DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH—rFII I’ItESS ASSOCIATION

FELL INTO HOT Olf

BLENHEIM, July 21

A mishap attended with fatal consequences occurred late on Saturday afternoon at To Awaiti whaling station, Omen Charlotte Sound. A young Maori named J. Shadrack, married with three children, slipped into a boiling down vat while skimming whale oil. The oil was still scalding hot though it had been cooling for 21

hours. Shadrack was immersed to the armpits. He was conveyed to Picton Hospital in a fast whaling launch, but expired yesterday alternoofi at three o'clock.

SNOW IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, July 20. After a night of heavy rain and sleet, snow fell steadily in Olirisv church this morning. Work had to la; xtopi ed at Lyttelton wharves.

BENZINE EXPLOSION

YU.TJI DIES FROM INJURIES.

NELSON, July 21. Prior to being-relieved at the Motucka telephone exchange about two yesterday morning, Gilbert Everett, aged eighteen, a son of Mr 1.. Everett, of Motueka, went to the shed for some benzine to lill the benzine table lamp when an explosion occurred. 11. G. McPherson who was com ing on duty rushed to the scene, and found .Everett's clothes on lire, lie wrapped him in a coat to extinguish the Haines and then rushed to ring up Dr. Deck. Meanwhile Everett disappeared, turning up at the doctor's. Considering the excessive burns it i.s marvellous how he got there. He was taken to the cottage hospital where lie lied early this morning.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. ■CAR-TEUTON, July 21. There was excitement at Cross Creek early yesterday morning. A middle-aged man named Steve Cairns, married, "itli wife and family living in Wellington, who occupied a oneroomed wlmre at the back of the engine shed, was awakened by excessive neat and found the room ablaze Egress by the door was impossible anil lie bad tu break the glass and wriggle through a very small window. In doing so lie was badly burned, bis Iceland legs being also severely cut by the glass. The engine whistle sounded the alarm. The whale was destroyed with all effects. Cairns was later admitted to the (freytown hospital.

.METHYLATED SPIRIT YltflUM. CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. “He killed himself by drinking methylated spirits,” was the Coroner's verdict at the inquest on Hercules Hunter, aged oil. labourer, who was found dead behind the Southern Cross Hotel.