DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

- [bs TFi.FOitAi'Ji —-run press association.] A LEOPARD ESCAPES. AUCKLAND, September 17. A .voting female leopard, which arrived last week from India for the Auckland Zoo has escaped from her ilon. It is lint yet known whether shits lying concealed ill the grounds, or .lots managed to pet out <u the Zoo enclosure. The aiiiimt! was not seen in Imr deii ■Yesterday afternoon, when the attendant visited it to feed her ami her mate, hut lilt it* notice wa> taken o! her non-appearance then. a- it was thought she was keeping out. ol sight. This morning it was dts* overall that she had disappeared trom the den, and a search of the grounds was immediately organised, hut without any success. Whether Ihe leopard has escaped from the precincts n! tue Zoo or not is not known, hut al a Into hour tonight, she had not been located.

HVI.I.ER railway vote. WESTPORT. September 17. Roller Progress League has wired the .Minister of .Public Works sta ting it strongly protest* against the -mall vote of L'30,1100 placed on the Estimate. for till'. llidler George Railway, as if would he advisable in national interests that, the great mineral resources of lhilt valley he made accessible without, delay, and also protesting against, tin- small vote for the West milt-(■ reymoiitli coastal road.

WESTPOin REEORXI ( AN Dl DATE. WESTPORT. Sept. 17. \t a targe and very enthusiast ir meeting of the Rciorm thirty to-night, Mr (.'. S. Beilhy, a mining engineer, and an ex-presideti! of the Butler Prooress League, was unanimously chosen •to contest tho Bullet- scat in Parliament in the Reform interests. In tho course of a speech, Mr Beilhy stated he would not deliver any political addresses until the tTo use rose, so ns not. to take any advantage of Mr Holland while thi’’ latter was engaged in his Parliamentary duties.

WHALING SEASON. BLENHEIM. Sept. 17. Torv Channel whaling station lias closed its operations for the present season with a. tally of 17 whales, compared with 55 secured last year. All this year’s whales wore oT the hump hack variety. The year was well up to the average, but it would have been hotter but for ihe continuous southwest weather, which interfered with operations. WESTPORT BIGAMY CASE. WESTPORT, Sept. 17. Having previously pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy. John Bennett appeared before Air Justice Reed, at the Supreme Court. AVcslport. to-dav for sentence. The case was adjourned for U months, on condition that Bennett makes an honest endeavour to obtain a. divorce from his lawful wife, and if sun-essfnl. marries the woman of the second “marriage” ; also that- he pays tip. ( - 1 s of the prosecution, within throe months.

PR ESS PROSECUTIONS. CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 17. During the Mount trial, at tho end of which Frederick Peter Mount was found guilt > of the crime of manslaughter. ami sentenced to a tong term of imprisonment-. Afr Justice Reed directed attention to two newspapers in the city for contempt of court. The offence alleged was in the publication in those papers of certain mailer in the account of the trial. Ihc Crown Prosecutor has taken appropriate action, and cases, unless the proceedings should for any reason he withdrawn, will probably come on for determination shortly. 'I lie usual procedure in such cases is by motion for attachment for alleged detention, and the motion is heard by a Judge alone. The penalty may lie a fine or imprisonment.