DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TELEGBAI’H —I’EB PRESS ASSOCIATION. ]

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY. AUCKLAND, December 79. The nautical Court opened tin enquiry mto the wreck of the auxiliary schooner Kaoo, on a reef off Nine Island on October 2-11 h. Captain D. C. MacDonald, and mate J. E. Bergiftst were represented by Counsel. Mr .Meredith (Crown Prosecutor) said about 10.3(7 on October 24, the crew' were unloading cargo and the Kaeo was oil cling round the reef, only one of the tiv.j engines- working. Tin* sea was calm, when a squall came, and tile vessel not having sufficient power was forced on the reef. The suggestion was that the captain not having the sails u;i and with only enc engine, committed an error of judgment in hanging too close to the reef.

CAXT c; UHL' it V -HOSPITAL; BO A AD. CH7!ISTC itUItCH. Dec. J 9. The North Canterbury Hospital Board to-day approved of the estimates coveting the next live years totalling £l5O- - including £150,000 for the new nurses home. SHOPLIFTER SENTENCED. AUCKLAND. December II). Florence Tapp, aged 30. married, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for stealing from Smith and Caughey’s 'dtapery shop. A detective stated that tlm accused had crammed one Paris gown into a bag and was getting away v. itls the three other gowns, a purse, end a comb when a customer drew attention to her operations. 'J lie aeeu?e I's house v.as searched and was found to contain a quantity of new goods, apparently stolen. She aas on probation since September 29th. for a similar crime in icspeet of which she was ordered to make restitution of £ll9. This amount had been paid, except ten pounds. The accused said she stole the goods to lit herself out for a trip to Sydney.

TWO YEARS’ PROBATION. AUCKLAND, Dee. 19. At the Supreme Court. Alfred Bernard Nolan, aged 3(7, and for 20 years eati loved by the Auckland Harbour Board admitted the tluTt- of CIO, the property of the Board. He was admitted to ,tyears’ probation and ordered Li; make restitution. lie "'as previously of good character. CORONER’S ( OM.M ENTS. AUCKLAND, December 13. The coroner's iiivc.sligulhms into the circumstances of the death of Charles Henry Tnlor, metallurgist. who was found lying dead on the floor of his room in the Waihi Company's battery at Waikini was held before the coroner (.Mr W. M. Wailnutt ). Dr Short said the result of a post, mortem showed that the stomach contained a large quantity of cyanide. Two bottles produced -.one of which was found broken alongside deceased ) contained cyanide. A piece of string found in deceased mouth smelt strongly of cyanide. Death was title to cyanide poisoning.

John 11. Griffon Bank's, battery superintendent, said deceased had been in tile habit of taking a quantity u! medicine, and his mam lesheli contained many bottles. He was of an experimental turn of mind, anil had on occasions shown witness samples of ore and pulp. The bottles (oniaining the cyanide solution were probably on the

mnntiesbell' for purposes of experiment, and upon entering the loom deceased may have inadvertently taken the "long lottle. It deceased had decided to take cyanide he would have been more liable to have taken the pure sodium salts from the works. Evidncce was also given by \\ . 11. Quin. d. X Jositey. and Constable O’Neill. The toroncr. summing up, add the ea.-.e vuesented uiru-ua! lea l ures" r i here v-a> nothing whatever io indicate, l hat deceased had into take his own life; ill fact, he was looking forward to having bis family v, ith him at Waikino. His verdict would be to tbe effect that deatli 'vans due to cyanide poisoning. There was no evidence to indicate the intention of the deceased to take poison. tnit it was probable that he did so inadvertently iri mistake lor medicine, which lie was in the habit of taking. The coroner extended the sympathy of rli court to tile bereaved family.

MAXAV/A'IT MAH MEMORIAL. PAL.MKIiSTOX X.. December 18. Ten day* of the war memorial campaign reali.-ed over £3500 and another £IOOO is expected to he handed in by the end of the week when the campaign closes. HROADC ASTIXG. WELLINGTON, December 18. A deputation interested in broadtasting waited on the PostmasterGeneral to-day and submitted to him resolutions, the substance of which was telegraphed last week. They stated that it was estimated that four thousand sets would he issued in the first year and twelve thousand the next. A fee of £25 per annum was suggested for dealers and a receiving license of £l. After the Hon .1. G. Coates had expressed some fears that country settlors would not receive much benefit if only four stations were allowed and had been assured bv the Chief Telegraph Engineer that they Would he hotter off and hear more clearly than city people, on account- of less interference. .Mr Coates said the Government would look carefully into the i proposals.

AllO MO HO MFi; DER. 11E WA R D INCREA S ED, WEELIXCTOX. December 19. The (lovenimcnt hits increased the toward for information lending to the arrest of the murderer of Mrs Oates at Arotnolio, from £250 to £SOO.