DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegram—mu press association.] INQUEST VERDICT. DUNEDIN, Dee. 24. At the imprest in Harold Napthnli, who was found hanging, the Coroner, Mr H. W. Bundle, said that lie knew deceased, who was a man of a bright and cheery temperament. From in- j quiriex made, it seemed that an in- 1 eident happened on a boat oil which I deceased was returning to New Zealand after a trip to the Old Country which unduly affected him. Deceased had persuaded a passenger to wear a (alley costume which unfortunately caught lire, the passenger dying. Deceased had carried the man and was with him when he died. Ibis incident seemed to have preyed upon Napthali’s mind ami he was not in good health when he came hack. He became depressed and his death was the result of that. There were no liiian-c-ial worries of any kind. The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide while in a state of extreme mental depression. BOUT FROM CONSTABLE. AVCK LAN D, Dee. 21 Arising out of a charge against Joseph Wilson ol absconding as a witness, a man named John Arthur Elder was charged in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court with obtaining CIO from "Wilson hv means of false pretences.

The police staled that on Novemhe>21 Wilson, while waiting for the steamer to sail from Auckland, was approached by a stranger with a breezy remark: "You’re .going to Sydney, so inn I." They struck up an acquaintance, and Wilson's uewlvfonnd friend suddenly turned to him and said: "By Jove! 1 owe an aceoiint here and I’ve only Australian notes; can you lend me a tenner!-'” Seeing what appeared to he a roll ol Australian notes on his "fellow passenger” In Sydney, Wilson passed over the required amount. Shortly afterwards Inmissed his companion.

Wilson, it was slated, did not see the accused again until passing through Mercer last evening in the first express under the escort of Constable Rotors. Ho then saw tho accused on tho station platform. He pointed the man out to tho constable and they vailed until the train was in motion again, when they commenced a search of the carriages. The man whom they sought, however, was not on board. The constable then waited for the arrival of the second express at Eiaokton. When this arrived the man stepped olf. He gave his name as Elder, and ostensibly pul his band m his pocket to draw out papers to prove his identity. Suddenly he flwut, his arms out, freeing himself of the constable, and bolted along the railway line with the policeman in hot pursuit. After a short chase the constable secured bis man. who was sent to keep Wilson company. The accused wa - remanded for a week. FORGERY CHARGE. ASH BURTON, Dee. 21. Arthur Slave, of Ashburton. arrested on Satin day, was charged to-day with forging at Temuka the signature of f\ Lyon to a ihoque for £l2 am! passing it as genuine. He was remanded to appear at Temuka on Thursday.

AUCKLAND WAT El! SID EES. AUCKLAND Dceinber 2L Ail wo-k on the waterfront ceased at mam and the departures of several vessels including tie- Keniata and Ruapehu have been postponed until Thursday. The waterside!s had proposed to stop, work to-day and next Monday a* noon hut on lepreseiitations by the ship-ping companies they agreed to work till 5 p.m. with a proviso that all men wishing to stop at mid-day should notify the employers at eight o'clock. Tin- men staitod as usual and later decided to cease work at mid-day. the Koniatn. had loaded between 900 and 1009 cases of fruit for Wellington and Lyttelton. The condition of the fruit wili suffer hy the delay. A STARTLING OCCURRENCE. CHRISTCHURCH Dee. 26. During the height of the thunderstorm yesterday the kitchen chimney of the King George Hotel. High Street, was struck by lightning, and the Christmas dinner, which was just ready to lie served, was completely spoilt by the mioL and debris which poured dow n. As a result the guests at the hotel who were waiting for the Christinas dinner to be served, bad to be content with a cold collation, which naturally was not so inviting a.s the repast thathad been spoiled. The chimney was struck by the lightning about 1.20 p.m. The waitresses were getting ready to carry the orders to the dining room, w hen suddenly soot and debris poured down in all direction-. and in an instant the elaborate work of the cook was completely undone. The lightning was accompanied le.- a loud explosion, which terrified the cook anil other members of the hotel staff who wore in the kitchen at the time. The flash wars also vivid in the hall adjoining the kitchen, and caused consternation among the guests who were routing downstairs to the dining room.

Outside the spoiling of the dinner, which, of course, was the most serious result ns far as those who were about to partake of the meal were concerned, the damage to the kitchen range consitsed of the splitting cl' two circular pieces which arc used for lifting off whenever it- is necessary to got at the fire Three or lour electric globes in various rooms in the hotel were broken and the telephonic roimnmiiention was cut off. The chimney was also badly dantaged.