DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH I>ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ANOTHER BROWNING TRAGEBY. EKETAHUNA, Jan. 28. A double drowning fatality occurred in Makakahi river, about If miles from Eketahuna, late this afternoon, the victims being two girls, Millie Bearl and Plivllis Wntereus, both about ten years of age. A birthday picnic for the latter girl was being held on the river bank, and a number were playing in the river when these two girls got out of their depth, also a younger Watcreus girl. Ellen Duffy got the youngest sister ashore, and Esme Buffv made a big attempt to rescue Phylis AATitereus, who. however, lost her grip before gaining the shore. Both girls, Bearl and AATitereus sank in a hole in the river ami their bodies were washed under a papa ledge. The other girls then ran for assistance, and a boy on horseback brought the news to town. Immediately several people motored to (lie scene. In the meantime, a passing motorist had endeavoured to assist in the- rescue, but was not successful. On the arrival of the others, the bodies were recovcrd, and attempts at resuscitation were made, but as the bodies had been in the water nearly an hour, this was given up as hopeloss.

MOTOR TRAGEDY ENQUIRY. AUCKLAND, Jan. 28.

“This enquiry Ims been a painful one to listen to. for there was no reason why such a young life .should have been thrown away. Both, ears were visible to each other long before they came into collision. This has resolved itself into a fight between the drivers of the ears,” said Air F. K. Hunt. S.M.. Coroner, when the inquest into circumstances of the death of Finlay Charles Jospeh l.eathart. aged ]9. who was killed in a collision between two motor cars at the intersection of Hauraki Street and Harbour View Road, Birkenhead, on Christmas Bay. was concluded niter a considerable volume of evidence find been given by numerous witnesses.

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from shock and heart failure, as the result of the collision. Mr Hunt said that, on the evidence, lie could not find that either driver was culpably negligent, hut he was ol opinion that Freed Lees, the driver ol the car In which deceased was riding committed an error of judgment in approaching the junction of the streets at a fast pace without giving sufficient warning that he was leaving the main road for the Harbour A T iew road. WOMAN DIES OF POISONING. AUCKLAND. Jan. 28. Mrs Kale McEwin, wife of the licensee of the Hobson Hotel, was admitted to the hospital to-night, stiffening from poisoning, She died twenty minutes later.

REVOLVERS A CURSE. AUCKLAND. January 2S. “ Revolvers tire a curse, and it is a seriuus matter to carry them about, said .M r .). W. Eoynton. S.M., at the Police Court this morning, when George Joseph .Marshall, who was recently sentenced lo live years imprisonment for attempting lo roll the Newmarket branch of the Auckland Savings Bank appeared on a charge of inrrying a revolver without a license. "In order to mark the seriousness of I l:e tiling 1 will sentence .Marshall to three months’ imprisonment, lie is dready serving a long sentence; so the three months will he concurrent.” DAIRY CONTROL BOARD. AVELIXNGTON, dan. -27. In order to he 1 eigl.y for the incepi inn uf eonlml of dairy produce as rum August I next, the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board, at its meeting to-day, decided to establish iranch offices in the five dairy ship>ihi.- centres outside AYellington.