DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

(by telegraph—PEß press association.] LOR D ALLEN lIY. DUNEDIN, January 31. Lord and Lady Allenhy arrived at Dunedin on Saturday evening, being met at the station by the Mayor (Mill. L. Taplev) and representative citizens and a large assemblage of the public. The Mayor, in a brief speech, said he was pleased to welcome the distinguished visitors on behalf of the citizens. Lord Allenby’s name was a household word throughout, the Empire and lie was revered in New Zealand because of his connection with the Dominion’s soldiers, who had served under him in Palestine and Syria. The stay of their guests was a short one. but he. hoped it would he happy, and that they would carry away pleasant recollections of New Zealand and ils people. "When they xftturned from Queenstown, whither were proceeding on a visit, it would ho his pleasure to extend a civic welcome.

Lord Allenhy thanked the Mayor heartily for his welcome. If was a great pleasure to him to meet old comrades who had served with him in Syria and Palestine. He hoped that on his return from the Lakes he would again meet the representatives of the city and the cx-suldiers. Lord and Lady Allenhy will leave tomorrow morning for Queenstown. MISSING MEN. AUCKLAND. Jan. 31. The disappearance of Raymond 11. Levins, aged 25 years, a surveyor, attached to the Takapuna Borough Council staff, is causing anxiety. Ho was last seen on Thursday allernoon at the Ferry Wharf. Large parlies o' Takapuna residents ore scouring the district, hut so far without success. There is still no news of Air .1. W. Hall, indent agent, of Auckland, who disappeared from Karekare, on the west, coast, last Thursday. .Mr Hall, who is about Gil years of age, was a visitor to the Karekare boardinghouse, and at about 4 o’clock on Thursday aflcrunon he left the house to go surf bathing. He did not return to the house, and nothing has been seen reheard of him since.

Fears are also entertained for the safety of an elderly man. Air Aliehael Middleton, who is thought to have been drowned this morning when fishing, from a dingy in the harbour. The empty dinghy was found lied to the rudder of the hulk Glndbrook. with the oars in the rowlocks, mid a fishing line set. Ate Aliddleton was an employee el Hie Harbour Hoard. II is linderslod that lie borrowed the Board’s dinghy, and he U-lt his "aland bosun's whistle in the shod from winch he took Ihe oars. DROWNING INQUEST. WANGANUI, Jan. 30. ’I Im inquest concerning the drowning of Roht. William Batty, ofiicer ol the Kuuiara. disclosed that he was sent ashore hy ihe First, Oiliccr wiili a . rev of four able seamen to pick up Captain Christie. He was told to keep a mile to the northward of the North Alnle so as to allow for leeway. Hint order was not carried out. ’lhe boat was a mile south of Ihe South Afole before they lowered (lie sail and rowed up to ihe entrance, -which is 000 feet, wide. They came in aboui 200 feet oil’ the South .Mole. Aprnronily the men were tired after their strenuous rowing and they censed operations ’IOO vards from the entrance. The lmat

was caught in a .strong ebb lide, with a swell caused by a northerly wind, and crashed on I hi- rocks. Decoa -cd gave the order: “book out for yourselves. lads! Climb the piles!” For a time deceased managed to hold on to Ihe piles, hut he was washed away hy ihe heavy sea. and was last seen about. 20 yards from the mole, trying to reach Ihe mast of the boat. IT was wearing an overcoal on top of his uniform at the time of ihe accident. The evidence also disclosed there was

no life line at either end of the Soutli Mole.

The Pilot explained that on account of thefts they could not keep them there. The verdict was that death was due to drowning, as the result of an accident to tho boat while negotiating the channel. There was little doubt the accident unfortunately was due to an error of judgment in the course taken. The Coroner also commented upon the lines being stolen from the moles. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned in connection with the double drowning fatality at Putiki on Thursday, whereby tw*o girls, Elizabeth McLean and Cicely Leigh, lost their lives. The Coroner referred to the heroism displayed hy Cicely Leigh. He said she was a brave little soul who gave her life in an endeavour to save her friend. The Coroner also praised the action of two women who could not swim, but who joined hands and walked in iqi to their necks in an endea-

vour to effect a rescue. He recommends that, the faels he placed before the Koval Humane Society. A NELSON TRACED A'. CAR FALLS INTO SEA NELSON. Jan. 3L A motoring fatality occurred on the Rocks Road late on Saturday evening. Reuben Stevens, an adult Afaori, from the Afaori Pali, was the driver of Hie car. and with him was Alason Hailey, a Maori, married, aged 10. After rounding .Magazine Point, on the Rocks Road, the car swerved to the cliff side of the road, and then headed almost straight for the sen wall, breaking tlie guard chains on the wall, and falling nose first on the sea and rocks below, about six feet. The car struck head first, and then turned over, with the head facing tho .-bore. Alason Hailey was pinned underneath and drowned. Stevens is suffering from slight injuries and from cold and exposure. It is feared complications may set in. Two hoys. Jack Francis Heath and Arthur Novii Heath, who were also in the i ar, escaped uninjured. HOY SHOT DEAD. CHRISTCHURCH. February I. Thomas Henry Alnefarlane, 1-5, the sim of a farmer at Olnsnevin, was shot dead on Saturday through an accident with a gun he was carrying while rabbiting. WEST COASTER’S DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH. February I. Mr E. Cameron Smith, chemist of Christchurch disappeared, in the XVniinakariri on Saturday. Ho motored out to Coutt’s Islands., loft the car and crawled through the railings of the bridge. A fisherman saw him floating face downwards, tint a search later proved fruitless. Smith was married with a family.

Deceased was a son of Airs Cameron Smith of the firm of Griffon and Smith Ltd. of Greyinoiith. and a brother of Air Allan Smith of ilia!, town.