LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1919, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

A meeting of the Committee of the .Returned Soldiers Association will be held on Monday next at 7.80 p.m. at the usual place. Owing to sickness and other causes, the practices for the Peace entertainment are suspended for the time being. Notice of resumption will be givon in due course.

“The home is not in the grandeur of the building, but in the spirit of the people who live in it,” observed a woman at the Town Planning Conference, “Yes,” said Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., a little later, “but the spirit is determined by the economic environment of the people.”

As the monthly meeting of the Westland • Chamber of Commerce falls on the King’s Birthday next week, the meeting will be held instead on the following evening, (Wednesday) at 7.30 o’clock. The business will include the reception of the report from the Otira Tunnel delegates.

A distressing fatality occurred under remarkable circumstances, resulting in the death by electrocution of Edward Blake, aged about 13 years, a son of Mr Blake, postmaster at Gormanston (Tasmania) recently. The lad, with several companions, was playing with a small ball in the street. The ball lodged in the wires of the transformer pole, which carries a cable of 3000 volts for supplying electric light to the houses occupied by the Mount Lyell Company’s employees. Young Blake climbed the pole to the platform near the top, and from there tried to get the ball. In doing so he evidently caught hold of the wire, and received a shock, which must have killed hint instantly. ' Ho was brought down as soon ns possible, and one hand was found to be ; shockingly burnt. j

A dramatic story was told at the resumed inquest in England recently on Audrey Gwendolyn Biushill, 23 who was alleged to have been shot by her husband, Allen Newsome Busliill, an exlieutenant in the R.N.R., on Forrnby Sandhills. Mrs Stevenson, sister of the deceased, said that after the prisoner—who shot himself after he is alleged to have shot his wife—had been removed to her father’s house, he said: “Your father said I was a selfish fiend Audrey, but I would have been selfish to leave her behind. I was mad. If I went myself she could not have faced the world alone.” He also told her he had brought Audrey a most beautiful ring, and put it on her finger, and as they sat admiring it ho shot her and then shot himself. When they came to, Audrey said; “Oh darling, what have you done that for?” And he said: “Come and die in my arms.” Audrey answered “We are not going to die. I am going for help. You are not yourself.” His wife then walked away, and was found dead next morning. A verdict of “Wilful murder” against prisoner was returned.