DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

11V TELEGIIArU — riIESS ASSN'., COI’VRIGUT. a'.SKIMOI’S offence. SEW J'lA'MOliTJf, Oecemhcr 12. _ A verdict of guilty on the first two of tile six counts on which he wus indieted was returned hy the ,iurv against •Samuel Percy .liilian. of Tikorangi. in the Supreme Court to-day, the verdict being with respect to charges of incest with his eldest daughter. Owing to the refusal of three other daughters to give evidence against the father on the other four counts, the Crown Prosecutor said the Crown would not ask for a decision on these charges, and the jury, at the request of Mr .Justice McCregor. before whom the trial was conducted, returned a formal verdict of not guilty with respect to them. Julian was remanded for sentence.

.icin' dtsaghf.es. NEW PLYMOUTH. Dee. 12. At the Supreme Court to-day. Heaton Clyde Durges*, a. chemist's assistant belonging to Stratford, was charged with having unlawfully used an instrument. The jury disagreed and a new trial was ordered. Accused was granted bail. REVALUATION WANTED. EX-SOLDIERS’ FARMS. DUNEDIN*. December 12. Three representative humors from Gladhrnok and Poplar waited on the Minister of Lands to ask that civilian settlers who have taken over Crown leases that were given up by returned soldiers should be granted the benefits of the revaluation such as the soldiers would have enjoyed if they liad retained possession. The deputation represented ton settlors. The Minister said that the Uuul Act provided that a settler had to go on for- three years before getting a revaluation. Me knew the difficulties and was svm pathetic, but the law was explicit. lie had no power to do anything in the present ease, lie could not understand how practical men had taken on the soldiers’ burden if they did not think they could make a success of it. lie would not introduce legislation to benefit only a section of 21.000 Crown settlers. Probably Hje chief trouble in this ease was that the farms were too small. Unfortunately that was found all over New Zealand, and the reduction to soldiers was going to make it more difficult for civilians to enlarge their holdings. RAILWAY CHOPPING FATALITY. CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. 1-t. A level crossing smash, resulting in the death of two men. occurred at Hurnhum last night. Duncan Stewart, of Cheviot, and Edward Reeves, of Christchurch, were travelling over a crossing at ail ordinary pace on a motor cycle and side car, when the south express, travelling at IF* miles per hour, dashed into them. Reeves was hurled over a fence. Stewart was literally torn to pieces, having been carried on the engine for about 200 yards. The cycle and side car were converted into a mass of unrecognisable iron, being thrown in the air, and dropped some distance down the line. Stewart was killed instantaneously. Reeves was picked up unconscious, and died in tlio Christchurch Hospital later.