DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEOEAFII—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON ATHLETIC TEAM. WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. The following athletes represent Wellington at the New Zealand championships ai Dunedin next month:— P. Munro, shot discus and javelin; S. G. Mclntosh, walks: L. A. Tracy, sprints; If. A. Hose, distance running ; W. Wilton, broad ami hop, step jumps; 0. Harvey, pole vault; H. and T. Oakley, cycling; .Miss Swinburne, ladies’ events; A. Campbell, quarter and half mile and other selections also. 'Probably W. A. Melrose for the half and mile and A. J. Morgan for the javelin, and shot discus will make the trip at their own expense. Kri'RKSEV 11 El’ll?ES FROM TRACK. WELLINGTON, Feb. 25 Private advice from America states that M. M. Kirksoy, a member of the America team which visited New Zealand, has retired from the track panic on account of the position he holds as physical instructor and partly through action of the authorities in questioning his amateur status and in view of the nature of his employment. Kirksoy was informed that if he did not compete lie fore the Olympic trials the query would be waived. He now intends to attend the Olympic games a, a member of the Californian Rugby team. OLD WEST COASTER DIES. WELLINGTON, Fob. 25 Obituary.—. Mrs Catherine Deunehy, one of the early West Coast pioneers, aged 80. Her husband ivlio died 20 years ago was the first to get gold at Charleston. RUNAWAY MOTOR-TIU'CK. AUCKLAND, Pel,. L'-i. A somewhat spectacular runaway was. witnessed in iShorllaud .Street on Friday, when a large motor-truck, heavily laden with bags ol wheal, got out. of control and careered down the hill backwards in Lite direction of Queen Street. The truck had reached the vicinity of the Auckland Club, when the driver ai tempted to change gears, but the gears jammed. The truck at once commenced to run backwards. the hand-brake failing to hold the. heavy vehicle. By the time the foot-brake had been brought into play the truck had gained such speed that the driver was compelled to devote Ins attention to steering a course clear id traffic, while a pedestrian, with commendable presence of mind cheeked pedestrian’ India: crossing the Queen St. intersection, enabling the driver U> swing round into Queen St. and pull up on a level surface. .MENTAL PATIENT’S ESCAPE. AUCKLAND. February 21. An escapee from the Auckland Mental Hospital caused considerable excitement at the Newmarket and Remner.'i railway stations and at Green Lane- before he was finally captured. Aftei a struggle in Sunnyvale road. Green Lane, the patient, who is repo: ted to have escaped from the in-u----nit ton on Wednesday, first nitrated attintion by his peculiar behaviour at Newmarket station, shortly after 8

am. After jumping on the cowcatcher of a shunting engine winch was standing in the yard, he ran across the rads Had jumped on the cowcatcher of an outward-bound Papakur:>. train, vhmb it i- stated, eras then travelling at

about ten miles an hour. Fortunately lie managed to hold on, otherwise it is probate that he would have been killed. The railway officials at Remuera station were informed, and. on nuivui oi

t lit train tlic nn'.vanled uger t-.ii.L-n in charge. T!;e police wore communicated with. lull before tho oonxiable anil ed. f be patient escaped from i.lie room in which fie had been placed and ran down t'ho railway line toward Gtoen fame, followed by Constable AA’right, who was joined by a railway i mployee. The e-eapoe left the line and went along at the bach ol* the houses in Sunny ride road. When he .sighted his par- tiers lie jumped a fence and ran lound a house. The constable gn ve chase, being assisted by a letter-carrier and a resident. After an exciting pursuit a mono the houses, they caught up with the fugitive, who was captured only after a violent .struggle, lie ■was subsequently returned in the institution.

Ftr.TtlKU TAXATION RF.Af ISSIOX. AI.'CKI.AND, Feb. 2d. The prospect of fui tiler taxation remissions tliis year is assured. -Vlr .Massey stated to-night; that he intends to submit, to .Parliament next session measures in. that direcion. Probably they will take the foim of a eorsolidating measure. The extent of the prospective remissions is not yet determined, but MY .Massey hopes to make the concessions as substantial as the financial eirtuinstances "ill permit. XKAV ALLA'. AUCKLAND, Feb. 2-j. Mr Afas.xOy lias announced the appointment to the Upper House of Sir F. Kang. He was formerly Speaker of the House. Air Massey states the appointment will he gazetted in a few days.