DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

nv TKLEGIt.VrtI—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT,

nautical inquiry. WELLINGTON. June .80

M lien mooring to her berth in Hlulf Harbour on June IJrd. the Shaw Saville liner I’akeha. touched, and damaged one ol her plates. A nautical inquiry was opened to-day, the Court consisting ol Mr Riddel. S.M.. and Captains V. . Barron and Rollons, who pointed out that the Bluff Harbour Hoard was nut represented at the hearing, hut counsel for the Shaw Saville Company objected to the proceedings being adjourned on this account.. 'J'ho vessel was already about fourteen days late, and it win Imped she would be able to sail to-morrow.

The Chairman said the inquire should have been held earlier. However. the taking of evidence would he proceeded with, and io the meantime the Rilill Harbour Coal'd might he asked it it desired to lie represented. Captain William Clifton Nogg, Captain ol the l’akelia, said the steamer arrived at BluiT at 0.80 a.in. on June —t**l. drawing 21) feet !) inches forward, and Jilt. Bin. aft. Tile pilot came aboard, and suggested anchoring, hut witness thought ibis fhardly worth while, in view of the fact that it was only necessary to (wait until 7 a.m. They drifted about till 7.11 when the boat was he-'iilcd for the south channel.. li was almost ebb tide. At 7..'i hath engines were slow. A minute later, when the snip hail altered her coarse oil to the last line of beacons, she was felt to strike. Witness said to the pilot: “She lias struck!" He replied: “ft is impossible. She is right in line with the beacons.” Witness verified this by sending the third offi<cr to get the hearings. When the vessel struck, witness experienced a grinding sensation, and concluded she had passed over a rock. Witness reported to the Ila rlxlur Muster. The vessel began to make water. He went down and discovered fractures of one of ‘lie plates under Xu II hold.

BIG A.MV CHARGE. AUCKLAND. June 80. At the Police Court at Auckland, a negro, named .Archie Walter .Taylor, alias Janies Arthur Pollard, aged 85. at present serving live years’ imprisonment for theft, was charged with bigamy. It was alleged that he marlied Alice May Spry, at Collingwood. in Melbourne, on Oct. 7tli. 1912. and at Wellington on Jnniinrv 21st. |<)I0, he went through the form of marriage with Annie Elizabeth Mitclieli. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. I Til E I.O.SmES. AUCKLAND. June 80. The lire loss in Auckland metropolitan area for the twelve months ended yesterday totalled £89.981), compared with toS.O-lfi for the previous corresponding period. The total risk in buildings and contents concerned was £B4 1,758. compared with £20(1.277 for the previous year. The alarms numbered 2.8,’’, an increase of sixty. The tires numbered 120, compared with 12ft lor the previous year. \VELLINGTON'S WEATHER. WELLINGTON, July 1.

Y\ eliington is enjoying a remarkably line winter. So far the rainfall has been much below the average and Hie weather for the pa.-t fortnight has been mild like that of spring, with a notable absence of cold winds.