DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[UY TELEGRArn —TER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] THEFT OF BANGLES. DUNEDIN, Alay 3 Fulford Benjamin Underhill, quartermaster on the steamer Westmeath, was committed for sentence for the theft of twenty-six dozen bangles, the property of Siaden and Son, Christchurch, valued at £65. The goods were bought in Birmingham and shipped on tho Westmeath. The accused, in a written statement, stated that while the ship was at Lyttelton he wont into the hold and took the goods, and sold them in Dunedin to Harold llalligan, a commercial traveller, for £22. To the Afngistrate, the witness ITalligan stated that lie took the bangles to the detectives as soon as he heard that they were stolen. The Al.ugistrate remarked that his conduct was more than strange. r l lie Supreme Court would probably have something to say regarding the transaction. ’the facts showed extreme carelessness on the part of the purchaser. LEGAL QUESTIONS. WELLINGTON, Alay 7. Several important legal questions arising out of the recent Alangahao disaster were the subject of argument in a special case before Justice Salmnnd on Saturday. It will ho remembered that on the night of Sunday, July 3rd, 1922, seven men met their death by suffocation at Alangahao Lttnnel. With the exception of three, who were officers of the Public Works Department, all the other deceased were members of a co-operative tunnelling party, between whom and the Department the ordinary relations of master am, servant did not exist. The members of the party, however, made ■< special contract with the Gnveimmf.il Accident Insurance Department, by which they were entitled, in the event of accident, to the benefits of the Workers’ Compensation Act. TLe widows of the deceased considered Mil* provision insufficient, and instituted proceedings claiming 220(13, alleging the disaster was due to negligence. 7c reply to these claims tho Depaiument pleaded that each member of the pair,signed an agreement to the elicit liciti‘c v well d look to Hie insii? ime police alone for compensation, and would make no claim for damages by rc.ixii of auv wrongful act of neglect or default in connection with the works or in the construction of the tunnel. For the Crown it was contended this agreement precluded the plaintiffs from maintaining any action for damages. By agreement a special case was staled to the Court to have this point determined. Two oilier questions were also involved. One was whether a woman who lost both husband and soli could make two separate claims. The other was whether in assessing compensation under the Act, account should he taken of any insurance money coining to defendants by reason of anv contract of insurance effeeteo by deceased oil his own life. Justice Salmond reserved his decision.

FLOODS AT RLEXITEIAr. BLENHEIM, .May 7. Il has been raining heavily sim-e Saturday evening and the rivers arc running hank high, in many places overflowing the hanks. Tho water is coining into the town from the school bend al Oinaka, where it threatens to break through, ft is still raining heavily and there is every prospect of a heavy flood. HEAVY WE ATM Eli. WELLINGTON. May 7. A gale with a sweeping rainstorm as experienced in the country over the week-end. At sea the conditions wero even worse. The wether in the Straits i- deserihad a . the worst Dir The rip!de roniinj fimn ~i'm had :ii: unenviable vopage. the su- v.e - eg ,right over her. The voyage look twenty-eight hours instead of the usual thirteen. At Patea the steamer Waitiingi while attempting to enter the port yesterday iiltermiii struck the western side of the mole and was badly holed. It is feared she may become a. total wreck. Most of the smaller coastal vo-sels are reported to he sheltering. Although the weather had abated last evening, ti: re i; still a big sea running.