TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1918, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

!' OTIRA TUNNEL FUNCTION

WELLINGTON, July 23

The function to celebrato the piercing of the Otira Tunnel will be held on August 21 st, when tho Ministerial Party will visit the scene, and the bloc-k dividing the headings will ho broken awnv.

A SHOOTING ACCIDENT. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. Albeit Jenkins, aged seven, was accidentally shot dead by his brother, aged fifteen at Waikuku this afternoon The elder boy was standing at the back door of tile home, with a loaded gun., intending to shoot sparrows Tn turning round the trigger caught a button on his jacket aiul tho gun discharged, the shot striking his brother, who was five feet away in the faee. Death was instantaneous. DRAPER * BURNT OUT. PAHIATUA July 23. A fire gutted a shop occupied by L. A. Burbery, draper who is a returned, soldier. Tho stock was insured for £7OO Building is owned by T. C. William’s estate and was insured for £l2O. Wright and .Stephenson's office adjoining, suffered slight damage. THE WHEAT POSITION. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. The Wheat Controller advises that up to Jlll3’ 23rd., 5,807,357 bushels of wheat were threshed. The purchases of good milling wheat totalled 4,53 G 553 bushels and seconds 604,127. The amount paid to brokers is £1,304.848 j 12s. 7d.

MENTAL HOSPITAL ESCAPEES

ONE STILL AT LARGE

AUCKLAND, July 23

A Raratongan, To eta Kai Nuku who, with Norman Kea)s escaped from a mental hospital on Sunday evening wife recaptured near Henderson this even, ing. Koals refuged in a forty aero paddock of gorse, and strong reinforcements have been sent out. It is expected that a capturo will bo effected to-night. Mr Muir, farm manager, at the hospital saw tho two men crossing the road, and riding up lie fired two shot- into the air, calling on them to surrender. Nuku threw up his hands, but Reals dashed Into the gorse.

RUMOURS ABOUTH THE 39ths.

THE POSITION EXPLAINED. WELLINGTON, July 23

Humours lmvo been circulated that syme mishap occurred to the 39th Reinforcements. The position is that the transport carrying the 39th Reinforcements touched ground entering a port of call, but was refloated. There were no casualties.

FERRY STEAMER MAORI. HAS A TERRIBLE PASSAGE. CHRISTCHURCH. July 23

The ferry steamer Maori, on her trip from Wellington last night, experienced what probably was the roughest and most prolonged passage in her histiry. The vessel left Wellington at 3.19 yesterday aftcimoon, and immediately in emerging from Wellington Heads was caught by a south-wester of hurricane force. The wind and heavy sea' reduced the vessel’s speed to about five or six .knits tier hour, and sens stvept the decks frequently. At 9.5 p.m. she luvd reached Cape Campbell, where blinding snoiv showers were encountered. , The vessel progressed at about six or eight knots per hour. The opaque atmosphere making navigation difficult. Captain Manning, however, managed to keep the ship well within her course. The trip occupied (20 hours, roughly eight hours longer than is usually taken by the Maori.

APPEALS FOR DENTISTS

AUCKLAND, This Day

The Military Service Board granted a number of appeals by dentists in various parts of New Zealand, some of which had been adjourned. Carter, representing the Dental Association, said the appeals were made on a population basis, one dentist for every 1000 people, and the Association was getting to that basis now. All dentists called in Christchurch would bo appealed for.

ESCAPEE RECAPTURED

AUCKLAND, This Day

The escaped Mental Hospital patient, Reals was found by the search party in a deserted whare at Henderson, wearing only a waistcoat, shirt, and trousers. He was covered with mud and evidently feeling the cold acutely. Be offered no resistance, and said ho had enough of it and welcomed his recapture.

| CANTERBURY WEATHER

SLOWLY IMPROVING

CHRLSTCIIURCIT, This Day. The weather is now improving. - request shows of rain fell last night, assisting to thaw the snow, which is now beginning to disappear about tho town.

This morning a light fall of snow occurred, but it did not last long, and the conditions are now brighter, though the air is still cold. Railway traffic to the West Coast is interrupted, but the telegraph service : is practically normal again. j RACING CLUB’S GIFT. i PALMERSTON NORTH This Day. Mauawatu Racing Club distributed 1 last night. £3,113 for Patriotic purposes, including the English Church Army £SOO. Catholic Field Service £5(V| Copper trail £500; Aotea Homo (Egypt) and French Red Cross each £300; Soldiers Relief Fund £4OO. I