LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1922, Page 3

LATE LOCALS

i • The plans of the Kanieri Sell oof having been at last approved the tiuilier has been ordered as urgent and a start will he made with the erection as soon as sufficient material is delivered. At the Public Hall, Kanieri on Moiwday evening. August 28th., a benefit, entertainment- will be held in aid of disabled footballer, Community SingLong (leaders Messrs A. H. Lawn and L. Aldridge), at 8 p.m., to be followed by a ball. Admission to Sing-Song, silver coin ; to ball—Gentlemen 2s, Ladies Is. Supper provided and good music arranged for.—Advt. A meeting will be held in the Public Hall. Kokatahi on Monday night, August 28th., at 8 p.m. to consider, the matter of building a new Public Hall. The suggestion has also been made that the occasion would be a favourable one to commemorate the memory of fallen soldiers of the district, by adding a me. morial Library. The matter should commend itself to all residents of the j district, and it is hoped everyone will show their interest hy attending the meeting in full force.—Advt.

At Westport on Wednesday Mr Maunscll S.M. gave a reserved judgment in the charge against the Buller Rugby Union of transacting business in contravention of the Police Offences Act, 1003. The police are no doubt prompted to test the legality of the proceedings hy the fact that if Sunday football in public places becomes a. practice. it will lie calculated to provoke dissention between that, section of the community who would consider it a violation <>l a religion rule that those who hold opposite views or regard the matter as one of indifference. I am. of course concerned only with the interpretation! of the Statute. The facts were not ill dispute. Tin* Union promoted a game of footliaTl on July 23rd last, which was a Sunday. The game was played at Granitv in view o( a public place: members of the public were invited by agents of the Union to subscribe something to the Union Dint! oil entering the ground. The monei collected was applied towards defraying the expenses of the game, the bal.ongoing into the funds of the Union which arc used for the promotion of the amateur gallic of Rugby football. His Worship found that the Union was not guilty of any penal offence.

Tim adjourned inquest touching the death of Joseph Patrick O’Connor, was held at the Courthouse, Westport on Wednesday afternoon by Mr G. B. Sinclair, Coroner. Dr. Dunn gave eviil. once that he made a post mortem examination o( the deceased and found no marks of violence about the head, only abrasions on the right knee and sonic bruises on the left leg. A small wound was on the upper lip, n mere scratch. All the organs were normal, except the heart and the liver wore slightly enlarged and the stomach somewhat, dilated. It did not look as if he had Been drowned. There wn s no sign of iCilvuliir disease of the 1101114:. The light heart was engorged with blood. In his opinion the cause of death was exhaustion and exposure. The abrasions on the right knee were apparently due to struggling on the rope. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. There was no evidence to show how deceased got into the river. His own opinion wa s that he either wandered down the wharf and jumped in or fell into the water. There was no evidence of what became of him after 10 o’sclock on Friday night. Senr. Sergt. Ryan conducted the inquiry for the police.