DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TET.EGRAPH— PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.

DEFENCE OUTLAY. empire’s averages per CAPITA. AUCKLAND, Jan. 31. Referring to imperial defence. Mr Bruce, tho Australian Premier, said tl(at tho share of the financial burden must of necessity, depend on the population. Therefore, it was not reasonable to expect Australia, with (>.000.000 people. or New Zealand with less than 1.500.009. to contribute anything like the she;.' of the Mother Country, hut offiCtl figures shuod Unit their .shares were larger in proportion, than thosi f either Canada or South Africa. The p y cut per head for imperial defence .‘a.-: Great Britain 51s Id; Australia 27s 2d: New Zealand I2s fid; Canada 5s l()d; and South Africa 2s 6'cl.

medical men arrive. INVERCARGILL. Feh. 1

About sixty medical men arrived b,v the Moeraki from Melbourne this morning to attend the Medical Congress at Dunedin next week. Forty had made arrangements to disembark at Milford Sound and walk overland to Lake Teanu. hut greatly to their disappointment the Tourist Department had no boat available to land them. As the trip was planned months ahead at considerable expense they severely condemned New Zealand’s methods of catering for tourists. GISBORNE FIRES. GISBORNE, Fell. !. A large woolshed, the property of Bloomfield Bros.. Whatatutu, was destroyed hv lire last night. Insurance totalled C 19,10. A lire in the town destroyed the residence of A. E. Belelilfe. RAILWAY STATION ROBBED. RAH I.YTUA, February 1. Cracksmen who have been visiting Levin and Linton railways securing booty in each instance, evidently included Paliiatua in tlicir itinerary. Shortly before seven o’clock this morning, a porter going on duty found tho door of the stationmastor’s office wide open and also a safe in the vicinity of tho ticket hooking window blown open by a powerful explosive and the sum of L'2'i stolen, comprising silver, hank notes and cheques. The inside casing of the door was blown right off. A jemmy was apparently employed to open the front door. A window facing the safe was cracked by the explosive.

CYCLING SPORTS. LEVIN, Februarv I

The Levin Athletic Club’s .electric light sports last night was attended by aver a thousand people. The meeting nas notable for matching in the cycling •hainpionships. In the half-mile Lamb : Victoria) won by a half wheel from

Grose (Christchurch). I. Rose (Wanganui) being third, in 1 min. I! I-usees. I.amh rode ill the final of tihe mile handicap, hut did not finish when ho found it impossible to overtake the limit man C. Dunn (Levin) who won from Grose. Rose was third. The three mile race was won by G. Erickson (Wanganui). There was a nasty accident in this race, T. Oakey, Grose, Adamson and Wakely coming down.

The two latter were badly shaken and bruised. TWO BOYS DROWNED. HAMILTON. Feh. 1.

A double drowning occurred at To Aroha. Two lads, Frederick George Blackford, 15 years, and Sydney Alar son Clarke, 12. lost their lives in Waihou River. The hoys in company with two adults Blackford and Thomas Aieken, had just, commenced swimming

when Clarke who was not a good swimmer got out of his depth and was seen to he in difficulties. Blackford immediately went to his assistance but Clarke grappled with him and both boys disappeared. Aieken and Blackford made frantic efforts to save tho boys. Blackford became exhausted and bad to go to the bank and the boys sank but reappeared. Aieken had lost his hold of the lads by ibis time and they were carried down ftrarin. Although on the point of exhaustion Aieken went in again, but they were locked in each others arms before lie reached them" and they did not rise again. Aieken eventually reached the bank in a state of collapse. The bodies of the two lads were recovered in the afternoon still locked together. At an inquest, a verdict of accidental drowning was returned, the jury adding a rider that life saving apparatus should bo provided at recognised Imthmg pools along the river. UNEMPLOYMENT.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 1. Mr Jordan. M. P-, wired to the Minister of Railways that unemployment was aggravated by the notice of dismissal given to-day to some employees of the Newmarket railway workshops. Two 1914 soldiers were dismissed notwithstanding that the Prime Minister wired me on March 3lst last that married men and ex-soldiers would he given preference. Private employers were discharging employees and immigrants were landing by hundreds. The responsibility rests on tne Government to find work, otherwise

thev will he responsible for serious rouble which will surely occur next winter. Ile suggests the State advance loans to be expended as the budding trades are very slack. THE NORTHUMBERLAND. GISBORNE, Feb. 1. Twenty members of the crew of the Northumberland came ashore to-day to attend the funeral of a shipmate, Ernest Rvan, a cadet on the vessel whose death by pneumonia occurred yesterday. The Northumberland udl probably leave for Auckland to-morrou but a favourable slant ot weathci is being; wntebed tor. . The condition of the Northumberland is now regarded as so secure that in. the event of rough weather she would he able to put to sea if necessary and ride out the storm. In ordinary circumstances, in view of the rough weather now experienced north of the East Cane she will remain in Gisborne roadstead, hut any change of winds that makes the roadstead unsafe for a vessel of the size of the Northumberland will result simply in the ship putting to sea. Risks will not he invited hv "attempting to drive the vessel

against a storm, hut the weather now holds no terrors for those responsible for the vessel. MELBOURNE. TEAM. ARRIVES. AUCKLAND. February 1. Warwick Armstrong, who arrived today from Sydney with the eleven which represents the Melbourne Club, against Auckland, said: “Me are a good allround team and have one really first class howler.” Trumble and H. L. Hendry do not arrive till the 10th and cannot play in the Auckland match, which begins on Friday.