DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

STEAMER’S CLOSE CALL

AUCKLAND, April 8

The Port, Augusta arrived to-night from England. On her voyage to Philadelphia she encountered such heavy gales that she. was extremely lucky to reach that port. The dead weight of the seas threatened to swamp her. For several days the seaman, clinging to lifelines, made good the broken hatches and other damage done. For fiife days and night, Captain Kippers paced the bridge, without seeing his hunk. Many times the ship lurched sideways at an angle of 15 degrees. Her cargo was one of clay. It shifted and threw the vessel heavily to starboard. Then the crew worked for hours frantically shovelling it hack.

| Then forty miles, from port, the ship’s coal gave out. The bulkheads and dunnage wood were used for fuel. The vessel just managed to reach port. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. WELLINGTON. April 9. A young man, Alan Douii Balloon, aged 28. pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to receiving fraudulently, by means of forgery and issuing valueless cheques, money and goods to the total value of C3G 9s. Balloon was committed for .sentenc-o. Amoco the exploits said to lie attempted by the I accused was representing himself ns a friend of Sir Joseph Ward.

THE OXFORD DEBATERS. WELLINGTON. April C

The Oxford Debating team appeared for the second time before a Wellington audience when it Look part last night in :m argument on the motion: "That this House approves of the principle ol prohibition in relation to the liquor trades. The affirmative was taken by AL .McCormick (Victoria College). M. .MacDonald (Oxford Union), and W. P. Rollings (Victoria College), and the negative by Al. C. Hollis (Oxford Union), S. E. Bniune (Victoria College), and J. D. Woodruffe (Oxford Union). On being put to the house the motion was carried by an oven I el‘ iing majority.

DRUG ADDICT’S DEATH. AUCKLAND. April 9. Thomas Billclilfe, about sixty years, died at Waitcmatn Hotel last night following the use of a hypodermic syringe charged with heroin. BillelfTc eceived a visit from a friend, George Parker, 21, both being known as drug iddicts, having served a term at Ratoon Island. At Bilb lilfe's request Bar-

er gave the former two injections, iillelill'e was soon fast asleep. Rarer left the hotel, anil returning found lilleliffe fast asleep. He. undressed

him and jrt.it him lo lied. At dinner time he called Billclilfe Imt failed to arouse him. Becoming alarmed he I called in the police who sent for a doctor who pronounced the man dead. Barker was taken to the poliie station. He bad in bis possession various bottles containing various drugs and several syringes. Deceased was a cook, recently employed at the ('real Harrier. TOWN CLERK SACKED HAMILTON. Aprl 9 The Borough Council decided last night to dispense with the services of IC. Davey. Town Clerk, and give him I three months salary. The matter rise out of a letter circularised by Davey. making allegations against Councillors, following a. report by an investigation Committee advocating the appointment of a comptroller. Davey was asked to withdraw, hut refused, with the above result.

OAALVRU MURDER. OAAfARU, April 9

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning Reginald Hoad, the perpetrator of the Kiora tragedy (barged with attempted (suicide elected to he dealt with at the Supreme Court.

The inquest on the victim is proceeding after which I load will he formally charged with murder.