DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

nr TELEGRAPH — PEEBB AISN , COrTEIGHI CLERK PLEADS GUILTY. HAMILTON, Dec. It Fredrick Edward Horwood pleaded guilty to stealing £SO 14s from the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company. Ho was committed for sentence. The accused, a clerk employed by the Company, entered the premises by a skylight, obtained the key of the safe, and purloined the money. He buried the. spoils, all of which, with the exception of £ls, was recovered. A SERIOUS CHARGE. HAMILTON, Dec. 14. As the sequel to a motor lorry fatality on Ohaupo Road on Saturday night Charles Leonard Davis was charged with being drunk while in charge of a motor lorry, and that by an act in relation thereto, caused the death of Ernest Thomas White. On the application of the police, a remand was granted till the 17th. inst., hail being allowed accused nit £209. WOMAN AND GAMBLING CHARGE. HAMILTON, Dec. 14. Lydia Robson, the wife of a man who was lined £IOO last week for using hi.s premises as a common gaming house was charged with assisting in the conduct of such horse. .Mr Wyvern AVilson considered there was no evidentof active participation and dismissed the case. T.B. MENACE. ASHBURTON, December 14. The Hospital Board to-day passed a resolution its follows:—“That in view of the increase of consumption among young people, particularly among young women, the Board asks Dr Bilcliife (.Medical Superintendent) and Miss Watt (Matron) to prepare a report for publication of their views its to the cause, and also as to whether the present mode of dressing by young women is in the best interests of their health.” The discussion was taken in committee. It is noticeable that each report of Dr Kidd, the Medical Superintendent of the Waipiaia Sanatorium includes patients of no great age its suitable for treatment there. Recently two members of the hospital nursing staff were sent lo Waipiaia til the Hoard’s expense. DIVORCE LAW. AUCKLAND, December 14. An important decision on the effect of a decree absolute in divorce on a maintenance order was made by Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, in the Supreme Court to-day, when an application for a writ of Habeas Corpus was made by Mr Quart lev, on behalf of Ernest llenrv Ricketts, a prisoner in Mount Eden Gaol. The decision is believed to he the' first of the kind in New Zealand. The laets of the case were that, in 1920, Ricketts was directed by an order of the Christchurch .Magistrate’s Court to pay maintenance at the rate of L'2 5s a week to his wife, Florence Matilda Ricketts. The order become effective, but in July, 1924, flic wife was granted a decree absolute in divorce. In August of 1925, a complaint was made 1o the officer in charge of maintenance proceedings, that arrears of maintenance dating front December 12, 1921. were due. On that information Ricketts was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and went to gaol on November 5.

Mr Qnnrtlcy moved for a writ of .Habeas Corpus on the ground that as the divorce had been made absolute, the maintenance order was vacated. Legally, Ricketts had ceased to he Iho husband, and there could he no arrears as from that date. His Honour held that the wife had no power to act under the maintenance order. The maintenance order was vacated and her remedy would he to apply for a petition for permanent, alimony. Ricketts had ceased to lie Iter husband, and he was rivillv dead.

The application for a. rule absolute of Habeas Corpus was granted, and the prisoner, who attended the Court with the Deputy-Superintendent of the gaol, was discharged.

TRAIN DELAYED. BE YIN, Dec. 15. The northbound limited was delayed for four hours last, night, from nine to one, owing to a wheel breaking on the gnurd’s van, resulting in a. pnir of wheels leaving the track and being dragged over two crossings. Sleepers were cut. hut- no serious damage was done to the permanent way. INTEREST RAISED. ON STATE ADVANCES. WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. The rate of interest on loans obtained through the State Advances Office has been increased as from the Ist. December. Up to the present, money has been available at 41 per cent interest, plus one half of one per cent for sinking fund. Roans for building purposes will now ho available at 61 per cent, reducible to 5J per cent nett on tho prompt payment of interest, plus 1 per cent for sinking fund; or 2* per cent if the mortgage is for a shorter term than the ordinary one of 361 years.

If a person desires to borrow money for the repayment of an old mortgage, lie will now be required to pay 61 per cent, this to lie reducible to 6 jier cent on the prompt payment of interest, plus 1 per cent- for sinking fund charge if the loan is for 361 years. II the loan he for a shorter period, the State Advances Board have power to fix the sinking fund charge at 2 per cent. Boa ns for the repayment of old mortgages up to the present have been available at about 51 per cent, but under the increase which has now been effected, persons borrowing money through the State Advances Office to repay an old mortgage may have to pay ns much as 8 per cent for the accommodation. Several times before and during t.ie last session of Parliament, Ministerial indication was given that there was a likelihood of the rate of interest on State advances being increased at an early date, but up to the present no official pronouncement had l>een made.

BODY FOUND. ASHBURTON, Dec. 14. The body of a Public Works employee whose name at present- is notknown, was discovered in the Rakaia Gorge by a shepherd, some 30 miles back of' Met liven. A constable has gone there and is taking the body to Methven.

UNKNOWN .MAN FOUND DEAD. AUCKLAND, December 14. The body of a middle-aged man, so far not identified, but apparently a swagman, was found in a wliare on a farm at Te Ivauwhata yesterday morning. He was aged about fifty.

NELSON ACIDENTS. NELSON, December 14. As the result of a fall from a motor cycle at Stoke a young mail, Keith Frost, son of Mr L. Frost, of Stoke, sustained a fractured skull and injuries to the face. It is not known how the accident happened. Frost had only left his home a short time before he fell from his cycle with the result stated. Mr ,1. McKenzie, overseer for the building of the new hospital fell on a lath, which badly crushed one hand, severing three fingers. WHEAT FARMERS’ DEMAND. ASHBURTON, December 14. Representatives of the North, Mid and South Canterbury Executives of the Farmers’ Union to-day met Hon. Mr Nosworthy, and asked that the price of 192 G-27 wheat he ns decided on hv the recent conference here, viz. 7s Id per bushel f.0.1i. The Minister said that the matter was one for the Cabinet and lie would put it liefore Cabinet when it met, probably early in the new year. LAND AT £1053 A FOOT. AUCKLAND, December 14. A Queen Street property with a frontage of lift ,9in and a. depth of 100 ft has been purchased jointly by C. 11. Kingsford and Sucklings, Ltd., for £44,000, equalling £1053 17s 3d a foot. Tlie present occupants are Lewis R. Eady, music sellers, and C. 11. Kingsford. sports specialists. WAR FUND ALLOCATED. CHRISTCHURCH, December 14. A small assemblage of Waipara County residents at a meeting at Hawarden, decided to give the Blind Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Fund £7OO of a sum raised some years ago for the Belgium, Bestoration Fund. The balance, of £2OO, will he distributed equally between four branches of the Plunket Society in the countv.

ESCAPE FROM DEATH. MARTON, December 15. Norman Thompson, employed by the Wanganui-RungitTkci Power Board, had a remarkable escape from death at Turakina yesterday. When working aloft Hear a. high tension wire lie made contact anti the shock caused him. to topple, his foot getting caught in a stay wite and Thompson was suspended in midair with head downwards. Brooke, the foreman, saw Thompson just in time to scale a ladder and rescue him. Thompson is badly burned about the scalp and lingers and is also suffering front severe shock. Thompson was hospitallcd. R AKA I A GORGE FATALITY. ASHBURTON, December 15. The victim of the Rakaia Gorge fatality was 1)4111:1111 Toner, married, aged 51, with nine children, whose home was In Stanmore Road, Christchurch, lie was employed as a roadman by the Public Works Department and with another man was engaged in blasting rock. One piece was blown ninety yards. It struck I lie road and ricochet ted. striking Toner on the head. His companion. Branton, had a narrow escape. MAR IST SCHOLARSHIPS. AUCKLAND. Dec. 14. Two Marist scholarships, of the value of £G(> caclt. tenable for three years tit, the Sacred Heart College, Auckland, have been won by Master 0. Patrick BlanehJield ,of Greymoutli, and Master Halbor Holst-, of Wanganui respectivelv. INJURED BY fit ACKER. BOV MAY LOSE Sit HIT OF AN EYE. DTTNKDX, Dec. 13. A I toy named Arthur Eaton, aged nine years, was admitted to the hospital yesterday suffering from .severe injuries to his eyes, the result ol a cracker thrown at him exploding in his face. It is feared that he will lose the sight of an eye.