DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BT TELEGRAPH —rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SCHOOL DESTROYED. WIT A KATA NE, Dee. 27 The school buildings at AVaingarara were burned down on Christmas Eve. It was an old building, erected by settlers twenty years ago. The origin of the lire is unknown. RESIDENCE DAMAGED. ASHBURTON, Dee. 27 The fi rebel I at one o’clock this morning drew the brigade to Mr AY. Stribling’s house in Dobson Street. The tiro was discovered by a policeman residing opposite, whose first anxiety was whether the occupants were inside. It was impossible to enter the house, hut after knocking noisily, enquiries revealed that the occupants were absent at .Rakaia. Three rooms were gutted, but further damage was prevented by the brigade. The losses included a new piano, £SO, and a euphonium belonging to the band. LEVEL CROSSING SMASH. AUCKLAND, Dee. 26 The outward bound train for Swanson crashed into a motor lorry at Blake Street crossing at Avondale to-night. The front ul the lorry was wrecked and the driver sustained serious concussion, while a passenger win, was Lis brother, was killed. I lie driver, before becoming ttiieomcions indicated that the dead man was •Jack Grilfen, while (he police understood that lie said Ids own name was AA’illiani Grilfen. Deceased was about ;i1 years of age. The crossing is dangerous, and without warning hell. SAILING BOAT CAPSIZES. DUNEDIN, Dec. 26 In :t squall yesterday a 1 Ott sailing boat capsized in the harbour. Both occupants were rescued alter thirty minutes. They were in an exhausted condition. FALL OVER CLIFF. C UR ISTCiT I'lilTl, Dee. 27. Ernest Mi Gregor, thirteen, had a remarkable escape iron) death yesterday. While walking oil the hills near Lyttelton, his hat blew oil. and in the attempt to recover it, lie tell over .. cliif to the road below, a distance ot a bundled feet. There was naming to break Ills fall on to the hard metalled road. When the police arrived at the soot, they louiut the boy King unconscious on the rot ul. He wn, removed to the hospital, where he recovered consciousness shortly alter. His injuries comprised a fractured wrist, it ocalp wound and concussion. His condition is satisfactory, FALL FROM ROOF. DUNEDIN. Dec. 27. John Robert Cameron, 22, single, slipped from the root ot the house which lie was tarring, lie was taken to the hospital with an injured spine. FALL FRO.M GRAND.STAND.

ASI i IH'RTON, Dee. 27 Gordon Stoddard, married, aged 30 years, working at Hinds, was watching the trots on a stand recently elected to accommodate* the overflow from the grandstand, when he overbalanced backwards and erasliwd to the ground 12 feet below, lie was picked up with a. severely injured hack, which at first, it was feared was broken. Two doctors attended Stoddard and lie was removed to the hospital where a closer examination disclosed a rupture of the ligaments ul the hack. ID ceisditvm in mot- hopeful to-tla* UUI ND IN JIARBGI. R ■ AYEI.LINCTON. Dee. 26. A body was noticed doming oil the tug wiiari at noon yesterday and was recovered by (he police. I lie indications were that ii had not been more than a couple of hours in the water. The bodv was not identified, but it is believed to be that of a seaman from one of tbe vessels in port. KILLED ON AY AY TO RACES. DUNEDIN. Dec. 26 AY. Baird, aged thirty-live, was killed instantaneously by being struck at the back of the head by a motor-ear while crossing the road at A) iiigatui to attend the Dunedin races. FOUND DEAD IN PLANTATION.

ASHBURTON, Dec. 20. A distressing fatality occurred at Fairfield yesterday morning, resulting in the death, under tragic circumstances, of Albert Baden John A\ illis, aged twenty-three, who was lon ml dead in a plantation, shot through I lie heart with a pea-riilo lying alongside. Willis was the son of a family long resident in the district. Yesterday morning, deceased caused concern by not partaking of breakfast, and gave no reason for bis actions. At 10..10, be went out with a pea-riilo. Later on, a letter, winch he had left at home was found. This caused alarm. A search was made, many helping. The young man was found by -Miles Sprott at 11 a.lll. in the middle of the County Council plantation, about a mile from home, with a pea-rifle lying alongside. The bullet Had entered the heart. Dr At. •). Mullin pronounced life to he extinct. An inquest was held this morning before the Coroner, -Mr ,1. Cow, when evidence of identification was given and the inquest'adjourned. KILLED INSTANTLY. AUCKLAND, Dec. 20 All elderly man, whose name is given ns Jack M’Guinnoss, was run over bv a train at Auckland station this evening and was killed instantly. Deceased, who was an employee of the Raglan County Council and resided at Ngaruawnliia, tried to hoard the 5.22 train to Frnnkton after it had started. He fell between the platform and tile train and was run over hy the end carriages. Ilis body was badly mutilated.

TROPICAL DISEASES. WELLINGTON, Dee. 27. Dr P. A. Buxton and Dr G. 11. Hopkins arrived by the Atheuic tor the purpose of making an exhaustive examination into some of the tropical diseases which are playing havoc with the islanders. They will shortly leave for -Samoa, which will he their headquarters. The New Zealand Government is giving assistance.' Dr Buxton will investigate particularly the ravages caused hy the mosquito known as stegomyia, which is responsible for the disease known as filiarisis, and an attempt will be made to eradicate the insect hy the processes familiarised at Panama and elsewhere.