DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

I BY TILSORAPB —PBEBB ASBN., COPYRIOHT. PICNIC TRAGEDY. TAUBANGA, Nov. 2. An accident at Mntnkana Island resulted in the drowining of one Maori. It was a tragic end to a native picnic yesterday. After tli,liner, eight natives left one part of the island for another, and had to cross a wide deep channel, nearly a mile wide* at high tide. Except the deceased, the party were all young, between 9 ami 20. A small dinghy, six feet six: inches was used to make two trips. On returning about six o’clock the whole parly crowded into the cockleshell. . The wind was against them, and tilie tide was making with a choppy sea. About half way across some alarm was felt as to tho safety of the craft, and two agreed to get. out and swim. In doing so Hie limit capsized, but did not sink. Deceased struck out for the shore, but failed to reach it. Two girls clung to the boat, a native- lad. Hipirini, 17 years of age. succeeded in undressing, and took a rope in bis teeth, and after a half-hour struggle towed the boat to shallow water. All three were much exhausted.

A man from the shore, William Wright, meantime got out to HiripinL and got tile three ashore. Another occupant. Tini Tnwhiti. sixteen years of aye. pluckily saved bis brother, aged II years, after a long swim with the lad mi one arm. Two othzr girls. who were in the hunt, good swimmers, swain islmre. The body lias not been recovered .

THE NATIONALIST LEADER. CHRISTCHURCH. N"v. A. Mr G. W. Unrlx's. the Nationalist

lender. addressed a Inrt'v and chi Imsinst ic audience in t li»‘ Caledoni;tn j

Hall last evening, condemning the Reform Party's finance and land policy,, and urging the formation of a national Government, which is vitally n.e•essarv. A motion was carried ■ niously to that effect. SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, Nov. 3. At the Supreme Court, the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty te> charges of theft and forgery against \uhrey l.eigli Middlemiss, when lie wan> clerk of Pukekolie Post Office. The ■barge was flint ho converted a deposit'll' C2O by a. Maori, which it was alleged the accused had put to his mm use, and which it was stated had been repaid, but which statement was denied hy the Maori. The Postmaster denied that the Maori had over made ally complaint to him and several wit nesses gave evidence as to accusedV good character.

Three young men. Ernest John Enisling, James Harold O'Brien and Gustav Henry Henson, who were sentenced last week to five years’ imprisonment, and declared habitual criminals for a -cries of burglaries, were yesterday oil i charge of escaping from lawful cu*iody. by breaking out of a cell at tin* ■mlice station, sentenced to twelve Mouths’ i in|'risenment to be concurrent litli the sentences now being served.

DRUNKEN MOTORIST FINED £SO. AUCKLAND. Nov. 3. At the Police Court. Joseph Beale, 'god 12, pleaded guilty to a charge of eing intoxicated while in charge of n motor car. The evidence showed the lel'ctidant's car collided with a tramway pole, knocked down a man and shifted a water trough eighteen feet ■which was an indication of excessive peed. The injured man L in the hos oital and lie is progressing satisfactorily. .Mr Hunt. S ,M. imposed a line of £SO and costs, cr two months’ gaol. Beale’s license being cancelled for 12 months.

BOOKMAKER KIN El). R A EMERSION N.. November 3. Alfred Granville Shearsby, who, last, week, was fined one hundred pounds • n a charge of using a residence as a. , oniinou gaming house, was chargee l Ibis morning with publishing double arils mi the Wellington races. Tho moused pleaded guilty and was lined CIO and costs.