DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association, THEFT FROM RACING CLUB. TE KUITI, Dec. 6.

Before Air R. AI. Watson, S.AL, in the Afagistrsite’s Court on Tuesday afternoon, Leonard Christian Horton appeared on two charges of theft. Firstly, that between Ist. February 1921, and 21th. February 1927, at Te Kuiti, he did steal the sum of £234 19s 9d, the property of the Te Kuiti Racing Club; .secondly, that lietween Ist. August 192-') and Ist. August 1927, he did receive the sum of £IOO on terms requiring him to pay the same into the Bank of New Zealand, at Te Kuiti, at the credit of Frederick S. Sutton, late of Te Kuiti; and did omit to pay the same, thereby committing theft.

On the application of the police, accused was remanded to appear at Te Kuiti on December, 13th. bail being allowed in accused’s own security of £SOO, and one approved security of £SOO. or two of £250.

PECULIAR Case. CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. G. A demand by the Christchurch City Council for £333 10s from Pyne, Gould Guinness and Co. for rates In respect of portions of Hagley Park occupied by the firm as tenants of the Domains Board, was the subject of an action in the Supreme Court before Afr Justice Adams. The company uses the park for sheep-grazing and leases the greater part of the total area. The defence to the action was that limited occupation, merely grazing rights, was enjoyed by the company, and was not sufficient to carry liability for rates, and that the land was Crown land, and therefore not rateable. Judgment was reserved.

NATIONALISATION OF TRANSPORT. r ’WELLINGTON, Dee. G. Tbe Petone Branch of tile A.S.R.S. lias passed the following resold!inn : “That this mass meeting of the Petone Railway "Workshops employees views with alarm the ever-increasing amount of traffic secured by motors to the detriment of tho Railway Service, which may affect the livelihood of the railway employees ; and that as goojs carried by motors are usually tbo.se carried at A. B. and C. class rates whilst the Department is compelled to receive consignments of other classes of goods which are not so remunerative, we believe further that good results would be obtained if all employees reciprocate with those traders who patronise tbe Railway Service and we urge upon tbe Government tbe economic necessity of nationalising the transport industry.

THE COAIF.T. AViE’L LING TON. Dee. 0. The Government Astronomer (Dr C . E. Adams) lias received numerous messages from various parts of New Zealand. advising him of tbe new comet. Afr T. Holmes, an officer of the Athenic, is believed to be the first person in New Zealand to see the comet. He observed it while rounding East Capo at 10.30 on Saturday. The comet was then seen as bright as a star of the first magnitude, while its tail could be easily discerned wit.i the naked eye. -Its bead was pointing to the horizon, and it was about in a line with the Pointers of the Southern Cross, and as far away Iron) ino furthest pointer as that was from the actual Cross itself. Adverse weather conditions have prevented its l>oing seen in AYellington.

NEAY ZEALAND EXPORTS. KEEN DE ALAND IN CANADA. AUCKLAND. Dee. 5. AA’itli renewed enthusiasm for the cause of Empire trade, Air C. AT. ( rolt, Canadian Trade Commissioner for Now Zealand, returned by the Aorangi last evening after an extensive tour in his native Dominion. It is the policy of

the Canadian Department of Trade to recall llieir Commissioners at stated intervals, .so that they may refresh themselves by gaining knowledg- " the developments in respect of tbe manufactures and of the prospects ol the country in general. “One thing that impressed me,” said Ah- Croft, ‘•'was the keenest of Canadian manufacturers to use every effort to see that their goods are tbe best that can be produced. I was in touch with one firm which had gone to the extent of purchasing their competitors’ articles for complete analysis so that they might, without infringing patents, bring their own goods up. to equal standard. The Canadian films want to feel that they are producing the best that can be made.”

“I can sav without fear of contradiction,” said Air Croft, “that on the part of the Canadians more interest is taken in New Zealand than in any part of the Empire. They are tremendously keen to trade with this country. The reputation of New Zealand for business morality stands very high.” So far as New Zealand butter is concerned. Air Croft added, it is valued highly by both importers and consumers. One importer went so far as to tell him that when he buys New Zenland butter he never bothers to look at the pure foods certificate. He knows that the article is good. T3 ,e Commissioner found a. similar inteicst in New Zealand woollen goods rind a desire to see more of them.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS. AUCKLAND, Dec. 7

Two scholarships of an annual value of £69 tenable at tbe Sacred Heart College at Auckland, donated by Marist- Brothers and open to all Catholic bo vs under fourteen, in the Dominion, were won by F. Fall. First Christian Brothers. Dunedin, and B. Beadle, Second Marist Brothers, Invercargill.

THE ETERNAL TRIANGLE. GISBORNE. Dec. 7

An extraordinary story of the matrimonial adventures of a Maori youth was related in the Police Court this morning, when Matu. Ratcgi was charged with failing to make provision for bis wife. According to tbe police tbe accused, who only recently attained bis majority, married a woman of means, aged 70, and after obtaining a large sum of money from her disappeared with a young woman, being arrested on the Ulimaroa at Auckland, where lie and a young lady had hooked for Sydney under the assume names of Mr and Mrs Martel!. Detective McLeod, in asking for a substantial bail, said the accused became acquainted with a somewhat feebleminded old lady, who on November 2nd withdrew £4OO from the Bank of New Zealand and £569 from the Post Office Savings Bank and handed it to accused who paid it into his own account. The following dav they were married at a registry office. Shortly afterwards the husband disappeared. He picked up with a voting lady on the Coast and together thev went to Christchurch and then Auckland. They were arrested after booking for Sydney. Of the money received from the woman, about £3OO was left. Accused was remanded on bail of £SOO till Wednesday next.

A NUISANCE. NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 7. In the police court this morning two

young men were fined £4 each for making excessive noises when riding motor cycles, the Alagistrate requiring that this intolerable nuisance must he abated.

FURTHER ADJOURNED. DUNEDIN, Dec. 7. The five adult members of the “Chevrolet Gang” and a youth concerned in the conversion of motor ears and other offences (telegraphed last Thursday) were further remanded to Monday. Hie Chief Detective stated there were three informations for arson, where valuable property was destroyed, six for breaking and entering, and four for breaking open letter boxes and tlieft of letters. Bail was granted to all except two who were most seriously involved in indictable eases. AVOAIEN FARMERS. TAUAIARAXUI, Dec. 7. Airs AY. J. Poison, Dominion President of AA’omen’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, addressed a large meeting of ladies, and decided to form a local branch of the Women’s Division. The membership is already one hundred. PRISONER ESCAPES. AUCKLAND, Dec 7.

William Henry Grant, 33, sentenced on July 2fith. 1927, in the Supreme Court to three years’ hard labour for theft", escaped from Mount Eden gaol bakehouse at two o’clock this morning, and is still at large. He is reported to he a dangerous criminal. Tn 1921 lie escaped from Terrace gaol, AA’ollington, and got six months’ gaol for theft, two years for assault and robbery and was declared an habitual criminal. Grant effected his escape after striking ft warder on the head with a ti-treo stick.

LAUNCH AfISSIXG. AUCKLAND. Dec. 7. The fishing launch, Dolly, left Auckland for AYhangarei on November 22nd. with Henry ATaxlco and Thomas Henry ITook, and lias not since been beard of. Tbe relatives became anxious and communicated with the police. Shipping arc asked to keep a look out. It is understood both men are middle aged and married.