DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH— PBESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. SERIOUS GUN ACCIDENT. TIMARU, January 8. A serious gun accident occurred at Pusey station, near Fairlie, on Wednesday afternoon, when a Christchurch lad Gavin Malcolmson, aged IG, was accidentally shot in the thigh. Malcolmson, who is a son of Mr R. G. Malcolmson, formerly a chemist in Timnru, was visiting Mrs F. II Buckley, owner of Pusey Stntion. On the day of the accident ho intended to go shooting accompanied by- a son of Mr Buckley and both hoys left the house at about 4 p.m. armed with a Winchester repeating rifle. Mr Buckley had given tlio hoys permission to go and had intended to accompany them. While in the garden near the homestead young Buckley inspected the rifle (which had just been previously used), with Malcolmson a few yards away. It appears that the trigger was interfered with in some way for the gun which had a cartridge in the magazine unknown to the boys, immediately went off, the bullet striking Malcolmson in the thigh. Ho was conveyed to the Fairlie Hospital where his condition for a time was reported to be critical. Later information, however, shows that the patient has rallied and that there is every chance of saving his leg and also of his making a. good recovery. They hov who had the gun when it exploded could not remember having pulled the trigger and it is unknown how the gun went off. It was fortunate that the injured hoy had some, cartridges in his pocket where the bullet struck him, these, no doubt, diverting the bullet down his leg.

DEPOSITS OF SLATE. OAMARTT, January 8. Among the mineral resources of North Otago, are large deposits of slate in the Otepopo district, which have not been exploited for some forty vears.

A [any years ago a company named the Otago Slate Company commenced what promised to develop into a considerable export trade of slate. One consignment to the Dunedin market consisted of 11,000 slates and at the time it was thought that this would he the precursor of many similar shipments. The slates in question, wore from extensive quarries opened up near Otepopo, forty men being employed, and the output being estimated at 12,000 slates weekly. However, the company controlling the quarries found itself unable to carry on and since that time the industry has been dormant.

The slate is of first-class quality and the re-opening of the quarries after a careful inspection had been made would no doubt prove profitable, according to an authority upon the subject. ft would ho difficult to overestimate the value of this important addition to the mineral resources of North Otago, more especially when there is reason to believe that the slate formation extends for some miles, specimens of excellent slate having been found in the immediate neighbourhood of Hampden. AVAR MEMORIAL. A DESIGN COMPETITION. WELLINGTON, January 8.

Conditions for the design competition I’oi Wellington’s war memorial have Leon drawn up. It is provided that the memorial shall he non-utili-tarian in character. The memorial shall ho faced fat least) with stone produced from New Zealand quarries. The exception to this may he sculpture and lablols, ole., in bronze. If Now Zealand marble is suggested it must he selected for freedom from prominent and unsightly markings. All materials must he of the most durable kind, ensuring the maximum of permanence and the construction must he sound and designed to resist earthquake shocks. The total cost of the memorial must not exceed £20,350, inclusive of lay-out. hut exclusive of architect’s commission. The prizes for host three designs are £250, CISO and CIOO.

Tho committee hopes Hint- tlio conditions wili result- in tlio production of n memorial which, hy nobility of conception and perfection in execution will symbolise the glory and perpetuate Ihe memory of t lie men of Wellington City ami suburbs wbo gave their lives :it (lie eall of the Empire. 'Flic competition is open to arehiteets. sculptors ami others of British nationality. The site of the memorial is a triangular piece of ground fronting Parliament Buildings, at the corner of -Wolosworlh street and La mb ton quay, near tho hig wooden Government Buildings on the opposite side of Lamhton qnav. I-OH BY Cl? ASHES OVER BANK. MABTON, January 8. . John Porter, a well-known Afarton youth and another lad had a sensational experience yesterday, when driving a light motor lorry.

In trying to negotiate a sharp bend in the road approaching the Turakina Hiver the steering gear got out of action and the lorry crashed over the bank, falling fifteen feet. Both occupants were thrown out as tho lorry left the roadway. Neither was seriosuly injured.