DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

by TF.r.F.niurn —fisess isa.v., corvEicnT,

IJfKURANGI COAL STRIKE. WHANGAREf, June 10

The strike situation at the Wilson Collieries at Ilikurangi is unaltered. Fifty employees are affected. The other miners are working as usual. As tho pump bauds and firemen are included amongst the strikers there is a probability of the mine flooding, which would mean at least one week’s work in dewatering.

ENGINE CLEAN FI US DEATH. TIMARU, June 20,

A young man, Norman A. Gould, aged 22. died at noon to-day after being crushed by the cowcatcher of an engine in the cleaning sheds on Friday night. He was found by a fellow workman with the cowcatelier pressing against his head. Gould bail been in the cleaning pit against the lip of which his bead was crushed and it is not known how he was caught by the engine. He was unconscious when foulid and no cry was beard from him. He died without regaining consciousness.

ENGINEER KILLED. TIMARU, June 20 Ernest Lomond, aged .‘ls. married, and engineer tit the local brickworks, was pulling oir a belt on the engine in order to stop it sit noon to-day when, by some means, lie was caught in ’ho licit and twisted round the shaft. ll.s body was fearfully mutilated, it having to be cut from the .shafting.

£5.0110 CLAIMED. MERCHANTS V. BOOT FIRM. WELLINGTON. June 20 A libel ease was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day. Hart. Pcnlington. Ltd., Wellington, merchant!), claiming £SOOO damages from R. Hannah alul Co.. Wellington, boot and shoe manufacturers. A special jury was empanelled.

The action arose from an advertisement in the Evening I’ost" oil February I I, 1021, and in provincial papers about llre same lime, and from sale displays exhibited on deteudants’ shop windows. It was admitted that on January 12 last the plaintills agreed to sell to defendants the stock ot hoots and shoes then in plaint ill's’ warehuilse at landed cost, less 20 per cent except in the case of samples on which 25 per cent was to he allowed. Then plaintills alleged that there appeared an advertisement announcing a sweeping clearance, and stating that Hannah s had bought from plaintiffs at half-price lor cash £IO,OOO worth of boots and shoes. Notices to tlie same effect were it is alleged, placed on the shop windows. Plaintiffs claim that the advertisement and notices meant, and were understood to mean, that the plaintills were involved, or in financial difliciilty. and had been compelled to dispose of the boots and shoes. Defendants denied that the notices uero capable of the meaning alleged, or of any defamatory meaning. Plaintill'- claimed the notices were false and malicious, and dolondnnls said that they were in the usual course of business. in the honest belicl id their truth, and without malis. Counsel for plaintifls said only 12-5.11 D 15s hail been paid for tho stocks excluding the samples, which were a negligible quantity. Evidence is being taken.

CHARGE OF ABSCONDING. AUCKLAND, June 20

Augustus Gordon Roose. storekeeper, foliiicilv of Dargaville. was committed for trial oil two charges of absconding after the presentation ol a bankruptcy Ictitioti. ni.d two charges of concealment of property. Accused pleaded not guilty. GISRi >IiNK ASSAULT CASE. GISBORNE, June 2d. The case of the teacher, Mrs Ivy Bell Carr, against Lionel George Clare, merchant, fur £5020 damages for alleged criminal assault was continued today before Sir John Salnioud. and it common jury. Under examination, plainlill admitted that she went to the races the day a fie i the alleged assault. She did not inform the police nor call in a doctor. She admitted writing to a cook named Thompson, at l’ra.sortown, asking him lor £lO, hinting that she was going for a divorce. She .said belore the alleged assault that Thompson had hinted she should get a divorce. 'The defence alleged the case had been brought because money could not he got out of Clare. Tu the box, defendant admitted All's ('air was tit his home on two occasions when lii.s wife was away. He denied •ill her allegations of criminal assault. Tite case is not vet concluded.

R.O.f. CONFERENCE

WELLINGTON. June 2,

The members of the annual conference of the Railway (Hikers’ Institute were reteiveil a-* a deputation by .Messrs 11. W. Ah-Villy (General Alanngcr). and 11. 11. Sterling; (Assistant General .Manager). when matters nlTeelioo the First Division members of the .Railway .Service were freely and fully discussed.

Afr MeVilly cougratnlated the Conferot.ee oil the poiey of constitutional action ado) ted in connection with industrial disputes.

On resuming. the conference decided that tlte Kxpcutive Committee should continue negotiations on the (piestion of i lift eases in salaries.

The following oflieprs were elected: President. Air .T. R. Ruhertson (Petottel: Vice-Presidents: Ales.srs V. R. .f. Stanley (South Auckland). I\. Is. skinner (Auckland'. W. .]. Smith (North Canterbury): Executive Committee: Ale.ssrs Al. A anee, A. .T. Coleman. F. K. Hunt. A. N. Enlighten. E. W. Barnes. .7. Hayes. A. S. Henderson: Treasurer. ATr L. Barclay: Auditors: Afessrs 7r. Valentine and P. AT. .Muir.

Alcssrs Al. -T. Forbe and E. A\ illinnts, the retiring members of the Executive Committee did not seek re-election. The Conference then concluded. A PRESENTATION. WESTPORT. .Tune 2C> Ahr 1,. V. Carmine, secretary of the Bullet- Rugby Union for the past thirteen years, and one ot the selectors of the All Black team, who is under orders of transfer to Wanganui in the Rnihvnr service was last night inode the recipient of a wallet of notes from tlie stall', and later was entertained at a smoke concert hy the V» hite .Star Club. H was presented with a suit ease. To-day Mr Carmine is being tendered a public farewell social, and will be made the recipient ol handsome tokens of public esteem. Air Carmine is leaving for Wanganui on Afouday to tako up the position of Relieving Officer in the Railway service.

MAN DROWNS HIMSELF. CHRISTCHURCH, June 20

“I am sick of it. I would stand up against a post and let someone shoot at me.” Those were tho words which Charles Gimblett, whose body was found floating in the Eyre River with his throat cut, when he spoke to his son last week.

At the inquest held to-day evidence was given that Gimblett had been very depressed lately, probably due to family discord. The wife said the discord was due to Gimbiett’s drinking habits. The Coroner said the ease was it simple and sad one. A verdict was returned that Gimblett committed suicide by cutting his throat.

•STRONG COMMENT. WELLINGTON. Juno 27

Strong comment was made by tho Hospital Board on the action ol the Health Department in refusing to grant a subsidy to the radium fund. The Chairman said the Minister knew sill along what was being done. A deputation had waited on him and he himself had been in close touch with the Department till through. Now eight months had gone, by, and it was time tlie matter was settled. The Minister’s reply was a smoke screen to cover the Department’s long delay. Oilier members spoke of the Minister's action as a slap in the face and a breach of faith, and so on. Finally it was decided to get into communication with the Department.