DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. ACCIDENT TO COLEMAN. PALMERSTON N., Jan. 21. A narrow escape from death was experienced this morning hy Percy Coleman, the racing motorist and aviator, at the commencement of an aeroplane llight at Ashhurst where lie was to compete at the motor sports. He crashed to earth with his machine, sustaining cuts and other injuries to his his lace and mouth. Eye-witnesses of the accident say the machine left the shed at Alilsons’ Line and ran along the paddock to take off. The aeroplane rose from the ground to about twenty feet and then crashed through the telegraph and electric supply wires. The machine nose-dived and fell to earth. .Coleman was assisted to a near-by house and then taken to town to a doctor. His injuries are not severe enough for hospital treatment.

SAMPLING A CASK OF WINE. WATERSIDE R S CHARGED. AUCKLAND, January 21. At the Police Court, live wnfersiders, John Bailey, Henry Thornton, Sainsbury, Victor Nugent, John Alfred Horspool and George AVynn were charged with theft of a gallon of wine from a shed on the wharf after its discharge from the steamer Tckoa. Detective At’Hiigh stated that he was on the look-out for pillage in the shed, when he saw Horspool stooping ovef the wine cask. Horspool then went out and returned with Nugent Each went to the cask on a number of occasions, while the other was loft to watch. One one occasion Nugent brought Hailey. There were more alternate visits to the cask. AVynn visited it on one occasion and Sr.inshuiy twice. Later witness examined the cask and found a small hole in the top. From the actions of accused lie assumed they were drinking. All defendants denied the charge.

The Afagistratc decided that accused went to the cask for the purpose of tasting the contents. The law made no allowance for human weakness, and this was like a schoolboy escapade. There was no evidence that accused had broached the cask. One having discovered it, the others took a sip. None was taken away in vessels. The ends of justice would he met by dismissing the ease as trivial and ordering the accused to pay costs. STATE ADVANCES. WELLINGTON, January 21. The latest official figures available show that, during the last 21 months, the sum of £9,020,000 has been paid over hy the Stale Advances Office to 10,28-1 borrowers. The amount of the loans authorised in the same period was £.11,714,597 to 12,723 applicants. It is considered that this indicates the extent to which tbc operations of the office are serving to meet any trouble which might arise through the lifting ‘of the moratorium, which expires this year. NO RETURNS OF TNCOAIE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 22. James S. Langford was charged with having faded to make returns of income for tax purposes in 1922. There were similar charges in respect- of the years 1923 and 1024. Air Wilding appeared for. defendant ami Slated that the facts were admitted.

William Copeland, inspector for the Land and Income Tax Department, said that defendant had not sent in any returns in 1922 or 1923. Last year he did not, make a rcliini, hut a default assessment was made, and then ilefenOanl sent a return. In 1922 and 1923 default assessments were made, and defendant paid the two lots of taxes together. Defendant was formerly omplnved hy the Iti inu Dredge Company, and at present was manager ot the National Electrical Company in Christchurch. , , , To Mr Wilding: There had been some correspondence with defendant on the question as to whether defendant had not paid too lUlleh. To Air Brown: Defendant had actually paid more tax than if .he had sent in a return. . , Air Wilding said that clelendant bail paid £4O too much and it was a question whether lie lmd any redress. ’I here was no suggestion ot an attempt to t.ofra'ud. and in the circumstances he suggested that the ease might he met by an order to pay costs. The Alagistrato said that the Act Used the minimum penalty at £2. and therefore he could not accede to counsel's request. Defendant would he lined £2 ami costs Cl 8s on each charge.

OBEY POWER- BOARD. TENDER ACCEPTED. GPEYAIOUTiI, January 23. The Grey Power Board went into committee for a considerable tune last night for the purpose of considering tenders for the erection of a steam plant at Dobson. __ The tender of Hie National Electrical Enginearing'Company, of Christchurch. at £21.011 10s was accepted. The other tenders received were Burns and Co.. £26.072 (exclusive of erection of certain sections).. Creeushiolds and Co., £27,200. British General Electric Company £28.356 10s.

A D. Pilev aiul Co., £29,381. \ $ Patterson and Co., £30,1/9. .Metropolitan Vickers, Ltd., £30,3/1. In all. eighteen tenders were received. hut a number wove informal. The work is to he completed m nine months. From a total of nineteen applications the Grev Power Board appointed Air Joseph T.ithgow, of Christchurch, Engineer to Hie Board. Air Litligow at present holds tnc position, of City Electrical Engineer, Christchurch, having succeeded the former Engineer. Mr E. E. Starke, oil his resigning in March. 1920. He tvas first appointed to Hie staff m .<».'• 1013 as Assistant City Electrical Engineer. and was engaged upon the desi.ni and laying-out of a suitable system to lie used in connection with the Government’s Lake Coleridge supply, then under construction.

QUESTION OF RAILWAY sK:NAILING. WELLINGTON, January ‘l2. Charles Paulsen was charged at I pner Hutt yesterday with manslaughter 1U connection with the death of Dennis Sullivan, who died m hospital n= the result- of being jammed hetween the door of a truck and the gate of a stockyard during shunting operations. The evidence chiefly concerned the stop signal given to the driver of the train, which hacked on to the truck at which deceased was working. Accused signalled a tram to come on by extending the arm and waving a hand and to stop by holding the arm extended with the hand still. Grei'L driver of the engine, did not see this stop signal; also that it was

not the regulation signal which was both arms held up. and he would not have observed it had he seen it. He also did not see the doors open, or he would have stopped regardless of signals. He said that no driver ill the district would have accepted accused’s signals, and he had never accepted them except once since the accident, and then under protest. Several other witnesses, including the stationmaster at the ljpper Hutt however, said that accused’s stop signal was regularly used and recognised at the Upper Hutt, and driver Greig acted on it. \ detective stated that, unknown to Greig lie had seen him act upon that signal. Magistrate Walker, stating that Greig should have seen that the doors were open, dismissed the charge against Paulsen.