TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

UUSU I'ULHt) AijSOU I AXIOM . —UOrVUIGIHT.j YOUNG MAN’S SUICIDE. , ’ DUNEDIN, May 19. .Anthony Patterson, a single man, “5 years of age, and a farm labourer, was f6und dead in his bedroom at the Occidental Hotel this morning. There was a wound in the centre of the forehead, and a 22 Stevens rifle with a discharged cartridge in the chamber was lying on the floor. The body was partly on the bed and its position seemed to indicate that deceased shot himself while sitting on the bed. On the dressing table was a box of 22 carfriLi.es. He was last seen alive yesterday about 1.45 p.in., when he went to his room. Deceased is reported to have left a letter in his room stating that he intended to commit suicide, and saying good-bye to a girl.

A NEW JUDGE. I WELCOMED BY THE BAR. WELLINGTON, May 19. . Sir John Sulmond took his seat ior the first time as a judge of the Supreme Court this morning. Ho " <IS officially welcomed and congratulated by the Wellington Bar. The Courthouse was filled with members of the Bar and tlie .Magisterial Bench.' Sir John Findlay, K.C., expressed,; on behalf of the Wellington Law Society and indeed tho whole of the legal profession of. New Zealand, the pleasure Sir John Salmond’s appointmenthad given. There was double-cause tor. congratulation!* because the profession recognised that the Supreme Con.t Bench for months, indeed years, '• Kt been greatly overworked. There was inow ~ratification in the appointment ol one of the most eminent of jurists.

THE INGA ENQUIRY

AYELLINGTON. May 19. '['lie Court of Inquiry into the strand-in-r of the steamer Inga off iaranaki Bight early on the morning o April 30th. delivered their finding yesterday morning. The Court found that the casualty was due to the vessel fadin, r to keep to the course set by the master. The fact that the vessel was carried about five miles out of her course towards land and into danger indicated that she was affected by a set inshore, -which was not apparent to the second officer who was m charge. The Court were of th c opinion that the second officer should have called the master at 1 a,m. His failure to do so constituted an act of negligence. The. Court, however, thought the casualty could have been obviated had the position of the vessel been more definitely fixed. They considered that the casualty was to some extent contributed to by the default of the master in failing to use the patent log and by the neglect of the officer, whose conduct called for severe censure. His certificate would not he suspended, but the master and second officer would he required to pay the cost of the proceedings in equal shares.