DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—riIKSS A CBN , COrrftlGUT. A MCI! DEI! CHARGE; DFXEDIX, Doe. 27. At the Police Court this morning. Philip Gordon Sutherland, aged 21. was charged with the murder of John James Ryan, aged .VI. the charge arising from the street affray on Tuesday night, as the alleged result of which Ryan died at the hospital. When a remand "as asked for. Mr White, counsel for the accused, asked for bail, characterising the affair as a street affray with an unfortunate ending, stating the murder charge in the circumstances was simply of judicial force.

The Chief Detective said the Coroner stated that the allegation was that deceased accidentally humped into the accused and apologised, the accused nevertheless knocking hint down and kicking him. Moreover, the elder brother of the accused made a statement to the police taking the blame on himself, this being no doubt a ruse to enable the accused to get awav. Bail was refused. DROWXT.XG KATA I.ITT ES. INVERCARGILL. Dee. 29. A girl. Mary McKenzie, aged It. and Andrew Sands. 22. residing at Hedgohope. disappeared oil Dec. L’ltli. A search was made in various parts of the district. Their bodies were found on Sundav evening in Dunsdale stream near Iledgehope. Gordon Martin, twenty, while bathing in Orcti river at Dipton on Sunday was drowned, lie (lived into a hole fourteen feet deep and failed to come to the surface. When the body was recovered life was extinct. The cause of death was heart failure. CUSTOMS AXI) BI.OI'SES. WEI.LIXGTOX. Dec. 29. OHiccr (’. Galley seized over £lO9 worth of silk Mouses alleged to he undeclared by a man and bis wife, who had just arrived from Melbourne by the Sloeraki. It appears that the Iversons concerned had landed their luggage from the vessel and it is alleged they were asked b.v a Customs ollicial whether they had anything dutiable in tbeir luggage. They omitted to declare the silk Mouses w’lich are new. Customs ollieer Galley searched their luggage an,i belongings and found the Mouses which were thereupon seized. The incident may lead to a prosecution. MAX J I’M PS OVER WHARF. WEI.LIXGTOX, December 27. A man. whose identity is not known approached two men talking in the Lamhton Wharf last night and who:: within fifteen yards of them exclaimed, “Here goes!” and jumped into the water. One man scrambled for the stranger but could not locate ! ’.i.. nor could police who subsequently searched with grappling irons.

YOUTH DROWXED. DUXEDIX, December 29. The police are advised that Stanley Donnies, aged IS, ol Ralcliitlia. van drowned while surf bathing at Poit Molynettx yesterday. YOUXG GIRL DROWXED. WIIAGARKI, December 2>. Da pi May .laraliovitch. aged ten, who was unable to swim, slip nod into a deep water bole in a creek bed near Marsdon Point on Saturday afternoon. An attempted rescue l,v a girl companion failed. T lie inquest verdict was accidental death. FIR ES AT lIUXTI.Y. AUCKLAND. December 23. A lire at lluntl.v at midnight on Snturdav dcstrnved the lluntl.v Pies hvterinii Church and three dwe’-nngs owned bv the Taupiri Coal Coy. "ilh their contents. The lire started tn a house nml confectionarv shop occupm. |,v E. Webb, who with his wife and faiuilv, were staving at Hamilton. The lire also enveloped two two-room-ed dwellings occupied hv 11. Sninli and W. Haves who lived above, quichlv destroying them. The Bin.. ore was removed from the Church bcluie it (insj'lit tin*. |