DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGHArn —PF.n PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] THEFT OF TOBACCO. WELLINGTON. Feb. 25. Walter Daitge and .John Essex Deavercaux, watersiders, were sentenced to three months imprisonment at the Magistrate's Court to-day on a charge oi' the theft of 20lbs. of tobacco, i>art of the cargo of the steamer Manuka. The tobacco was found by a detective in accused’s coat pockets, but the accused said they intended to hand the tobacco to the watchman, “f am afraid ■ their story won't do,” said Mr Page, S..M. “It, seems clear to me that this cargo was pillaged by then? men or some other men in concert with them.” TROUBLE ON NORWEGIAN SHIP. AUCKLAND. Fell. 2-5. Trouble on the voyage of the Norwegian ship. Hauneskgland. culminated yesterday afternoon when live members of the crew were arrested and charged with wilful disobedience of the lawful commands of the chief officer. Il was stated that the accused were under the influence of liquor and wen! ashore without leave, and on their return became troublesome. The chief officer ordered them to go forward and keep quiet. The Magistrate recoin niond'.-d the men to return quietly to their ship, pointing out that il' left behind they would be prohibited immigrants, liable to a line of £10!) or three months' imprisonment. Hi- remanded them till 3 p.m. and said that il the ship sailed in the meantime they would be placed on hoard.

SEAMEN SAIL. AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. In the Norwegian s- amen ia--e. two of the accused Waage and Segerholn were .sentenced to twenty-four hours imprisonment and ordered to he placed o hoard the Hannah Ske,bland before she sailed. The other nine men were discharged The ship sailed for Newcastle at 7.20 tu-uight. SMITH BEFORE COURT. STORV OF ESCAPE. AUCKAXD. /Feb. 2-5. When Smith and .lames Moline were on the way to answer u charge of 11.-.-f! of benzine they were in a special compartment reserved for them and their escort. Sergt. Hammond. Entering tb? Newmarket Tunnel. .Smith was permitted to enter a convenience without hand! tills, Constable Johnston keeping one foot in the jamb of the door. Smilh gave the (.-oust able a terrific kick, loelv'd the door, smashed the window and jumped out of the carriage. Information was eunveved to the Auckland station, when two police ears and several hired motor cars filled with police ivw rushed to the domain adjacent to Hie tunnel, and every point was guarded. The search was conlin nod all night. I lie police were kept informed from time In lime of the route taken bv. and o| the fact that Smilh had changed into a dark tweed .mil. About /..‘III las! night Smith asked •Mr Brown, the proprietor ol a motor pat age at I’okeno. to drive him to Patron. Brown recognised Smith as Ike escaped prisoner and runv, wed the information to the police with the result as previously staled.

Smith appeared at the Police Court ia is morning and was charged with hating escaped from custody, lie was i' .'it iit ml (■• I to March Ith.

Smith said it was unfortunate about the death of Constable Hogg. ‘‘lf I had known Midi an accident might happen." said Smith, “J would

never have gar away; however, il idon.- now. and. ■Altai's done can't La undone. 1\ c mail- tins bed lor mvsell mi I suppose I will have to lie on it."

AC R ICri.TC R A L COLLFCF. AUCKLAND. Fell. 25. A Mrong attack on the report of ilm recent university commission was mad l ' by Pmlessor A. (’. Paterson in an ndT'tvgs at a meeting of the Court of Convocation of Auckland University College. At the same lime he seized the ojinorf llliilv to state that the decision to found an Agricultural College inair Marlon was a fatal mistake from I Im> point of \ iow of efficient y, yet it could not lie otherwise because owing to tilt' lack of community support it was quite impossible m establish an agricultural faculty in .Auckland on anything like an adequate basis but ibis establishment at Marlon would militate tremendously against the future success of Iho college of agriculture. The moral effect on agricultural students of mixing freely and on equal terms with other students of the university is an ad van I age that .cannot be overestimated. Wherever agriculture maintains a separate existence students, almost of necessity feel themselves inferior to students of universities. This result of the lack of siipporl on the part of the community of Auckland is that our agriculture college is doomed to inferiority in work and standard. MARTON, Feb. 25. The A. and P. Association entertained the Hons. McLeod and llawken. Messrs Veitch, Dickie. Jordan (M.P.’s), also representatives oT the district local bodies vest prove, when polities were , ahoood. Though several speakers eulogised Rangieki as a suitable location for an Agricultural College, (lie Ministers, referring to this matter, said tliev had no announcement to make regarding the decision of the site. A large party left this morning on an extensive tour of suitable sites suggested by the local committee.

MINISTERIAL PARTY TO VISIT DISTR ITT. WELLINGTON. February 21. The Prime Minister will leave Wellington on Friday and will prorood via Dunedin, which lie will reach on Saturday. to Central Otago, to see for himself the various irrigation works in progress there. From the first time lie saw Central Otago. Air Coates summed up the splendid posibilities of irrigation there, and became convinced of its ultimata success. It was largely owing to his initiative that the comprehensive scheme, now in progress of construction, was initiated. Tt is understood that be will devote three days to the district.

Accompanying him will be the Afinister for Lands (the lion A. D. Alel.ood) and the Alinistor for Agriculture (the Hon 0. J. Ifnwkcn). Afr AleLeod will afterwards visit the AVest Coast districts, proceedings from the AA’anaka district on horseback across the Hanst Pass.

’BUS REGULATIONS. AVELLINGTON. -Feb. 24. Opinions were so conflicting at tbe recent conference of authorities interested in motor ’bus and tramway competition that tbe onus of framing the final draft of regulations lias been thrust almost entirely on Air Coates and on his advisors in this Department. It is understood that the Public AA’orks officials have completed their draft proposals, following the conferences and Afr Coates informed a representative of the “Lyttelton Times” that next week he expects to be in a position to give the matter consideration with a view to final decision, and gazetting of th-3 regulations, as they will operate from Alarch 31st.