DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[uy teleorami— per pkess association.] A TRAGIC COLLISION. CHRISTCHURCH. February 21. There was a serious motor smash on Page’s Road on Saturday afternoon. A motor cycle and sidecar carrying four men. collided with a motor car m which there were seven adults and an infant. All four of the motor cyclists were admitted to the hospital, where one of them, R. Alilner, died this morning. Of the others, it was reported to-day that Cafiler had been operated upon, and is progressing. A third, D. McKenzie’s condition is serious, hut he has improced. J. Haase is the fourth. His condition is not serious. The motor ear was driven by M • Ale Donald, of Swan’s Road, who was uninjured. He had five women passengers who were all treated at the hospital for minor injuries, and were then discharged. Tho male passenger and the infant in the ear both escaped. There was a good deal of motor traffic on the road from New Brighton on Saturday afternon, including motor cyclists who wore returning from the Beach races. It is stated that the sidecar outfit containing the four men was travelling at a high speed, and that the motor ear was travelling only at some 15 miles an hour. The heavilyladen motor cycle was unable to negotiate a corner without running oil to the left side of the road and it struck the right front spring of the oncoming car. smashing both, besides shattering tlie windshield and damaging the radiator. The side ear was torn in half.

CAR RUNS INTO TRAIN. INVERCARGILL, February 21. Fivo residents of Birch wood, near Nightcaps, had a miraculous escape from death on Saturday morning, when a car in which they were touring smashed into the Ltinisden-Kingston train at l’arawai Crossing. It appears that the party were unaware of tlie approaching train, which was partly obscured by tall poplars at. this point, and there was a gale blowing at the time which prevented the engine whistle from being heard.

Cecil Harris Robertson, the driver of tho car. was thrown through the windscreen, and he sustained severe facial in juries. Allan Baltantync sustained a broken collarbone. J. I’arkoy had four ribs broken, John AlcGill had three broken, while Alexander Ball all - tvne was uninjured.

Thu party were attended to by till doctor at l.uiiisden. and later were removed to the Southland Hospital where Robertson was operated on. Thi men were on their way to the Dimedii Exhibition when the smash occurred.

A V A CUT'S VOYAGE. CIS BOR NOT Eel). 20. The Auckland motor launch Rimmam l has arrived at Dishorn.■. homeward ■ hound. She sails to-morrow for Taui tonga and .Mayor Island for sword fisbi ing, and exports to reach Auckland on • 27th February. | DAMAGED TRAXSAIISSJUN LINE. ; BROKEN BY BULLET. | WELLINGTON. Eel). 20. On Wednesday evening one of (he main transmission lines from Alangahao to Wellington failed, owing id a fault which could not he located that night. , owing to darkness. Next afternoon it | was found near Ecild’s forest reserve. | Ail inspection showed that a wire of the transmission line had been cut through by a rifle bullet. As this wire carries a very high voltage, a consequence of the break might have been a very serious danger to life and properly, which may he caused by either wilful or accidental damage to transmission linos, as was evidenced in the Waikato district recently, when the line which was down came in contact with a fence and charged it with a high voltage electric current, and this caused the death of a man and his grandson. The department points out that the break on the Wellington line might have had the same serious results, had the wire come in contact with a fence or any material that would conduct, electric current. In cases of this nature the electrical energy will travel for miles along a fence and a person or stock at a great distance from the damaged section may he fatally injured. The Public Works Department placed the matter in the hands of the police, and is offering a reward of £SO for information which will lead to the conviction of any person concerned in damaging .the line.