DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

fBY TELEGRAPH PER PREBB ASSOCIATION.} ' ELECTRICAL STORM. HASTINGS, Jan. 2. A violent and dazzlingly brilliant electrical disturbance visited Hastings just after midnight on New Year’s day. Coming from the south in blinding flashes and deafening thunder it seemed to spend its fury on the town, culminating in hurtling a large globe of fire across the sky, which changed night to noon and hurst with a terrific report causing much alarm and extinguishing the town electric lights. Soon after the storm sped out to sea. No serious damage is reported.

WELLINGTON'S YEARLY RAINFALL. WELLINGTON, Jan. 2. Notwithstanding an excessively wet winter Wellington’s rainfall for the year was only 52.17 inches or 4.08 above the average. The early part of the year and last two months were comparatively dry. TWO CHILDREN INJURED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 2. Betty Calvert, aged ten. had her leg broken and Victor Kelly, aged sixteen, was injured in the head when a seat collapsed on a lorry carrying a picnic party returning to Retono last evening.' The lorry swerved, displacing the seat and the two children were thrown on to the road with the result mentioned. They are now in the hospital at Wellington. WELLIN'*ITON’S WINTRY WEATHERWELLINGTON, Jan. 2. Wintry weather prevails again today. There was heavy rain in the night and it is now raining at intervals with the sun .showing occassionally. AYELLTNGTON CUSTOMS REVENUE. AYELLINGTON. Jan. 2. The Customs revenue collected here during the year totalled £2,400,192. an increase of £30,375. Beer duty was £55,368, a decrease of £4,971. AYAIHI SLTCTI DE. WAIHI, Jan. 2. (Mrs McGrath, aged 41, wife of a gati, died yesterday as the result of poisoning, self administered. COLLISIONS AVITfI CARS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 3. Donald Bell, with his son. was returning home, on Sunday night in a motor cycle and sidecar, when they were struck by a car. Both were admitted to the Iwispital. Bell's leg was fractured, while the sou suffered from shock.

Norman Marshall, aged 11, wliilo riding a bicycle, collided with a motor car at Lower Jlutt, and died from his injuries.

BATHING DANGERS. AYELLINGTON, Jail. 3. Heavy seas wore running in l.vall Bay to-day and they trapped many bathers. The Lyall Bay and Maranui Surf Clubs were instrumental in effecting nine separate rescues, though some of the bathers were in a serious condition, all were eventually brought round. OIL LAUNCH 'DESTROYEI). WAIHI, Jan. 3. During Live holidays, an oil launch, owned by AY. 11. Ross, was destroyed by (ire in Whangamata harbour. A party was starting out on a. voyage when tiie engine back-fired. An effort to extinguish the subsequent lire failed. tiie craft ultimately sinking in ten feet of water. .Meanwhile the parly got ashore safely.