DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEORAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] .MINE TRAGEDY. ]•’ U R TIIEIt P A R TIC U LA R S. DUNEDIN. January 23. In connection with the mine accident, the portion of the mine in which the tragedy occurred had been closed down on account of fire since the holidays. It is understood the management have decided to block up the shaft at a depth of 10 feet. The shaft was divid-

ed into two by wooden partitions.. A large quantity of gravel was put down one shaft and the two men concerned went down to break the dividing wall, allowing the gravel to pour through one. portion of the shaft to the other. They successfully broke the wall, hut when the gravel commenced to move, the wall above came down and buried them. Thi.s occurred just before -I o’clock yesterday afternoon. Rescue work commenced at once, but was necessarily slow only four men being able to work abreast. They were reached at 2.30 this morning. Jordon was found buried to bis neck in gravel, quite uninjured. He was got out at 4 this morning. McGowan had apparently been jammed by timber and was found to have been crushed to death. It was too risky to attempt then to extricate the corpse lest the whole fabric >oi - lapsed. This risk was, of course, taken for the living mail. It may be possible to extricate the body by nigat. DUNEDIN, January 23. The Superintendent of Police lias received the following telegram from Kaitaugata this morning:-—James Ale(lowan, aged 53. single, and David Jordan, were buried by a fall ol earth in a shaft in Taratu mine at -I p.m. yestrday. Jordan was saved uninjured but McGowan was killed. The body lias not been recovered. Expect to recover it to-night. CROQUET. CHRISTCHURCH, January 23. The Dominion croquet tournament continues in line weather. Handicap doubles second round, Airs U. AA'atkins and 11. P. Stratton heat Airs Tladlield and Mrs .McCullough 2fi to 9. Handicap single, first round, Mrs .McDowell i.Wellington) heat Airs Aiaidreu 23 to 23.

Third round. Airs K. A. Johnston beat .Mrs Porthwick bv delault. A PUNTER PUNTED. STRANGE COURT-CASE. INYERCARGILL, Jan. 23. A singular ease occupied the Court in which William Arthur Crighum claimed from A. \ . Whitta, f ni'istch urcli, tobacconist, the sum ol £32 lOs which was the amount of a cheque received from the defendant and cashed at lii.s shop, but- which was dishonoured by the hank. The plaintiff admitted tne cheque was payment, lor a bet, and said lie posted leu pounds on Llie winning horse to dclemlant. Counsel far the defendant said the case had arisen through a remarkable c oinridenre. .Another man ol the same name residing at Myndhani had made a lad of the same amount, and had won the same sum. I lie dividend was returned !>.v mistake to the defendant who resided at Otatara.

Tim .Magistrate: Von mean that, plaintiff received the cheque and made up a story about sending the money. Counsel: Acs. It was easy tor the plaintiff to invent the story as he bad all the particulars from, the earns. Me allege that plaintiff stole that cheque. Paiiitilf: I don't care what you allege. I posted the money and I i-m entitled to gel it back. The .Magistrate said the phiiutilF laid no grounds lor the claim and lie "as mm-suited. with costs £3. YOUNG LAI) KILLED. AY HANG A R El. Jan. 23. John Edward Mann. aged. 12 years, succumbed at the Wlmngarei hospital as (lie result "f ininries received ah Alaungakaiaiiiea. "hen a In;: was be l "!', blasted a pieio of Hying wood slriKing him. in U ■ 'end. A verdict of accidental death "as returned. EiRST CASE AT TAURAXGA. AY HANGAR El. Jan. 23. The first case of infantile paralysis here was reported yesterday, this being of a little girl of 2.1 years living at Mount Mauiigniuii. NEARLY DROWNED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 23. A.n unmarried woman named .Muurn was nearlv drowned while bathing at New Brighton this morning. She wan only resuscitated alter half an hour’s work by her rescuers.