DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1929, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

closer' settlement. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. CHRISTCHURCH, October 3. Several large farm properties in Canterbury have ibeen bought by the Government for closer settlement purposes. . These areas will be offered hv ballot shortly. CHRISTCHURCH RUSH. CHRISTCHURCH, October 3. Doubtless as the result of the promise of the Prime Minister to absorb all of the unemployed within five weeks, there was a rush of registrations at the Government Labour Bureau. to-day. The number of registrations to-day was 438. Previously the daily average was about 80. Of the men registering to-day 119 bad never previously registered. The total in the Department’s books is now 818. CROSSING TRAGEDY. NAPIER, October 3. Jas. Edward Harrison, aged 19, was killed about five o’clock this evening when struck by an incoming mail train at Ellison Street crossing. The youth was riding a motor cycle and approached the crossing at right angles, and apparently did not hear the Warning bells or the train until the latter dashed across the intersection. Harrison applied his brakes a few yards from the line, and swerved. The; cydle fell away from the line, but Harrison was thrown forward, and struck the third carriage, the step of which carried him along some yards. He suffered severe injuries, death being instantaneous. SUICIDE FEARED. CAMBRIDGE, October 4. 'Benjamin Seabourn, 45, a taxi driver, of King Street, Cambridge, a well known and highly respected resident, is missing. About 9.5 last night his car was found by the police at the wharf a,t the Waikato river. His hat and £3 sterling was left on the seat of the car. The' police made' a thorough search, hut there was no sign of Seabourn. All the evidence points to suicide. At 8.30 he handed a note to a friend to deliver to the police’, which contained a message that he intended going down the river. Seabourn is a married returned soldier. He has a wife and one son, aged 22, now in England taking a flying course. WORK FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS. AUCKLAND, October 4. Hon. J. B. Donald states a number of partially disabled soldiers will be given part-time work ns postmen, They will be men in receipt of a pension and not suitable for ordinary work. The scheme will he tried first in Christchurch. SAWMILL BURNT. INVERCARGILL, October 4. Lindsay anjd Dixon’s sawmill at Lora Gorge was completely destroyed by fire, at noon yesterday, including f\. large quantity of butter boxes. The flames spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save anything. The loss is about £4OOO. There is no insurance STATE FORESTS. REDUCING STUMP AGE RATES. WELLINGTON, October 4. Hon. Tavflrner (Commissioner of State Forests) stated to-day that m view of the depression in the sawmilling industry, stumpage rates on future sales of standing timber would be reduced to those obtaining in 1923, the reduction varying from » shilling to mnepence, board measure, according to locality. It is hoped that this will tend to relieve not only the industry, but unemployment. HINDU BOY’S DEATH. TAUMARUNUI, October 4. A Hindu boy, Balwant Singh, aged fifteen, was found dead in a camp at Tatu near Ohura last evening. The boy’s father found the body with a bullet wound in the head and a rifle alongside. A BEQUEST. PALMERSTON N., October 4. Although it has been stated that the Salvation Army is a large beneficiary under the will of the late John Brown, of Weslake, one of the victims of the Himitangi fire, the Army authorities, it was learned to-day, have received no official intimation .of such, a bequest. It is, however, understood that the Armv benefit under the will, hut to what extent is unknown. The. gross value of the estate is said to he in the neighbourhood' of £4,000, and after provision is made for members of the family, the residue is understood to have been left to the Army for the establishment, improvement and maintenance of a home or homes for orphans in New Zealand.