DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRICHT. MAORI LOVE TRAGEDY. AVHAKATAXE, February 10. A native named Joe Muliuki was ; found dead on Saturday afternoon at ' Waikerikeri, beyond Ruatoki, with a * gunshot wound in his chest. The deceased had been living with a n.iuve girl about a week and it preyed on hi-; mind when the stepfather took the g-rl away last Friday. Hearing n Hatur- ’ day that the girl had married another ■Maori the deceased obtained a non from his uncle’s home and shot I.’)•-.-self. The Coroner returned a verdict il.at deceased died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. THE FIRST BORN. CHRISTCHURCH, l-ebruu/y Hi. In reference to Saturday’s cablegram from Sydney announcing, the death of Mrs Alice Dilvey. claimed to be the first white horn in New Zealand, R. E. Kstall. of Sineydon writes to the “Star” stating that his mother, nee Harriet Wooldliam, should have that honour, being horn at To Aro flat, Wellington in 1840. MOTOR GARAGE BURNT. A UCKL-.VN D. Fell. 10. A fire at Tnrun. near Thames, on Saturday evening totally destroyed Chares Bedford’s motor garage on the main Hntiraki Road, and the contents including six motor ears. The damage is estimated at least at five thousand sterling. Bedford was in the Garage about 9.3(1 o'clock cleaning the petrol tank of his ear. He had as a light a portable electric lamp protected ' c. a v ire screen and connected .o a switch by a long cord. He placed the lamp on a box and was moving away alien he tripped over the ear causing vho lamp to fall and break. A loud explosion followed, presumably through the ignition of benzine. Bedford v.:i,s thrown forcibly through the devr .»• d by the time he recovered Irom the severe shock, the garage and contents were enveloped in flames. No water supply was available a.nd nothing could be done to chock the progress of the fire. It is understood all the property excepting one van was insured.

POLITICAL. AUCKLAND, Feh. 10. Mr L. A. Johnson of \\ hangarei has been chosen Cu represent tiie Reform Parly for Alanukaii electorate. RAID ON CHINESE. AUCKLAND, l-ob. IC. Cn Sunday night dctectivis 'raided premises near the Town Hall and arrested nine Chinese un gaming house charges. The raid was carried out quietly, and it is alleged the game of llai Chow was being played. The apparatus v.as seized by the police. Cheung Oak is being charged with keeping a common gaming house. .MESSAGE 1 ROM RICHARDSON. DUNEDIN, Eel). 10. Richardson cabled Ins parents at Dunedin that he broke his right leg ab.no l he noble, and is doing well. A SHUNTING ACCIDENT. AUCKLAND. Eeh. ,o. A shunting accident at I lein.l-.iS'in mi Saturday afternoon resulted in two passenger carriages breaking away lrom tiie train and falling over a OauK. while a third sustained damages. The carriages in their fall carried away a telegraph pole which fell across the main route, and Ihe delay caused disorganisation in the running ot trains. No one was in the train when the anident. occurred.

GUNNER FALLS OYER CLIFF. AUCKLAND, Eeh. Hi. Douglas Sea bo it rue, aged IS, at, gunnery practice at Fort Dalit ley steeped backward on the discharge of a gun. and fell forty feet on to the rocks, lie was admitted to the hospital with rather serious head injuries. MESSAGE TO UNION. WELLINGTON. Ecb. p; Tin N.Z If U. has received a me- ' m that Richardson Iraelured Ins right leg above the ankle at practice, and is progressing favourably. \ CYCLIST’S .MISHAP. WELLINGTON. Feh. Hi. In the 3-mile cycle championship on Saturday P. V. Robinson fell, and at, first it was thought that he was severely injured. He was removed lrom the ground on a stretcher and taken to the hospital, line later on it was found that his injuries were not really serious, and b.v Sunday nighL he was more or less recovered, and may lie able to leave the institution to-day. A SIM! EY DON EIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, Fell. Kb With scarcely time to gather a lew personal effects, a Spreydon family nail to make a hasty exit in their night attire from their home, which was destroyed by lire early on Sunday i.ri.'ning. The occupants were Mrs Smith and her four sons aged 19, 14, 7 :.nd 9. Mrs Smith was awakened at, midnight hv the roar of the tlaiues. and till’ll she hurriedly warned the others who rushed out of the house. The insurances on the house are £IBSO in the Alliamo Office. SIMP KIN SENTENCED. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. AUCKLAND, Fehruary l‘b James Simpkin, touiul.-sguilty oil Saturday of manslaughter in -espeet to the death of his wife, was sen'..meed bv Mr .Justice ilerdman to tmproonnient for life. His Honour said the jui v very nroperly rejected the deleave set' up founded upon disease of the mind, and took a merciful view that what Simpkin did was done m the heat of passion caused by - tdden provocation. "I don’t propose to add to your difficulties,” added his Honour ‘Kv making any comment upon youi action or upon the case. Only one | imishinent is possible for such a rune as von have committed. You will be imprisoned with hard labour for hie.” ADMITTED TO PROBATION. CHRISTCHURCH, February m. At the Sunronie Court, John Francis Madden, aged 19. .convicted of ieceiving large quantities of stolen cigarettes. was admitted to probation lotfive years under strict conditions.