hutt, the tank being crumpled _up .like paper. The scaffolding remaining on the upper portion of the D.T.O. building in Lambton Quay commenced to flap: in the wind, and when a, pole fell between two car’s, the taxi-stand nearby was quickly evacuated. Tho scaffolding was secured by ropes.

POLICE RAID AT GISBORNE. GISBORNE, Aug. 17. The police made a raid this afternoon and four prominent residents were arrested on charges of breaches of the Gaming Act. The cases will ho heard on Monday.