DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TFJ.EOKAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. A.S.R.S. RESOLUTION. NO CONFIDENCE IN “EXECUTIVE. AUCKLAND, May 14 The local Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants at a mass meeting resoltitioued no confidence in the executive council and its officers owing to their inability to carry oil under such favourable circumstances and that it was not the men but the Executive Council who had cold feet.

FOUND GUILTY OF .MANSLAUGHTER. AUCKLAND, May 1-f John Andrew Fox, a taxi-driver, was found guilty of the manslaughter „f Constable Ronald Todd, on tiie 14th of November while returning from Papakurn in the early morning when the ear collided with a Chinaman’s cart, Todd being killed instantly. Sentence was deferred. RAILWAY CLERK’S ALLEGED forgery. WELLINGTON, May 11. A railway clerk, Victor Rocho Bond, was before the Magistrate’s Court today on charges of forging two cheques for £l2 each. The cheques were passed on hotel-keepers. The cheques were

supposed to he signed by D. Scott, of Scott and Martiiidale, who gave evidence that the signatures were not Ids. The Chief Detective said the body of the cheques wore type-written and export evidence will lie-called to show that the type on the cheques was identical with that on the machine used by accused at the office. Application was made for suppression of the name ol accused, owing to his occupying a position of trust in the Department, and lie had a good war service, rising from Sergt. to Captain, and had been wounded three times. The application was refused and the ease adjourned tor a week.

AN INTERESTING DIARY. FOUND ON PRISONER. AUCKLAND. May 13. Peacefully sleeping under sacks at the rear of a shop in Victoria Street West, a young man, believed to he the burglar chased by a man from Craftou I Paid to Government House grounds, and who was also chased by a woman from n house in TVmsonlvy. was surprised and captured shortly after midnight last night by a constable. Hie prisoner gave the name of George Johnson and his ago as eighteen years, but his explanations of who and what lie was by no means satisfied the police. Mlion he came before Air Boynton. S.AI.j to-day, application for adjournment was made by the police, who stated that among the mail’s possessions were a sheath knife and torch, r-s well as two watches, a gold ring, a pair of opera glasses, two pairs of boxing gloves and two overcoats. Johnson was accordingly remanded 'till next Tuesday and was handl'd over to acting detective Moon, who very soon had reason to believe that lie had charge of James Raymond Slattery, who escaped from Weraroa Training Farm, near Levin, on February “2. lasi.

A most interesting diary wns found on prisoner with dates, numbers of various houses and names of various streets anil (daces in it. and notes on them. A certain place in Ponsnnh.v was marked “Nothing doing.” Another place was accompanied by a note, “Collected 22,” or some such sum, and there were a number of sim-'ii comments. “Got caught by a girl but did a bunk,” was a remark pencilled in tbe diary about olio plate. After an interview with the detective the prisoner made a statement which lie signed as Slattery and on which he is booked to appear next time, charged with a number of burglaries in Auckland, mostly in Ponsonhy.

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, M«.v 13

Air Massey states that lie has received from the ship-breaker.- who purchased the battle-cruiser New Zealand, a cheque for £20,000. The money is to he handed over to Ihe British Government as a contribution towards the debt extinction fund in connection w ith the repayment of Hie cost of the gift battleship. The term of that fund has about live or six years to run.

LADY athletes. WELLINGTON. May 13

Mr A. ('. Kftto. chairman of the AVollington Centre of the Amateur Athletic Association, has taken up the cudgels on behalf of lady athletes, the pm. (.rietry of whose action in competing ill sprint races and travelling with representative teams was questioned at a meeting of the X.Z.A.A. Jn a letter to the Wellington Con Ire he said he would ho lacking in his duty in ihe ladies' amateur athletic clubs of Now Zealand if he did not in iso a protest against Afr Davies’s statement at a recent meeting. TTis remaiks threw a stigma on ladies’ organisations throughout New Zealand, and he should he asked to withdraw. Afomhcrs did not think that Mr Davies meant anything derogatory, hut was speaking against the prim-ip!’ <

the tiling. Alter discussion, the following mo--1 ion was carried—“ That this centre desires to draw the New Zealand Council's attention to the fact that the motion regarding tho inclusion of ladies' events in the New Zealand championship meeting wr,s advanced ai a meeting of direct, representatives of centres throughout the. Dominion and is. therefore, deserving of serious consideration from tho council. Further, a delegate's remarks concerning girl athletes travelling with representative teams might he open to misinterpretation. An explanation is therefore desirable.”

STRANDED lAIAIIORANT. A REMARKABLE STORY*. PALMERSTON X.. May 13. An unusual set of circumstances was revealed in the 'Magistrate’s Court when an engineer was sued for rent.

Counsel for defendant said his client came out from England as an immigrant, believing that a position ns gasworks manager at Nelson awaited him. The New Zealand Government representatives in England had not made any inquiries regarding the question of the position lining really available when defendant made application for a passage as an immigrant. When defendant arrived in the Dominion, to his surprise and horror he found the gasworks people at Nelson knew nothing at all about the position. Defendant then was stranded with his wife, without funds and friends, and had to do the best lie could by getting odd jobs, lie had a personal interview with Air Massey, and the Government was paying his expenses to England, whither lie will sail from Auckland next month. The summons for renl_ had been sent to the Government in an endeavour to secure assistance. No rcnlv had yet been received.

His Worship; Has Mr ATassey made himself responsible for that' also? Judgment was given for the claim, and an order was made' for possession of tho premises. .

SHOOTING GALLERY ACCIDENT. AUCKLAND, May 14. William Lydinrd, aged 43, was shot in the chest at Hazard’s shooting gallery on Saturday evening. FARMER’S WIFE KILLED. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 14. Ivy Fraser, aged 3U, wife of A. J. Fraser, sliarctnilker, near Rahotu, was found dead alongside tho engine of The milking machine with the head terribly injured and a wound on one leg. It is thought sho was attempting to draw water from the tank over the engine, when sho tripped and fell on tins fly wheel or shaft of the engine. Deceased leaves two children.

.MOTOR ACCIDENTS. AUCKLAND, May 14. William James Morley, 53, a resident of Mount Eden was killed instantly as the result of being run over by a loaded lorry He was driving the lorry and lust his balance falling in front of a wheel. He leaves a widow and thre 0 grown-up children. Afrs Aim French., 52, died : n the hospital to-night ns a result of injuries received through being run down bj a motor-car at Birkenhead l?st evening. She was rendered unconscious and sustained a broken leg and head injuries.

SENSATION A h RENA WA V. BLEXIIKIAI. Mav 13

What is probably the most sensation:'! runaway ever seen in Blenheim, occurred this afternoon in the centre of the town. It was performed by three horses attached to a lorry. The turnout, which belongs to Martin and Co., "as standing unattended in Queen street, and the horses taking fright, it is said, at the sight of a company of college cadets on the inarch, bolted up the street at full gallop, scattering I'r,-lest l inns in. all directions. After cannoning off a motor ear standing near the Post ‘Office, the team <-oniinued its niad career and finally charged into and clean through the plate glass window of Air F. AY. Adams’s cycle shop smashing it to fragments and damaged a considerable amount of stock in ihe window. The lorry was practically wrecked. The horses were extricated from the debris with nfiicli difficulty. Two of them were considerably cut about. The motor, which was owned by Air (!. W. .Mills, of the Bristol Piano Co., Wellington, who is visiting Blenheim, "as much damaged. one wheel being completely smashed. The incident caused much excitement.