DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AN INQUEST. CH I! ISTCH I'RCH, July 2. At the inquest on .James AA'ard, who was electrocuted this morning, .James AA'illiams Uoskings, a boilermaker, employed by tlie Lyttelton Harbour Board, said that when he was going to catch the morning train to work, he noticed a bicycle on AA'ard's liodv lying on the footpath.

“I came across tlie road at an angle.” said witness. " and when I got within six feet of him I got a nasty shock that turned me right round.” AA'itness went to a Mr Scott, and got him tn ling up the police and the Electricity Denari incut, and later be waited to warn people who were using the road. AA'heu be came back be found that all tlie high tension wires were down, and blue flames were emanating from thorn for tlie length of the street. A tree mol evidently

brought the wires down. (.lie of the wires was iutichiiig the head of the hndv at intervals, and another one, which witness had stepped on. was on the ground. It appeared to witness Hint AA'ard had touched the wire and fallen on his linek. If witness bad walked straight across tlie road, lie would prolinlilv have been electrocuted as well.

Speaking of lb- shock he received, witness said:—-“it was the hardest kick I ever got in mv life. 1 didn’t know whether it was a tree that fell on me. or what.’” The Coroner said that witness deserved to be commended for what lie ilad done. The Coroner remarked thin high tension wires on a wet morning were highly dangerous things. lie did not know the exact voltage, but il bad been sufficiently powerful to cause death. Finler the eirrumstanres il was a particularly dcploiable accident. A healthv young man bad been cut down outside bis gate, and lie had left a. wife and three children. He would find that death was caused by an electric shock', due to Ward coming into accidental contact with the electrical lighi wires, which had been brought down by a tree over-, night. FLOODS AT ASH BFRTON. ASHBI'R TON. .July 3. A sudden change of temperature after a heavy fail of snow resulted ir. the rivers rising rapidly, and overflowing their banks. Lbe area under water ■icing greater than in the December Hood, which was the heaviest for over forty years. The AsiiJ >ii r tr>n river is now overflnwng the main South Road at the i rat ie bridge, which has not been the ease ireviously. Alany roads are iin passable.

Though farmers in many < ases removed their stock' from the danger points heavy losses are feared.

AST I BFRTON RIVER ()YER FLOATS. ASITBLRTOX. .July 3. The Ashburton river cvorllowed on to the main south load for the first, time on record. All I radio lias been stopped to obviate the danger from a wash-out as the road is a built up one DOAYX TOO LS R EQFEST. WHANGAREI. July 3. AA’orkerx engaged in repairing the railway tunnel at W’aikickie held a stop-work meeting on Wednesday night and decided to ask the union oflieiais to interview the ongineer-in-eharge and ascertain Lite reason lor til ■ dismissal of a tunnel employee. All hands are downing tools meant one. Serious development •• are urn expected as there are laities of Hie parties concerned reaching a sat i-.iaetofy arrangement. EXPRESS FIYF IfOl’RS I.ATE. Cl f 1! IXTCf I FROM, July 3. Owing to the wash-out Hie Midland express from Oreymouih did not gel past Springfield yesterday. Two hundred yards of the line had given way and passengers were tmilsferred by litis to A limit- and caught an emergency train, arriving in { hrislchnrch five hours behind schedule. T.MERI RIVER DROPPING nr.NKorx. .July 3 The flood threat appears to be over, 'flic Taieri river is down one font al 011 tram and two feet- at Middlemaroh. The trains have been resinned to Otago Centra! where the engines were derailed by fallen rock. A short deviation has been made. The Alnunt Aliaii-Outrain train is cur out. Si]LAYYX BRIDGE DAAI AGED. CHRISTC II FRCIi, July 3. The approach to the traffic bridge over tlie Selwyn al Ellesmere lias been washed away and many residents have left their houses. RAIN DAAI AGE. Cl I R ISTCII FRCII, .July 3. AA’hile heavy damage has been done in the country, Christchurch City will have to pay a thousand ill repairs to the streets as the result of what the eitv engineer described as “ extraordinary rain.” If the weather is fine the Council employees will work al! day to-morrow although it. is the hallholiday.

SOLICITOR STR l’( K OFF. WELLINGTON. July 3

The Court of Appeal in a considered judgment, hold tnut Lionel Lancelot Hitchings should bo struck oil the roll. The t hief .1 list ice stated he was virtnsi 11v a criminal on probation and as such could not remain on the roll. The Court would not give ail opinion as to the position on any applications tor readmission at some later date. RAILAGE OF HOAD AI ETA L. WAIPAWA. July 3. Air .lull (President of the Counties Association) stales the proposals in the new railway tariff concerning increased freights on road metal for local bodies, will infill the subject of discussion between the Railway Board and executive of the Counties Association on Tuesday next. Ibis feature in tlm tariff" is a much greater increase on the haulage of road metal for the use on roads competing with ihc railways. BRIDGE I) AAtAG KD. ni.ENHKI.AI. July 3. Heavv ram has tallen all nvei the district for the past week and the rivers are much swollen. I here is no risk of floods so far. Part of the northern end of the approach to the AVairau Bridge, on the Blenheim-Xel-son road, was washed out last night, also one tier of piles in the actual structure. The bridge had been closed for repairs for six weeks and was only reopened last night. Now. ot course, it is again closed. BLKXHEIAr-CH. CH. ROUTE. BLEXHEIAL July 3The approach to the Hapuki bridge on the Blenheim-Txaikoura road lias boon washed away. The Blenheim-Christehureh mail will he interrupted for some time. FARM INSTRUCTOR "WANTED. AA'AIAfATE. July 3. A largely attended farm school passed a resolution requesting the appointment of an agricultural instructor for South Canterbury.