DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

uy TKi.r.on.u'H — mess assn., cbi'Yiucirr. KPiiEVDox burglaky. CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. Carefully removing the leadlight in the front door of the home of Airs .). Thompson, Jo, Aylmer Street, Spre.v(i'on, thieves gained admittance on .Monday and later decamped "ith jewellery to the value of over £2OO. It is thought that more than one man is concerned in the crime. The dwelling is occupied by Alts Thompson and .Mrs Sarah Holt. Airs Molt was until recently licensee of the Snndridgo Hotel, Sydenham. ’Hie occupants were absent from the house between midday and 1 p.m. and it was sometime during this peViod that the' burglars made their visit. On returning home, the first (intimation Airs Thompson received that the house hud been broken into was the discovery that a portion of a small leadlight had been removed. Tlie thieves had carried out their work in a aimer that showed them, to lie masters of their ‘'profession.” The metal joints in the glass were carefully chiselled away until the glass was free, and then several pieces of it were removed.

This daring opera!inn was performed in full view of neighbours and passersby, and the burglars managed to carry out their purpose undisturbed. The glass panel removed, there was little difficulty in tinning the lock in the front door and gaining entrance to the house. The thieves mad” a vow systematic search of 1 lie premises, all the rooms being visited and cuphoards and chests being ransacked diligeuUv.

That it wits jewellery alone that the bitrgnlrs were after "'as shown by the fact that many other- valuables of r tlili'errnt mituie were left undisturbed. A watch had no doubt, been kept on tlie premises for several days in order to inquire some knowledge of the occupants' movements.

DFAI) IX A WIIARF asiibfrtox. .lime 17. The cimimstniieos surrounding Hip deatli el' Frank Butcher. who wn.s foitiul (lend in a wliare at Seafield yesterday morning. were iii(|uiretl into this morning. and an inquest was held liy tlie Coroner (Air .1. Cow). A letter to relatives in England, and slips of paper found in the lied of the wliare wen* handed in by Constable ’White. Witness said that lie interviewed Butcher at Xewlands on April Kith, lie gave his name as Frank Butcher, and said that lie had been locked no only once. Questioned further. Butcher had given the reason for (his as “Oh! only a family squabble.” He would say no more about it. From marks under the left eve. and tiie general appearance of deceased, witness was certain that he was identical with Frank Whiting Butcher, convicted at Kaikohe, on duly 18th. 1923. for attempted suicide. From notes found on deceased, his signature was “I''. W. Butcher.” Yesterday witness went to the farm of dames Bruce at Sea field, and found deeceased in a hut. lying on his back on the Moor with a rope round his neck This was fastened round with a slip knot Jle was tlinn dead. The inquest was adjourned. AIAXAWATC SHOW GROFXD PAI.-AlFllfsTOX X.. June 17. The Alanwatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association proposes to hold it queen carnival in September with the object of raising £u()(K> towards the cost of extensive improvements to the show grounds, which will make them the first in the Dominion. The estimated cost of the whole scheme is k'BI.-C-K) and it is considered that the extensions in view will provide ample accommodation for all time. Included in the plan, which was inaugurated by Air .1. Al. Johnston, the veteran treasurer of the association, is provision for a trotting course, motor track, three football and athletic areas, and a motor building.

P.ACKCOrBSK To DAIBY FA BAT AITKI-ANP. June 17.

Whew the mortgagee made tip* first and only hid of £•!:!'>.) at the public auction sale of the defunct Alorrinsvillo Racing Club’s property a year ago. it was little thought how rapidly the racecourse property would ho transformed into a well appointed dairy farm.

The property, consisting of ninetythree and a-lialf acres, would have made an admirable racecourse. An almost perfectly flat racing track could have been selected to leave plenty of room for buildings, while ‘‘the bill” at Filer-lie could not have been as popular to the ‘‘outside” patrons as the shade belt oT trees alongside the Pinko River would have h-en on the Alorrinsviilc course. But now the dreams of flying flags, cheering cro’.ul.s and prancing horses have faded. The racecourse is now merely a farm, hut more profitable to the community as such, it might Ik* contended l>v the producers, than as the racing enthusiasts intended it to he.

As good a racecourse as this property would have been, it makes a hotter dairy farm.

doing well. It is undernood that there were no other patients in the Home at tho time. The Assistant ATedioal Officer tit Auckland. Dr J. Boyd, states the Home was closed oh Tuesday and the Department is taking all precautions* Gases of puerperal .septicaemia tit Kelvin Home last year resulted in the institution being closed until the end of January last. The Royal Commission, of which Air F. Karl was Chairman, held an exhaustive inquiry into the occurrences. OAAtARU BURGLARIES. OAAIAUU. June 18. Two clothiers shops of 11. Grenfell and C. C'ook. were broken into last night. Booty evidently was not the object of the intruder as the only thing missing was an overcoat from Grenfells, evidently selected after trying on a number of others.