DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

committed for. trial. WELLINGTON, June 4. The licensed Joseph Barnes was committed. for trial on the charge of murdering Walter J. Wliall in Bouleott Street.

IN ERUPTION

NAPIER, June 4. The Hawke’s Bay ‘-Herald’s" Taup« correspondent telegraphs that Alt. Ngaruahoe resumed activities at 2.40 this afternoon, emitting large volumes of smoke following a frosty night. The air is clear, and the view- exceedingly good at sunset. The summit'of the volcano and Alt. Ruapehu also were completely shrouded by smoke which stretched a distance of over DO miles across the southern and eastern sky. The snow on the lower nothern edge of Ngaruahoe has commenced to melt. CHILD DROWNED. NAPIER, .June 4. A child named Allen Wilkinson, 3] years old was drowned in the Ngaruaroro River at Clive this afternoon. The child’s grandmother and mother made brave efforts at rescue, and both, also a man who went to their assistance narrowly escaped, and were taken out in an exhausted condition. The body of the child was recovered later.

COAL HULK FIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, June 5

A fire on a coal hulk caused some excitement at Lyttelton this morning hut the brigade after half an hour’s fight subdued the flames, saving a large quantity of coal.

COMMITTED FOR TRTAL. WF.ILLTNGTOX. .Tune 5,

A young farmer. Parlano Ross Walker, has boon committed for trial on a charge of attempting to defraud tho Crown. The case, as outlined by the Crown Prosecutor, was that the accused. a farmer near Marlon, obtained advances from the Crown for the purpose of growing crops and gave a lien to the Grown. Ho sold the crops, paid up an account and the following datums arrested oil hoard the Corinthio with a third class ticket and L‘Bo in his possession. For ihe accused it was contended that the Crown had no right to use the Court as a collecting agency, the debt not- being due I ill November this year. There was no evidence to show that Walker was not going to return to New Zealand after he had married in England. The Magistrate, however, considered the case must go to a Jury. Albert G. Maddock. a clerk employed hv Smith and Smith. Culm Street, pleaded guilty to defalcations of £BSO and was committed for sentence. MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD. NEW ROADS FDR NORTH ISLAND. WELLINGTON. June 5. The Main Highways Board has approved of a number of road work-, in the North Island. The principal ones arc:--A bitumen highway from Vt'nikanae to Tokoinaru. ol 40 miles, width IHl't.. com £118.00') to which the Board and local :mthor:t!i*s pay hall cadi. The work vill lake three years. The next work, in order of value, is (\\ miles of concrete paving from Oakley Greek to Henderson, width I SIT. cost £00,01)0. and a period of two years to complete.

THE R.S.A

.MEMBERSHIP AND FUNDS

FALLING

WELLINGTON, June A. At the annual meeting of the local lira licit of the R.S.A. stress was laid .... the lamentable falling oil' in memhership. Finn/daily, the pir-ilion had got> woise and worse and only profit-. Irom rents keut things going. "I he~e would he .severely cut into Io carry on. One member said the dismal lari was the Digger did not support his Association. In a discussion on the Poppy Day Fund it was allege I that while We’dillgwm and Cliri sleliimh were following the ruling of Die liviid Association, Auckland and Dunedin did not allocate their stipulated quota to the headquarter's fund.

INDECENT ASSAI L’!' (Tl \KGK. CISRISTCIII’IH .11, J one A. Walter John Chamberlain, 22 years f age. was arrested and charged with ndecelit assault on a woman yesterday.

It* was remanded, hail being relused. The police described the case as a erv bad one.

attempted arson*

WAIM ATE, June A,

Two attempts at setting fire to the Y.W.O.A. Girls’ hostel were discovered on the King’s birthday by the nuitron. Miss Ifarelay. wTTo had oeeasion ‘la visit a room upstairs which had heen unused for several months. She found the place ablaze. The curtains were incinerated ami wallpaper just catching.

Aii inspection was then made of the ,lidding and in another room blank*ts were found scorched, apparently Hatches being held beneath, hut the gnitiuii was too slow, when the pellet rat or removed operations to the ipstairs room. No motive is advanced or the attempts.

A SERUM'S Cll ARCH

WELLINGTON, June. A

At the police Court to-day Margaret Roberts alias Madame Azucena, was committed for trial on a charge of alleged unlawful use of nil instrument on a young woman with intent to procure abortion.

ACCIDENT TO S.S. PAKETTA

DFNEDIN. June 3

Wuon the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Pakehn. 780!) tons, was berthing at Bluff to-day. in about 22ft of water, she struck some obstruction itt the channel and started to make water in the No 2 hold, which was full of coal. Possibly the vessel will hare to come to Port Chalmers to discharge her coal and go into dry dock for examination. Lloyd’s surveyor. Mr A . J. Crawford, will leave to-morrow morning to decide what is to he done. TNYERG.VRGTT.Ty. .Tune 3.

The accident to the steamer Pakehn happened when entering Bluff harbour. The captain felt a slight hump and the vessel later was found to he leaking slightlv. No cargo is lieing loaded until a full examination has heen made. The vessel was drawing twenty-one feet of water at the time.

Harbour Board officials state that there is plenty of water and that there are no rocks in the harbour. It is thought that perhaps the Pakehn bit a floating obstruction.