DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TII.EOKAPB—PHEBB A*BN , COPTRIOHT. PINNED UNDER ’BUS. THAMES, December 28. The postmaster at Paletongn, Mr Tf. Robertson, sustained injuries through a ’bus skidding and going over n fifteen feet bank while returning from, the Auckland races. The driver and another passenger were thrown clear, but Mr Robertson was pinned under the vehicle. TWO MEN POISONED. WANGANUI. Dec. 29. After spending Ninas Day and Boxing Day in the city two men employed on Mr C. Conner’s farm at Raorikia. fifteen miles up the Wanganui River, were suffering from headaches. They looked round for medicine, and found powders in an old waistcoat. These they agreed, were what they wanted, hut it turned out to he strychnine. One man, William Davis, a widower, with two children stieeumlied within a minute, am tl the other man Thomas McGuire was taken to the hospital. His condition is not considered dangerous.

A CLOSE CALL. STRATFORD, Dee. 29

A lorry with, sixteen passengers returning from New Plymouth, narrowly escaped being smashed by a race special train The driver turned over the crossing. The lorry escaped :>y inches. Mr Then Skogluucl. a farmer, seeing the danger, took a flying leap. He landed on his head. He was removed to the hospital in a critical condition with a fractured skull. NO TRAM STRIKE. CHRISTCHURCH. Dee. 29. The trams will he running on New Year’s Day. An overwhelmingly majority of the employees have voted against a strike. It is stated that the knowledge that the Board has a waiting list of ahouL thirty men desirous of joining the service has had a steadying elfeet. RACING CYCLISTS INJURED. DUNEDIN. Dee. 29. Competing in the mile professional cycle championship on the Caledonian Ground yesterday afternoon. Clarence Parker (New Plymouth), aged ninetcoen years, and John Henderson (Christchurch), aged 22 years, met, with severe injuries, through falling from their bicycles. Parker is suffering from injuries to bus back and shoulder, while Henderson has injuries to his stomach and hip. The men were admitted to the Hospital at 4.10 p.lli. for treatment. IF was reported last night that the injuries to both the men wore not likely to prove if a serious nature.

CHILD DROWNED. WANGANUT. Dee. 29

A .Maori called at the Police Station this afternoon and- reported that •' half-caste child named Hyland, had been drowned in a bucket of water it a pah up the river. The police have gone out to investigate.

SACK STORE EIRE. AUCKLAND. Dee. 29

The City and Parnell Eire Brigades had a. strenuous time to-night in lighting a tiro in the sack stoic of J. Kcnnerly and Sons, in Parnell. The fire was located on tho upper portion of the building, in an inaccessible gable, in which a considerable amount- of sacking, twine, and jute was stored. An opening bad to iie cut under the caves in order to take a lead of hose to the seat ol i*lie o*ibreak. Late to-night men were still working at the buddiee. removing smouldering sacking. Ibo building mid contents are insured for £2.090 in the New Zealand and Queensland Instiranee Companies. RAT ANA’S HOME-COMING. WANGANUI. Dec. 28. The welcome home to Ratana and oarty was on this occasion shorn of a good deal of the glamour associated with the 1921 returning home ceremony on account of the death of Ratana’s mother, which occurred in October. Nevertheless. Hie Maoris did not let the overseas party enter Hie pa without, those warm friendly greeting so characteristic of the race.

The party ar'rved in a special railway carriage, which was shunted off ar Ratana, and here the first part of the welcome look place. r l he party then ilia relied from the station gate, headed |, v the Ratana hand and orchestra and a number of sturdy warriors, the girls’ poi team and tile hoys' string hand, composed of pupils from Ratana School. The main welcome, in a large.

space opposite Rntana’s residence, was parti; ipa led in by a gathering of approximately 1090, and there were numerous addresses and songs. Many decorations appropriate to the occasion were also noticed.

The whole programme was well arranged and carried out to time-table. Tea was spread in the open, and everything was cleared up by sunset in readiness for the night programme, which included addresses and replies liv members of the party, who related many of their ex]>erieines while in America.

On Christmas Day there were more speeches and religious services. .Saturday was a free and easy day. in which games were indulged in, and the chief attraction in the evening was the screening of a film entitled “The Creation.”

Truckloads cf provisions have poured in by rail and motor lorry to feed tho multitude, and in order to expedite matters this year the Railway Department stationed a porter at Ratafia.

STR J. PARR’S FATHER. HAMILTON, Dee. 30. Reuben Parr, father of Sir James Parr, died at Waihon last night after a prolonged illness. He came to Waikato in 18G5 and first settled in Cambridge district and subsequently removed to Wnihou where Ik: had resided for nearly half a century. TWO SHOPS BURNT. BLENHEIM, Dee. 30. Two shops in the business quarter of the town were totally destroyed by fire this morning at 2.30. One was occupied by William Bateman (Cycle Dealer) and the other by Mervyn Patehett (Confectioner). Both were practically burnt out before the alarm was given. The Brigade made a 'Vmnrkable save of the adjoining buildings. The shops were owned hv .1. 15. Wayner and were insured for £375, including plate glass and fixtures lxith in Phoenix. Bateman’s stock was covered for £350 in Phoenix. Patehett s stock was insured for £GOO in the Prudential. The adjoining shops were owned hv S. Adams and Airs J. Hood, and were occupied by Mrs M. Seollard and E. N. Walton, both ladies outfitters. These were slightly damaged by smoke and water. Seollard s nsurances are not known but Walton s stock was insured for £3OO in the Sun Office. The damage is very slight. The outbreak started at the rear of Patehett’s shop and the origin is-un-known.

ADVENTISTS CONFERENCE. DANNEYIRKE. Dec. 30. The annual North Island camp and conference of the Seventh Day Adventists held their opening session last evening. The conference is being held in the A. and P. show ground which has been converted into a miniature canvas town, the delegates numbering about 500. being accommodated .in 150 tents, with living and dining quarters. Pastor W. R. Seragg (President of the conference) extended a welcome to the delegates who included Pastor O. Monteomry, (Vice-President of the general conference in charge of their denominational work in North Africa), Professor L. H. AVood (principal of Australian Missionary College) and Pastor W. J. Westerman (President of South Island conference). The conference lasts until January ItHh.

BIBLE CLASS CAMP. HAMILTON, Dec. 30. Ail Anglican Bible Class camp is being held here, there being about 150 delegates, representative of the whole of tho Dominion. Addresses have been given by well known clerics, including Archbishop Averill. SWIMMING. HAMILTON, Dee. 30. At the swimming sports Hamilton won the cup and the Club relay race. St. James (Christchurch) was second.

In the inter-Tsland relay race the north won, the aggregate points being:—Seniors, Hamilton 50, Timaru 14. Epsom 14, Christchurch (St James) 7; juniors, Christchurch (St Janies) ■l7. Pahintua 17, Epsom 9. Christchurch (St John’s) 8. Hamilton 3.

INQUEST ON STRYCHNINE VICTIY WANGANUI. December 30.

At the inquest on Win Davis who died on Thursday through taking strychnine in mistake for asperin, it was disclosed that deceased and his mate. Thomas McGuire, were suffering the after-effects of liquor and were in a bad way. They had hardly drank the contents of a gallon jar of yeast and were searching for something to relieve them when they found a bottle of strychnine in the vest. pocket of the acting manager for O’Connor, a farmer at: Raorikn. Tho hitter carried it about with him for safety, having taken it over from the previous manager. who left before ’Xmas. Davis died in a few minutes.

McGuire is making a comparatively good recovery. The acting manager liberally dosed him with salt and water until a doctor arrived.