DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[DY TELEGRAPH —rEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FORTUNE TELLING. \V OAIA N COXY ICTED. CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. As the result of her prophecy that a police matron would receive an offer of marriage from an elderly man. Airs Laird, 1-1, Lawson Street, Sydenham, was charged at the .Magistrate’s Court, yesterday morning, with having undertaken to tell fortunes. I The defendant, who was represented by Air Cuthhert, pleaded guilty. Alis.s K. Al’Cormaek, a police matron, said that she had visited Airs Laird's house and had been given a reading. After cutting a pack of cards she was told that she would he successful, and would have a happy time in two years. She then was asked to gusto into a crystal. The defendant told her that she would receive an offer of marriage from an elderly man, and would be well-ad-vised to accept it. Air Cuthhert in asking for leniency for his client, said that, there wore extarordinary financial circumstances in her home. Her husband, a delicate man, earned an average of 30s a week, and there was a family of nine children to maintain, the eldest being fourteen years of age. The woman honestly believed that she had power to read the future through cards. “But that,” said .Mr Cuthhert, "is not considered an excuse, although Airs Laird thinks

it one.” The Bench (.Messrs F. 11. Christian and J. 11. Koagor. J.B.'s) convicted her and ordered her to pay costs. Airs Laird collapsed outside the court room. REMANDED. NEW ULYAIOUTII. Dee. I. Archibald Gray. Health Inspector at. Fltham. appeared at the .Magistrate's Court, charged with the murder of his -on at Lltliam on Nov. 2fith. The police applied for a remand to Eltliam hi Dee. Bth.. when ii is expected they will he ready to proceed. The remand was granted.

ANGLICAN NATIVE DIOCESE. WELLINGTON. Dee. 3. The General Synod of the Anglican Church, now sitting al Wellington, lias practically accomplished the work for which it was specially concern'd. V Bishop to the Maori race is now assured, and a synodical organisation has been created. The headquarters, of the new Maori diocese is lo be To Aide. .MAN'S SENSATIONAL FALL. AUCKLAND. Dec. 2. In company with a number of friends. G. W. Wild, an instructor unitor the Department of Agriculture, ascended a steep hill at Oliiwa on Sunday to get a view over the harbour. They came to a difficult place which one lady got over safely. Wild, however, missed his looting, and fell down a shoe it drop of about 30ft, and then twice over further drops. landing eventually about 200 ft away.

Ilis companion hurried for help and secured the services of .Messrs Burton and Burret, who hastened to the spot. They found Wild imconseinus, and with great dilficutlv managed lo got him to the ear ft?o yards away. He was taken at once to Opoiiki Hospital, where an examination revealed that one of his legs was broken ;c ; e the knee. There wore also severe abrasions to his head and Imd.v. Wild recovered eon--eioiisnoss before reaching the hospital, hut was very weak, lie is now doing as well as can he expected. lie is considered to have had a miraculous escape from being killed at the first drop. ASSAULTED Ills FATHER. YOUNG MAN FINED. (I I R IST( 'll U RCII, December 3. A young man. who disliked the manlier in which his father came into the home, pul a " half-nelson “ on him and asked his sister to open the dour. I'h.e parent was then hustled out to the street. That was the son’s day, but in the .Magistrate’s Court, yesterday the father had his. for he .summoned the son lor assalilt. The father was represented by Air iliimiii, at id Mr liaslatu appeared i'or defendant.

Messrs .). 11. Seager and F. 11. Christian, J.P.’s were on the Bench, and they suppressed defendant’s name. 'I he father said that lie was living away from his wife, but he owned the house where his wile ami children were living. One night he came along to the home to see how the gardener had been doing his work. He went inside and the son asked him where the lie was going Y Before he knew what had happened he had been gripped by the defendant and his arm was screwedbehind bis back. He was then bustled outside.

Tim son said that his father came into the house in a bad temper and used foul language. Then he "liecanKiiot under the collar,” and was .-(bout to strike witness when he seized his father’s wrist and put him outside.

The lloneli said that both sides might have been to blame, but there was no excuse for the son’s harsh treatment of his father. A fine of 20s was imposed.

ASSAULTED POLICE SERGEANT. CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. 3. A sailor from H..M.S. Dunedin, who resented the attention that a police sergeant paid to one of his comrades, sctrilck the police officer and was fined 20s for the offence. The resented one. Leslie Lawrence, aged 19. pleaded not guilty to a oharge of having assaulted Sergeant AY. If. Almond in the execution of his duty. Sergeant Almond said that he was on duty in High Street on Tuesday night when he saw four sailors coining towards him. One of them moved a “Keep to the Left” sign, and he went over and asked the man who had moved it to replace it where it had stood. Lawrence then c-ame over and hit witness in the ribs. Lawrence, wbo said be was neither drunk nor sober, could not remember what had happened. John R. Trombntli, a telegraphist on H.M.S. Dunedin, said he had bumped the sign as he passed by it. The sergeant and constable came along and asked him to move it hack. Lawrence “chipped in,” and asked. “What’s the charge against Trembath ?” He stepped back in fighting atitude, but did not strike. The next tiling he knew was that Lawrence was being bundled into a taxi.

The Bench held the accused to lie guilty and convicted him. £SO FOB COMPENSATION. CHRTSTCHUROII. Dee. 4. Victor Slater, a motorist, who annealed at the Mairistrute’s (’nm-t before Mr Young, S.M., was ordered, as part of his sentence on a negligent driving charge, to pay £SO compensation, to Dorothy Osborne, a young woman, who was injured in a" accident caused through Slater’s negligence. He was fined £2 for driving a ear without a license. This is the first time tl-at this new penalty lias been enforced in Christchurch. This new penalty is provided for in the Motor A'ehieles Act. and the Magistrate said he would impose it in all similar cases. He advised motorists to get insured.

A PRESENTATION. WELLINGTON, December 5. A banquet was given to Mr Field, M.P. for Otaki, and his wife, at which Hons. Coates and McLeod were pres-

ent. Presentations were made to botli guests in recognition of Air Field’s twenty-five years of political service. Ah- Coatee took the occasion to make a few remarks on the political situation. He admitted cautious expenditure was virtually necessary, commensurate with urgent development works. No Government was more keen to help the man who did manual labour. Equal rights for everyone was the honest aim of the Government. They knew the temperament of the people of New Zealand would not stand for class legislation. It must be a fair deal for all. The Prime Alinistcr alluded to the Locarno Pact with which the Dominion was in full accord, as a move in the direction of the world’s happiness and paid a tribute to Sir A. Chamberlain’s share in bringing it about.

DOWNPOUR AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDTX. Dee. 4. After a downpour in Dunedin throughout the day, the weather cleared this evening, and the indications are that good wpother will he experienced for the Forbury Trots and outdoor sports to-morrow. ANAESTHETIC DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH. Dee. 4. A verdict that death, was d>— to heart failure, caused b.v septicaemia and acute inflammation of the right •shoulder, and accelerated by ether administered for the purpose of a necessary operation, was returned at the inquest on William Domrahl AlePhee. aged 15 years, by the Coroner. The hoy died in Christchurch Hospital on November 27th while under an anaesthet ie.

MINER’S SUDDEN DEATH. DUNEDIN. Dee. I. James Hay. aged about 05. died suddenly at Ilis residence. Needle Street. Kaitangata, at 7.15 to-night. He worked all day in the mines. returning homo about 3 p.ni. and at 7o'eloek lie complained of pains in the chest, and went to lie down, hut collapsed and died suddenly. Dr L. Spencer Daniell is prepared to give a certificate as to the cause of death, ami an inquest probably will not he necessary.

'FLOODS IN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH. Dee. I. A nor-v.est gale yesterday melted the snow on the ranges, and as there was a torrential downpour during the night, the Waimakarir liver is in heavy llood. It has broken its north hank at Clarkville. near Kaiapoi. and it is thought the Hood will he the worst experienced lor many years ill the Clarkville Contis Island locality. Stock has had to he removed: ii is feared extensive damage will In' done lo cereal and hay crops. The main north road is impassable and the Railway Department has had 1 i attach carriages to goods trains to < n;;l |n people in reach Christchurch trout country districts.