DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[liY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PICKPOCKETS. AUCKLAND. Feh. 25

Henry .Morton, aged 30, and George Harris, aged 23. two Australian pickpockets, ill the Police Court to-day stated they would return to Australia by to-day s steamer, having nionev to pay their fares. Air McKean. S.M.. sai,| accused were liable p. three mouths' imprisonment, on charges of Lung idle and disorderly persons, with insufficient means of support, to which they had p leaded guilty. They were prohibited immigrants an,l the best filling I i' :i,e them would he In return in Australia. Each was convicted and or v I t,o come up for sentence when c upon, wish an order that they res;el , in custody till the Flimaroa .-ails.

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL. AUCKLAND. Feb. 25. I lie New Zealand Fiiiver.iitv l ointci 1 discussed during the past fortnight defects and mistakes in the amending act of last year whereby the university was reconstituted. .Members have also complained that the university authorities wore not given an adecpiate opportunity of examining iho bill and advising the Alinister of Education upon it. at yesterday's sitting ol ihe conned. Professor Hunter moved:—“That the Minister ol Education he advised that the University Council is very dissatisfied with the way in which it was consulted in regard to the University Amendment Act. 1926: that numerous errors and omissions in the amending act show clearly the need of thorough expert examination before university legislati it is passed. The Coimeil hones that in future both university and colleges will have the tidiest opportunity of considering any legidatinn dealing with the universil v."

Other members considered the language of llie mol ion was 100 emphatic and many amendments were proposed. One or two .speakers deprecated public criticism altogether and suggested that, a. delegation should he sent to see the Minister in person. Eventually the Coimeil went into committee and it was announced later that the last sentence of Professor Hunter’s motion be adopted with the following preface. That the Alinisler of Ediuatioii be informed that in the opinion of the University Council many errors and omissions in the amending act might have been avoided if the 1 niversitv College had ben more fully consulted. It was decided Unit the Coiincd should not meet in May this year, but that tin. Chancellor be asked to call a special meeting when amending university legislation was ready.

LAUNCH ON EIRE. AUCKLAND. February 21. The llawene e'orrespoiideiit of the “Star” advises that the launch Albatross was destroyed by lire a few nights ago in the Tapawai River. Rack-firing set the eiigineroom ablaze, the explosion of a ease of benzine followed and enveloped the whole launch in flames. The crow of two had a narrow escape, having to dive overboard, and were almost exhausted when nicked up by another launch. GAAfBLING HOUSE TO CLOSE. CHRISTCHURCH. Feh. 21. Mr .Justice Adams gave judgment today on the application to close’ the promises in Madras Street suspected by the police of being a common gaming house. His Honour said he was satisfic’d that there were reasonable and ample grounds for the suspicions. 'I lie ’evidence of AY alter Flnlston. owner of they premises, was. Tlis Honour .said. • absolutely unreliable. A declaration was made as applied lm'. with costs of fen guineas and disbursements -against. Hul.ston. KATANA TEA I RLE. WANGANUI, Fob. 25. Clifford Newton Hood, architect. of Wanganui, sued the prophet, Ratana. and Peter Moko, in the Supreme Court to-day, for £250, as damages, being the cost of plans drawn up for the Katana Temple, which were not used in their entirety, but- were allegedly used as the basis for another plan drawn by a Maori, named Piko. The temple; was eventually built hv Ratauait»s. After hearing exhaustive evidence .Mr Justice AloGrcgor stated that in doubt, there wa.s some agreement between, the plaintiff and the defendant for drawing the plans. Ft. wa.s also clear that the plans had bc-oi iniorpornt" l to a certain degree in Piko’s plan. His Honour was not satisfied that Ah’ Hood had drawn the plans out i: ling him to the full claim. Judgment w;*-: given for the sum of £l3O. .fames Patterson, hoi I .ling e tractor. stated that the Temple’, ns erected by the Maoris was like a hippodinice and that the first good storm or earthquake would smash it. OFFICIAL AVI R F.LESS i.LI'ORTS. AUCKLAND, l-Tb. 25. The Prime Minister. Mr Coaves, issued the following statement t.i-ckn : “The Prime Minister':* De .artmen:, as

the result of enquiries made in London. and with the aiiv’i 0 of HF Majesty's Government in Great Britain. lias arranged for the recepti > i New Zealand of daily British official wireless broadcasts from Jug >v station, and will, as from next week, issue them to the New /.•.aland press Association for use by any Nov Zealand newspapers that de-ire to publish them.

These communiques will ntitOno the official viewpoint on those matter, that are of sufficient moment to lie regarded as of imperial intfest. and they will contain, inter aha. in as sum 1 ! a compass as possible, ’.he most reliable information as to the world movements in general, and those ospe: ,f i of foreign affairs that are likclv to h ive a hearing on the British Empire. These statements are prepared and issued bv the British Foreign Gffic.! with the single object of publishing the true facts as known to the Briihb Government, anil tlie press of New Zealand is being asked to indicate, for the information of the public, the fact that each item so published is from the “British Official Wireless.” It is hoped by this means to enable the people of New Zealand to follow a little more accurately than has hitherto been possible, the movement of worl 1 affairs, many of which, have a (Faring direct or indirect on New Zeanvul. SKI?IKS OF .MISFORTUNES. FEILBTXG, Fehruarv 25.

The late .Mr (•'. McElroy. who was killed at the railway crossing at Ougarue was a former Feilding resident. His family has suffered a series of misfortunes. A little while ago his mother and sister were seriously injured in a motor accident. Then his brother, while driving a lorry, collided with a cyclist, who was killed. Next his father was seriously injured, through being kicked by a horse. Only last Sunday his brother’s shop and dwelling were completely destroyed by fire. His parents are now prostrated by the tragic Ongarue affair. ARREST ORDERED. HAMILTON. Fell. 25. No appearance wa.s made by John Ge’i'ge Henry Blanc in the Supreme Court this '■afternoon when charged with discharging a firearm with intent to intimidate persons in a dwelling house. It was stated that tlie accused wa ssee nin an advanced state, of intoxication fast night. A warrant wa.s issued for his arrest. RIOTOUS CONDUCT. INVERCARGILL., Feh. 25.

At the Police Court. John E. Hansen, chairman of the Kapuka School Committee, was fined £3 for using obscene language and £1 for riotous conduct.

The disturbance occurred at a farewill presontl.ition to a teacher, the defendant objecting to the gift selected. The defendant admitted that be bad taken more whisky and beer than he could carry.