VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1921, Page 2

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

■ [by TELEG RAl'M—mu CRESS ASSOCIATION] A BOY DROWNED. AUCKLAND, Jan 10. Victor Curtin ,twelve, an iumate of Leslie orphanage, slipped from the rocks into the sea, while on his way to a bathing place near Mahurangi Heads. The matron, Miss Wright made a plucky, but ineffectual attempt to res- ! cue him, but lost her hold on the lad who sank. The. body was recovered yesterday. KAURI GUM INDUSTRY., WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. j The Hon D. H. Guthrie left for AuckI land to-day to preside at a conference ' to be held to decide upon the order of preference for. a commission to inquire into all matters relating to the kauri gum industry. CRIME IN CHRISTCHURCH. ' I __ CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 10. There is quite an unusual lull with ' regard to criminal activities in Christchurch at the present time. It is stated the detective force had a big “round ! up” just before the holiday season as [ usual, but that however, fails to account for the present quiet state of affairs. j “There is of course the usual-amount of everyday work to be handled,” said Senior Detective Cameron this morning, “hut we have had no ‘big stuff’ for quite a time.” A similar absence of the more serious type of criminal ; offences is being experienced in the Do- > minion generally according to reports.

A LEVIN TRAGEDY. LEVIN, Jan. 10. Robert Melton, aged 33 years, a railway surfaceman, disappeared from home last Monday. Search parties were out all the week and the body was discovered yesterday, banging to a tree on a farm near town. The deceased had been suffering from nervous breakdown. He leaves a wife and three young children. BODY IDENTIFIED. TAUMARUNUI, Jan. 10. Regarding the body of the man found in the Wanganui river on Wednesday, the letter in the pocket addressed “Dear Ken,” .was from Miss Prouse, Wanganui, to her brother, Ken Prouse, who had spent a few days at Ansford’s farm, Mangahutu, where Jack Gardner was employed. Prouse had borrowed Gardiner’s dungarees and left his sister’s letter in the pocket. The body is now identified by Ansford as that oh Jack' Gardiner, who was reported missing.

POLICE ENLISTMENTS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. As a result of the increasing enlistments in the police force, it is understood the police depot in Wellington, which had been closed during the period of the war, will be reopened at the end of the month under the contorl of Senior Scrgt McNamara.

it is departmentally stated that the increased rates of pay have attracted a line stamp of recruit, and the class will he for the benefit of these men. Men of the ages of twenty and twenty-one are enlisting freely, and a majority intend to make police work their profession. P. AND t. bonus dispute. WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. The Government has given its final decision regarding the disputed bonus to the Post and Telegraph offieers. In a letter to the Secretary of the Association, the Premier says the Government does not propose to take any further action. "*Mr Massey holds it is clear that the intention was that any second bonus granted should cease immediate- ' ly that regrading took place, su'd quotes Sir R. Stout’s report in favour of tue Government’s intention.

SERIOUS ROW AT LYTTELTON

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

A serious affray at Lyttelton last evening, resulted in the arrest of three men. The police had arrested a seaman lor using obscene language, and was then attacked by a large crowd consisting mainly of seamen and firemen. In a struggle lasting over half an hour two consables were badly knocked about and the police were compelled' to make a free vise of batons, in fighting their way to the police station. A, threat to read the Riot Act, caused the crowd to disperse. DEATH FROM ACCIDENT. NELSON, This Day. Mrs D. Flint, who met with a serious trap accident on Christmas Day while driving from Kaiteriteri to Riwaka, died yesterday. Deceased was mailing good recovery until a few days ago, when tetanus set in.