DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DOMINION VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 18. Statistical figures gazetted to-night show that the total births registered for urban areas amounted to 1022, as against 913 in June, an increase of 79. Deaths in July were 639, an increase of 9c as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths, males contributed 339 and females 300. Eighty-two of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 12. SJ per cent of the whoi'o number. Sixty-seven of these were under one year of age. TASMANIAN PAR LI AM E.VI. HOBART, Aug. 18. A joint committee of both Houses of Parliament lias been appointed to inquire into the proposal of the Government to increase the salaries of members of Parliament from £3OO to £SOO annually, the Premier to receive £ISOO and the Ministers £1250.

BAG-SNATCHER AT WORK. DUNEDIN. Aug. 13. Cases of ling-snatching have been reported to the local police within the past few days, the thief having been at work in the Koslyn district. On Tuesday night, a lady walking through Lit iii biiiiriie bad In r bag snatched from behind by a man who immediately ran back into the darkness. From the gi'inipse which victims have bad of the snatcher, be appears to be rather short of stature, thick-set, and of middle ago.

I l()fs E BCR NED DOWN. WELLINGTON. Aug. 19.

At six o’clock to-night :i five-roomed house at 153 Grafton Road. Ilosoneafh. owned by Mrs J. C. Little, and oec-upied by T. Lawrence. was totally destroyed hv lire. Nothing was saved. Damage v.-.ts also caused L> an adjoining house, owned by Mr Sutherland, and occupied by Mr 11. Retidel. The occupants of the destroyed building wore absent at the time, and there was a. very strong southerly wind blowing.

TRAMWAY POLL DEFEATED. AUCKLAND, Aug. 17.

A poll on a proposal to borrow half a million for extending the Auckland City Tramways System from various suburban terminus and to Point Chevalier. also the purchase of fifty tramcars. was defeated iliy 4276 to 34 1,3.

KNOCKED DOWN BY CAR. DUNEDIN. Aug. 17. While crossing the lower High Street to-night Christmii Donaldson, a middle-aged woman, was knocked down hv a taxi driven, by William McKniglit. Her foot was caught in the radius rod, which had to bo. uncoupled before she could be freed.

She is at present in hospital suffering from scalp wound and injuries to the back and leg. Her injuries, as far as is known at present, are not serious.

CUSTOMS RETURNS. WELLINGTON, Aug

The Customs head office reports that for the month of July last imports amounted to £3.240.796. and exports to £2,930.072 an excess of imports amounting to £318.824.

Returns lor the seven months of the year ended 31st. July, however, show n substantial excess of exports over imports The. figures are.—Fair seven months. 1927 : Exports £33.523,313. imports £25.459.50;): excess. £S,072,813. For seven mouths, 1926: Exports £32.909.529. imports £28.194,183: excess £4.715.340.

BODY FOUND IN RIVER. GI? EY MOUTH. Aug. 20. The body of George Low was found in the Grey Fiver this morning at ICotuk’i. It is believed to be suicide.