LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1922, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

The Postmaster reported to-day that the mail car from AVaiho will, not reach) Hokitika till late to-nightf owing to a. slip on tho road hear Lake lanthe, Mr J. P- Sheridan, the well-known barrister of Sydney and one of the leading counsel at the bar, is now paying a visit to Hokitika. He visited Lake Kanieri to-day and if circumstanced permit Mill pay a visit to the glaciers of South AVestland before returning to Sydney. It will be remembered that Mr Sheridan acted as counsel successfully in London in a case in which the Holionu Goldmining Coy. was interested.

The shrewdest mail at the races during the holidays was Air AV. F. 'Massey Minister for Finance, says the “New Zealand Herald.” Note that he pulled out of the betting £45,6/6 in taxes. Altogether £652,480 went through tho totalisator, but much of lit went through several times. It would not he a wild guess to Say that perhaps £IOO,OOO would cover the money actually used irt these betting transactions and it will be seen that Air Massey's winnings were little short of half that sum. He was the only man on the course who was on a certain winner.

Considerable excitement was caused at Tarani (says the Thames “Star”). A. party of picnickers had returned from a trip by launch. They got into a dinghy to get to the beach. Suddenly a large shark was sighted in close SLty to the <U„ S hy, ami "• *' confusion that ensued and the occupants’ alixiety to get to the Lore, the dingily was capsized. There were a number of children in the dinghy at the time, together witli n number of ladies, but some men who were near, by rushed in and brought them safely to lhe shore. A number of pcrtple state that the shark i\as very large.

\ gentleman of parts, purporting to be a stock dealer, put in an appearance in Blenheim a day or two ago. He did things oil a large scale, hired a luxurious taxi, and engaged a man at £1 a day to assist him; but as matters transpired he borrowed £5 instead of paying his employee. The “stock dea - er” rode to Renwick in the taxi, where he is alleged to have attempted to' make deals in sheep, and also became possessed of a valuable sheep dog. Eventually, after several escapades, those connected with this strange person became “fed up” and wanted to see the colour of his money. Instead of repaying the loans he flashed a six-shoot er,' and after putting the “wind up” the crowd that had collected during the altercation he ran away across the fields. A hue and cry resulted and the cause of all the trouble was finally located high’ up a walnut tree. After receiving an assurance that he would not be hurt he descended and was prevailed upon to pay his jusfc debts to the taxi proprietor and return four sums of 'borrowed money.