DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LICENSING POINT. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 25. A problem which will probably af- ) feet tho licensees of a number of hotels in New Zealand was put before . Mr 11. P. La wry, S.AI., in the Alagis- . trate’s Court to-day, when he was ask- . cd to settle the question as to whether , a botfle store in a hotel is a bar witli- . in tho meaning of tlio Licensing Act. . George lies, licensee of the Provincial Hotel, was charged with employing' a female person in or about tlie bar of . such licensed premises at a time when the bar wfas open for the sale of liquor. Air Upham said that the facts which the police would adduce would be admitted. Tho position was that tlie woman in respect of whom tho complaint was made was employed in the bottle store, wliicli, ho contended, was not a bar within the meaning of the Act, I since liquor was not said in it for consumption on the premises. It contained no fittings, such ns machinery for drawing liquor, and no glasses. Sub-Inspector Matthew said that since liquor was sold in tlie bottle ( store, it was a bar, and that, therefore, as the woman employed in the storo was not a registered barmaid, tho licensee was contravening the law. In evidence, lies said that there was no particular advantage in employing a woman in the bottle store, aild it would make no difference- to trade if lie were compelled to dismiss her through the decision in this, case being given against him. Afr Upham said that the case was of special importance at tho present time, as fresh legislation was now pending, in which the distinction should he made clear. If the decision wero given in time, it could be taken into account. Tho Alagistrate said that lie would give liis decision as early as possible, reserving judgment in tlie meantime. ' ELDERLY AVOMAN'S DEATH. AVAIHI, Aug. 25. An elderly woman. Susannah Casey, aged 60 years, wife of George Casey, who, along with her husband, was apprehended for drunkenness last evening and lodged in a police cell, was found dead in .an outhouse at the police station at 10.15 this morning. Tho deceased partook of a, morning meal. Owing to the chilly weather she was permitted to sit outside in the sun pending her attending at tlio Court to answer a charge of Drunkenness. SOUTH AFRICAN AVAR VETERANS AVELLINGTOX, Aug. 25. The annual conference of the South African A r oteratis opened at Wellington .to-dny. After discussion, the following remit was carried: “That’ affiliation with the R.S.A. he approved subject to safeguards for maintaining our identity.” Mr Alalcolm (AVanganui), and Rev. Dutton (Dunedin) dissented. ' FIRE. MASTERTON, Aug. 25. Fire completely gutted, Hate this afternoon, a new seven-roomed concrete house at Homcbush, near Alasterton, owned and occupied by Air L. Renall. AfURDER CHARGE REAIAND. WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. A further remand was granted in the case of Elizabeth Ann Nevill, charged with tlio murder of Elsie Davis, and unlawfully using an instrument. Lily Hodge, charged with assisting, and Doctor .Jacobsen, charged with inciting the woman to have the instrument used were also further remanded. THIEF SENTENCED. WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. Robert Henry Smith, at present serving a term of three months for tlie theft of an overcoat at Hastings, was to-day sentenced by Air Page to six months’ imprisonment, to be served at the end of the present term, for theft of thirv-four fountain pens, valued at £35 13s. Accused had a long list- of previous convictions. WAIAIAKARHM TRAGEDY. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 25. Parties of searchers, some of whom slept in the open on Tuesday night, returned from tho Waimaknriri Gorge this evening. The search for the bodies of Shannon and Carrington, who were swept oil’ the raft in the river on Sunday .afternoon, lias so - far been resultless. A watch will be kept upon tlie river for the next few days at the spot where it is supposed that the raft broke up. A few searchers also discovered the tracks left by Brassington, tlie sole survivor, who remembers nothing of his arduous climb from the river bed to the top of .the cliff. Brassington is now quite recovered. BURGLARS ACTIVE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. A gang of burglars are at work in the city operating with gloves and in at least, one instance with a motor car. Some ten robberies have occurred in the last few days and as much as £2OO worth of goods were lifted from one shop. NOTABLE PR ESSAIAN. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. Sir Rodk .Tones, managing director of Reuter’s Coy., who is now in Wellington, does not consider wireless can supplant cables. The latter are being improved every year anil can now transmit, hundreds of words per minute by special machines, a thing that is impossible with wireless. The latter will be useful for supplementing but no effective method has yet been discovered of maintaining secrecy. Sir Rodk however, considers the law of property to some extent gives protection, as well as copyright law. His experience is that English is fast becoming the universal language. Even Germans send out their propaganda in English. i —— BARRISTER. INJURED. WELLINGTON. Aug. 26. Air 1). AL Findlay, the well known barrister in trying to avoid another ear, ran into a telegraph pole oil Taita Road and fractured his arm at tho elbow. The car was almost wreeki ed.

CIGARETTES AND DANCING.. AUCKLAND, August 25. “ft is the old story!' Tlie girl lias ? been goiim round cheap dance halls, t smoking cigarettes, and she is right i out of clothes, which she was buying * oil the time-payment system,” said Afajor Gordon, of the Salvation Army, i, in the Police Court, when Thelma f Francis Goodley, aged 19, admitted six 0 charges of stealing articles from a house at which she was employed as a n domestic. The charges included two dresses valued at £B, and ladies’ hosiery, gloves, a fountain pen, and money to the value of £2 19s 6d.

Alajor Gordon suggested tnat, n uu accused were placed on strict proba tion and were ordered to make restitn tion. she would probably reform. Slu was working in an excellent home, am although she had been there only a feu weeks, her employers were willing t( take her back. Alagistrate Boynton: “It is verj generous of them.” The Alagistrate: “She is young and without parents and she deserves some consideration.” He added that lie was perhaps giving accused a chance slu did not deserve. She would be placed on probation for three years, during which time lier wages, amusement? and companions would be under the supervision of the Probation Officer. An order was also made lor restitution. FARMER’S MANIA. DANNEVIRKE, August 25. Charles Henry Price, a farmer, at Tahoraite, has developed a mania for destroying the fences enclosing a property belonging to AY. H. AlcCullough. He appeared before Justices to-day, charged with wilfully destroying the said fences. The accused, who resided on the property, formerly owned it. On August 20, 21 and 22, tlie fences were pulled own and destroyed. Further damage was done on Tuesday. Tlie accused was before the Court on August 19, and was convicted of a similar offence and fined. Price contended that none of the boundary fences had been interfered with, and tliat the fences pulled down belonged to him. He honestly believed the fences belonged to him, and he denied committing wilful damage. He said lie bad an understanding with the present lessee to remove certain fencing. Counsel for complainant said tho accused apparently had a mania for destroying fences. This was bis fourth offence. In a state of civilisation, this sort of thing couhl not be permitted. The accused should be taught that lie could not do this sort of tiling, even to right an imaginary grievance. The Bench sentenced the accused to six weeks’ imprisonment. The Bench expressed regret, as the accused had been a hard-working man, and had brought up a large family. He bad had ample warning that be could not perform acts of mischief. He bad a legal remedy if lie considered lie bad a legitimate grievance. The sentence would he a lesson to him and would act as a deterrent to others. gpMwiwMMHMßmgmtrra