A SERIOUS OFFENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9848, 29 October 1924, Page 4

A SERIOUS OFFENCE

FIGHT IN FRONT OF OPERA HOUSE. YOUNG MAN HAS LEG BROKEN. A sensational incident occurred outside the Opera House at half-time last evening, and as a result, one of the principals is now in hospital suffering from a broken leg. . Patrons had just come outside to get a “breather” at the interval when, they were astonished to see two young men embroiled in a bout ol fisticuffs.

From i,lie outset it was obvious that the bout was one-sided and in duo course the less skilled was sent to the ground. Eye-witnesses declare that when lie arose he was again promptly felled and, when he again attempted to get up, his antagonist stretched him out again. On the fourth occasion that he at tempted to rise, the prostrate man writhing agonisingly called out to his assailant that his leg was .broken. lu the course of the scuffle the man who ultimately received injuries was seized and dragged along the load over the gutter on to the footpath. When the victim was reached by the spectators blood was oozing from his face. It was also obvious that his leg was broken and he was in a fainting condition. A doctor who was in the Opera House examined the man, and ordered his removal to the hcsnital.

The police, later, took a hand in the affair when the injured man, whose name is T. P. W. Carter, amt who is employed by Mr .11. Monekton, of Patutahi, gave the name of his attacker as Grant McDonald, of fianui Rond.

DAMAGE TO WHARF

' SECTION OF CONCRETE SiItULITRE SAGS.

AUCKLAND, Get. 28. Damage to the extent or several thousand pounds was caused to tiie Western wnarl when some ol the concrete foundation pries collapsed, fciiorcly alter two o’eiocit the steamer TreUssrck was workn.g at another pel turn of the whan, and the first judication to the men engaged at her that anytiiiiig was amiss was the loud cracking of tne concrete. They were amazed to see a large surface of the area of wharf near tne sea end gradually subside, t.ll the portion on the W estern s.Uo was almost at the water level. jLarge fissures appeared on the surface, revealing the steel reinforcing gnders. Tne stout wooden fenders ua the eastern side were splintered and snapped in two. 'the unver of a motor lorry was about to t.p a load of soil over the side of the wharf. There was a suduen tremor fct-neath him and, although lie d.d'not grasp the situation immediately, he nacl a foreboding or danger and without delay he tipped the soil on the wharf, cranked the lorry and sped away to safer ground. At the point where the wharf lmd sagged, most of tiie reinforced concrete piles had almost disappeared in the mud, and the sale wail of large boulders cemented together had fallen to p eces. Seven piles on the other side snapped as il made of chalk. On the eastern sure tiie steamer Trelissick was berthed, but she was not affected. A a electric crane was unloading cargo from a luiward hold 'but, fortunately, it was some distance away. Hie engineer explains that the disaster was due to the stone wall built to support the wharf collapsing and carrying away some piles, thus throwing an extra strain on the others, which gave way. Tim area that subsided was about ICO feet long, but about three hundred feet wi'il have to be re-buiit at a cost of about £20.000. Fait o that which collaused was limit in 1021. Tim whole wharf is 1000 feet long and cost £9.3,000.—P.A.