TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS

[by TIiiiEGBAFH —I'RU CHESS ASSOCIATION] A TRAGEDY. . ELTHAM, Jan. 6. A shocking tragedy occurred on a farm near Eltham this morning. A farmer named William Percival Owen attempted to murder his wife and then committed suicide. While his employee was absent, Owen attacked his wife with, a meat chopper and left her in a- serious condition. Then he shot himself. When the employee (Watson) returned a » hour later, Owen was quite dead, and the wife semi-conscious. Owen left a letter, stating his intentions and also saying he was mad. lhe i onp!o had been married for about a venr. Both were members of well known and respected families.

A SECOND VICTIM. ELTHAM, Jan 7. Mrs Owen, the second victim of yesterday’s tragedy died last night. An inquest was opened but no additional facts of importance were disclosed.

SEAMAN DROWNED. AUCKLAND, Jan. (5. Alfred Warren, able seaman, was drowned last night by falling i.oin the gangway of the steamer I-luia at Onehnngfl. AVarroti and another seaman both fell From the gangway into the safety net below. Warren; rolling thence into the water, sustained a severe blow on the head and sank immediately. Ho did no; rise again. Deceased was single, aged thirty-six, and was formerly boatswain on the sailing shin . Hartford. His las: shore address was 78 Vivian -Si. Wellington.

A SHOOTING AFFAIR DUNEDIN, Jan. 0 The evidence at the Police . mirt case in which George Deveuney was charged with firing a shotgun at Milliam Grilhn Dmvclling with intent to murder, disclosed lengthy bad feeling between the parties culminating in the shooting, following an episode of the removal of a coat from a fence.

Hovelling stated that his and the accused properties were separated by a bne-chain road. On. Dee. :.U. accused’s coat was hanging on a fence. Witness removed it, dropping it into accused’s paddock liecause it frigntened his son’s horse. The next day the coat was again on the fence. W itness went to Ranfurly and brought back Constable Bandy. The coat was still hanging and accus’d was some distance away with a gun. Witness removed the coat. Accused fired and witness made for Ids house. Accused running towards him took* aim and fired again. Accused called all the time “Tom Hovelling I’ll shoot von down,” or words to ;hat elleei. Witness further tchiles how Constable Bandy fired warning shots till accused put down the gun, when Bandy keeping him covered, went and got the gun and discharged it. To accused’s counsel, witness said that so far as he knew lie did not tear accused’s coat, and did. not 1 accused’s sheep had been lolled by j dogs. Witness was not. aware that he j was a reputed Irish republican, no; j had he leanings that way. After evidence by the com-table, a*— k' corned ivns coimnit loti f<v- trial and v:isf granted bail, self in WOO and t.wo l sureties of £2/50. t

state mine. WELLINGTON, Jan. (i It was announced in a telegram from Groymouth yesterday that. I lie State cdal miners, who had l.cen idle foi < n 1)0ut a month, resumed work under the conditions of the old agreement. Questioned to-day, the Minister of Mines (the Hon G. J. Anderson; said that when the miners intimated last month their willingness to go hack t<> work, an official of the Department was sent to Greymouth to draw up a new agreement., based upon the teims of the award recently made by .Jiuh«e Eraser as affecting West Coast, mines. A settlement could not be arrived at on several points, and oil. December 29 representatives of the Union interviewed the Minister and requested tuat Under-Secretary Mr Kimball should proceed to the Coast, and endeavour to settle the points in dispute. It was made clear to the deputation that a new agreement would luvre to he based upon the recent award of the Arbitration Court. After discussing the matter fully, the President, on behalf of the Union, agreed to Ihe differences between the Department and the Union being settled by the t nder-Sceretary and himself, and if they could not agree, that the Union would take the necessary steps under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to obtain a settlement thereunder. In each case the wages payable would ho as laid down under such settlements and applied retrospectively as from the date the mine was re-opened, whie.t was to be January. It would thus he seen, said the -Minister, that the men have not resumed work’ under tjie old agreement, hut under the terms of an agreement still fo he decided and on the basis of the recent, award of the Arbitration Court. This proposition was made by the representatives of the Union themselves in order that the mine might be reopened and operations resumed. MILLED TON IDLE. WESTPORT, Jan. 0. The Mfflerton mine is idle and U'e horses have been withdrawn. The position is serious.

PREMIER’S STATEMENT. PALMERSTON N., Jan. G Asked to-day if the Government would provide producers the necessary financial backing to enable the purchase of the butter stocks of the Imperial Government, Mr Massey told a reporter that the Government had not yet considered that phase of the situation, and whether or not assistance would be forthcoming he could not say. Yesterday’s meeting had not yet communicated with him, and he was not prepared to promise anything until he knew what the Government was asked to hack.

BABY KILLED

ASHBURTON, Jan. 6.

Through a motor cycle side-ohair capsizing near Methven yesterday evening Norman Reid Kingston, aged 19 months, was killed. His father, Stanley Kingston, was riding the cycle and the child was sitting on his mother’s knee in thq chair. The father and mother received minor injuries.

another a. roplank falls. Wl UINCTON. Jan 6. While .ere from Wanganui the N.Z. Aero G npany’s Avro biplane struck a wire fence at Lyall Bay aerodrome, and* 1 toppled over. The pilot, Mallard, sustained a slight cut on the mouth. Two passengers were uninjur-. The undercarriage was torn oh and the propellor broken. _ _ The biplane left Wanganui at 5.5.) p.m. and arrived at Lyall Bay at 6.20 p.m.

BUTTER SLUMP. SOUTH ISLAND VIEWS. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. (5 After a conference held here to-day. of representatives of the South Island ,utter factories and producers, the following telegram was sent to Air Mnssov“Butter resolution to purchase Imperial butter was defeated at yesterday’s Wellington conference, but carried after voting on a tonnage basis, which course is objected to. The South Island unanimously opposes the purchase, and refuses to participate m anv lew, believing that the Imperial Government should itself, through the usual channels, dispose of their stock. Before anv Government action in support of a' purchase is taken, we hope von will arrange to hear the South Island representatives, and also tnose others present who opposed ihe puichase.” CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AUCKLAND, Jan. 6 Dunlop won. the chess championship. The prize winners are as tollows: H) Dunlop 11 wins; (2) Severne and (ivies 10 wins each ; (4) DaviesjH "’ins : (51 Hicks 9 wins; ((>) Rolling < wins. PIONEER CONTRACTOR’S DEATH. TIMARU, January 6. The funeral of Mr George Stumbles, an old resident, took place yesterday. The deceased left the marks of his enterprise and energy. In partnership with Mr R. Allan, he did some vaiLyu work in Otago, and then came to liman, in the early seventies and constructed the railway from Temuka to Pareora, He built the first section oj the Timaru Breakwater, with Mr McGill as partner. He also built the first section of the Napier Breakwater. Returning to Timaru, he contracted with Mr T. Black for the first 1300 feet of rubble of the east mole. Later, he had the oversight of the first artificial improvement of Caroline Bay bathing grounds. He died at the ago of 88, after a painful illness and in pool circumstances. He leaves a widow.

ROWING ENTHUSIASTS. HAMILTON, Jan. fi. A committee of rowing enthusiasts has been formed in Hamilton, with t o object of making inquiry into the possibilities of securing the next lace lor the world’s sculling title for the \) mkato River, where a suitable championship course is available, and easy or access both from Auckland and Hamilton.

SOUTHERN MAORT ELECTION. INVERCARGILL, .Tan. 6 M r H. T. Pa rata to-day announced his intention of withdrawing from the contest for the Southern Maun Seat, and of supporting Mr Wm larata. H says he will be a candidate at the general election. DUNEDIN’S UNEMPLOYMENT. DUNEDIN, January 4. There were a large number of applicants at the Town Hall Employment Bureau this morning. A fresh roll ot unemployed will be compiled after a meeting ol the relief executive tomorrow.