DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1925, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. DEATH FROM INJURIES. WESTPORT, January 2G. All inquest was held this morning, concerning tbe death of Joshua Oldham, of Burnetts’ Face, who died on Saturday as the result of a premature explosion of dynamite on the river bank. The deceased lost an eye and both hands and walked over a mile to secure assistance. A verdict of accidentally killed by a premature explosion was returned. FIREMEN RETURN. CHRISTCHURCH, January 2G. The Waikouaiti’s firemen, with one exception, returned aboard this morning and the vessel is expected to sail this afternoon. POST OFFICE BURGLED. TAUMARUNUI, January 24. Between Saturday night and Monday morning the Taumarunui Post Office was broken into and letters removed from the counter but no inforlilr ation is available from tbe authorities. Tbe matter is in the hands of tho police. ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM. OFFENCE AT TEMUKA. TIMARU, January 24. Ralmond Walker, alias A\ alter Scott, a young man aged twenty-two, appeared before Ur E. I). Mosley, -S.M., at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court this morning charged with being found by night without lawful excuse on tbe premises of Janies M’Donald, Teinuka, and also with wilfully attempting to set fire to a wooden shed valued at 2200, tbe property of James M’Donald. Sergcat Divan (Temuka) conducted the proceedings for the police. Accused pleaded guilty to tbe first

charge. Giving evidence in respect of the second charge, James M’Donald, licensee of tbe Crown Hotel, Temuka. stated that he was the owner of a shed situated in High Street. The building which was insured for C2OO. was leased to Mr James Craig. Defendant had 110 right in the yard on the night ill question .

James Herbert Craig, wool and skin buyer, Temuka, stated that lie bad leased a shed in High Street from Janies M’Donald. He bad rabbit and sheep skins and a few oddments of wool in the shed, the value of which lie estimated to be between :CSO and ,€(iO. None of tbe contents was iusuicd. Witness did not know accused personally.

William. 11. MacMillan, stationmaster at Temuka, stated that be knew accused. On Sunday night, Jan. IS, be bad occasion to visit the residence of tbe postmaster, this was about 5.40 p.m. On his way there he met Constable Southwartli who accompanied him as far as Gabite’s Corner. Accused passed them at the corner. A few minutes later witness saw what appeared to bo a fire at the rear of Mr .MacDonalds’ building. Witness rejoined the constable, who made investigations. Beckoned by the constable, witness went along to the spot where some rubbish was burning and together they stamped the fire out. Later they again encountered accused to whom the constable spoke. The rubbish heap consisted of old sacks and limber, it was less than two loot awa.v from the platform at the rear of Unbuilding and bad the outbreak not been noticed might possibly have endangered the building. John Southwortli. police constable, stationed at Temuka, give evidence similar to the previous witness. Referring to bis interview, witness said lie asked accused if he bail been on the premises, and lie received a reply in the affirmative. Accused later said : “ 1 did not do what you think I did. I did not light tbe tire. lon will have a job to pioic it." Subsequently at the police station accused made a statement, which lie signed, to the elfeet that he bad gone to the yard and bad lit a heap of rubbish. He could give no reason for bis fiction. Accused, who did not desire to give evidence on his own behalf, pleaded guilty and was committed to tbe Supreme Court at Timaru for sentence. The charge of being found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of Mr M’Donald was adjourned to February 7. A “ GHOST” HUNT. AUCKLAND, January 23.

A ghost mystery which has been attached to Opotiki for some time, has at last been cleared lip. On a recent night several residents were terrorised by the attentions of an alleged visitor from another world, and popular feeling was running pretty high. Several parties were out nightly hut failed to discover the night wanderer, and it fell to the lot of ATr fl. I{. "Warrington to ‘‘accomplish the trick.” Mis attention was drawn to a "tap-tap-tap ”on a window pane. Then followed a sound as if the glass were being scratched with a nail. Mr Warrington waited a minute or two when the sounds were repeated ; then he got up quietly, picked up a double-barrelled gun, and opened the door, quickly shouting, “ Hands up.” The “ghost” was trapped, an in an effective and dramatic manner.

The person who has occasioned all the trouble is a Native girl who hails from Torero. When interviewed by the police she could or would not give any reason for her extraordinary conduct.

COSTLY RACING. A BANKRUPT’S FXPFBIFXCF. AUCKLAND, January 23. Horse-racing is an expensive game, as a Hamilton bankrupt found to his cost —also some unsecured creditors, to the tune of about £‘s9o. Bankrupt, a young man named Lendrick Grant Smith, was asked a number of questions at a meeting held at the office of the Official Assignee (Mr W. S. Fisher), Auckland. According to his statement, bankrupt was formerly in the carrying business in Hamilton, and sold out in

1922, being left with a surplus of about £3OO. He then bought a steeplechaser called Gayboy and started racing, but found it unprofitable. Out of ten starts lie got one first and three thirds. After the horse was seized to satisfy a bill of sale for £IOO bankrupt had borriwed, he got a £4OO second-hand motor-car on time payment to start a service between I’utaruru and the hydro-electric dam works at Arapuni, but the work not starting when he anticipated he lost money, and the car went back to the owners. Bankrupt said he had no assets at the present time.

In answer to questions by the Official Assignee and counsel for creditors the bankrupt said he ran Gayboy for about twelve months. Racing was an expensive game, and he reckoned it cost him £4O every time he started the horse.

Taking into account the fact that bankrupt said he had £3OO surplus when he sold out of the carrying business, that he had incurred nearly £6OO debts, that lie had won about £2OO in stakes, and had other takings, the Official Assignee pointed out that bankrupt had in about two years gone, back to the extent of over £IOOO, “which,” added Mr Fisher significantly, “is pretty good!” ,

As there was mot a quorum of creditors present the meeting could not pass any resolution, and was adjourned sine die. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. DUNEDIN, January 2G. At the Sutherland murder trial, further evidence was given b.y eye-wit-nesses of tbe alleged occurrence, and an unsigned statement was produced by the police, in which the accused stated that lie remembered little or nothing of wliat had happened. He remembered having a fight with a man, but be could not recall the details. He did not remember kicking anyone. Accused, who reserved bis defence was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. YACHTING. AUCKLAND, January 2G. Th Cornwell Cup presented for competition among “Z” Class I design boats, was won by Auckland, with 3 wins, and Wellington and Otago with one race each. DEATH FOLLOWS A BLOW. AUCKLAND, January 20. Robert Whitten, aged 66, was charged at tbe Police Court to-day with the nvuislaughtr of John Barley, aged ■63. Witnesses state that they saw the accused strike Barley, while one stated that Barley made a move as if to detain accused, and then the accuse*, struck Bariev 011 the chin. Barley fell on his back, striking the back of bis bead on the footpath. He was taken to the hospital where lie died three weeks later. • In a statement to the Chief Detective accused said be was in the bai ot an hotel, but was not drinking with deceased. whom be had known for thirty years. On bis leaving tho hotel, lie mot Barley, and hit him with the back of Ihis Hand. Barley fjhen fell <>ll the footpath. He admitted that Barley gave no provocation. He was committed for trial.