DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[DI HLEOSiPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHINESE FRUITERER HELD UP. WELLINGTON, Dec. If. The premises of Tomison Wong Loo, fruiterer, Hincmoa Street, were entered by two men. who hailed up the owner at the point of a revolver, hound him with eld ropes, robbed him of £SO rn.Mi. and decamped. MAORI HOUSE BURNT. PALMERSTON X., Dec. 15. Kikiu'hcuua Maori meeting house, for fifty years past a familiar landmarl; at Arapuni, wax destroyed by lire this morning. The building was in an excellent state of preservation, despite its age. It was unoccupied at the time of the lire, the last, occupant being Kreni Te A"e Awe. an aged eliiof-taim-ss. who died recently. Tile building was to have been used by the nillive:- at Xmas. The insurances amounted to £3* '(). Ineeudinrism is .suspected. MAORI DROWNED. DARGAVILLK, Dee. 15. A young .Maori kilo.'.n as Chris White, lest his life in attempting to swim Northern Wairoa river at what is known as Aslilea Crossing, this morning. It appears lie was swimming to his boat on the opposite side of the liver, ami when half-way across sank. A companion named Tulliwi swam out to bis assistance, but could find no trace. The police are now searching for the body. A REVIEW. AUCKLAND. Dec. 15.

Mr Croagh, Chairman of the Auckland Stock Exchange, at the annual meeting to-day, said the past twelve months were very satisfactory from a share-broking point of view, with the ■■xi opt ion of gold-mining. Be thought ■t could lie fairly claimed that tho year 1925. was the best since the war. That. • lioro was ample money for legitimate investment was evidenced by the suressful llotation of new companies dur:ng the year, and several issues of local bodies and oilier debentures were all ■veil supported. II appeared to him •uoumhent on both companies and iilividuals to give more consideration to mortgages, especially where money '•cqnired to enable primary producers ‘o carry esi. Mr Croagh issued a word '!’ warning re investments in afforestation companies, though lie said many would no doubt prove highly siieccaMul. I here were indications that gold-mining would before long take a new lease of life. THE LAUNDERING OF AI’RONS. AUCKLAND. Dec. 15. An interpretation of the Dominion Ecu room ami Restaurant Workers’ Award, in respect to the employers' iVsponsibil it v for the ; la uudering of aprons worn by their employees was sought by the Labour Department in ihe Arbitration Court.

.Judge Frazer in indicating his judgment, uliicli will be given in writing inter, said the Court, was of the opinion that there was no reason the ebm-e as to laundry should not apply to paniry maids, if these maids we’,ailed upon to wear white aprons, e(... instead ol their usual dark, or colnur,?d stnll's. ;'tn such a case a girl would be entitled either to the laundry allowance of 3s a week or t > the provision f facilities and time for laundering.

THE A I’ll IS BLIGHT. NELSON. Dec. 12. |)r Tillynril. Chief Biologist at the Ca.wthurn Institute, reports that the large (ousignment of green lacewings recently shipped by the Canadian Government from Vancouver by the Aornngi has arrived safely in Nelson ill excellent, condition. Mr \V. Ileighway. second assistani entomologist, is taking to ( bristehni ,- li i l, ; jx eontaining fist> ol I lie insects, rheso are to lie pul out in I lie Domain where tbe oaks arc in a bail way. Iilor:111v swarming with aphis, and dripping with I heir honey dew. . A not her liso have been liberated i" .-aril.-,i* parts of Nelson, while the re. maimler arc being kept alive in Hie insectarimn in order to obtain supplies of eggs for other centres in New ZealandT TARANAKI FARMERS’ MEAT COY. JUSTICE ADDERS' DECISION. NEW PLYMOUTH. Dee. 15. Mi- Justice AI pel's’ decision in the •use of Dunn. Morgan and three others versus the Taranaki Farmers’ Meat Company was given in the Supreme Court tliis morning. Plaintiffs claimed the revision of a contract to take shares on the ground ■>f misrepresentation ol material tacts and non-disclosure of experts report. The ground of fraudulent concealment of an alleged agreement between the directors, guarantors and the Bank of New Zealand was abandoned during the trial.

The hearing occupied seven days at the end of September. The judgment traverses the history of the company and the negotiations for reconstruction and covers 28 typed foolscap sheets. The Judge finds the allegation of misrepresentation unsnstained; also that the proper time for taking action, if any. was September, 102-1. When authority was given to mil the works it was made clear that the whole undertaking had crashed, lodgment, therefore, would he for defendants in all cases except that of Joseph Dunn, whose application for shares was made in April. 1924. by which time representations justifiable the latter half of 1923, ceased to be SO. Costs were allowed defendants as on a claim for £3710, with an extra seven lavs’ counsel at fifteen guineas per lav, with witnesses’ expenses and disbursements. The Judge stated the charge of fraud should never have been brought. M.r L. M. Moss was counsel for the nl ain tiffs and Mr R. H. Quilliam for the defendants.