DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

t.BY telegraph—rial press association.] DRUNKEN MOTOR. DRIVER. ASHBURTON, April 23. George Chambers of Chertsey. pleaded guilty to living drunk while in charge of » motor car at Rakaia, ami driving without, lights. On the first charge a li/ne of £l.*i and costs -was imposed mid tin order made that accused was not to have a, license for six months. On the second charge lie was convicted ami discharged. SHUNTER INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 23. Frederick Newman Stanton, marri >d. received a cracked pelvis ami severe injuries to the body through being crushed between two carriages while shunting yesterday. He is progress! ig favourably. ALLEGED ARSON. DAXNKYIRKE, April 23. At Ormondville yesterday, William Henry Thomas pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully setting fire to a store at Norsewood. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Albert Graham Glccstou and Herbert Glees to n, on a similar charge, pleaded not guilty and were committed lor trial, bail being refused. BLENHEIM GASWORKS. BLENHEIM, April 23. The municipal gasworks reported agood financial year and the Council decided in consequence to make a substantia! reduction in the price of gas. It was also decided to replace gas lamps with electric light when the hydro-electric scheme is completed.

■SHIPPING MOLD l R. CHRISTCHURCH. April 23. A partial hold up of shipping continues at Lyttelton and this morning the men who were unloading the lugela demanded an extra peons hall penny an hour which has been rciuseil ill the case of the. Canopus ami Cooliinii. The demand was granted by the captain of the vessel. SURRENDER TO POLICE. PALMERSTON NORTH. April 23. Ernest Tainiwha Sutherland, a halfcaste Maori, who lias been wanted by the police since February 10th. on a charge of attempted murder of his wife, Rangi Sutherland, at Awarui, surrendered himself to the police at a late hour last night, after sending a message stating where he was to lie found at a certain address in Palmerston North, lie expressed sorrow at what ho had done and said lie desired to give the police no further trouble. He appeared at the police court this morning on a charge of attempted murder and was remanded to April Jlltli with the prospect of a further remand. It will he remembered that on the evening preceding the Awahura incident. Sutherland was unsuccessful in persuading his wife to on need separation proceedings instituted by her. He then left tne house of his father-in-law, Drummond, where his wife resided. About midnight Drummond awoke to find the house on lire, as the result of sacks soaked in kerosene being placed beneath and set alight. Drummond took his wife, Mrs Sutherland and the latter’s three children to shelter in a

slic'd while lie tried to pull the seeks away and extinguish the blaze. Sutherland then reappeared and allegedly struck Drummond with a garden implement and again disappeared. He then went to the shed where the women and children were sheltering, allegedly inflicting a serious wound on the shoulder of his wile with a knife or axe and made off. It is alleged also that he was responsible for the injuries received hy Mrs Drummond, who, however. quickly recovered. Mrs Sutherland is still in the hospital hut is now well on the road to recovery. GOVERNOR’S DEPUTY. AUCKLAND, April 23. The Governor-General will appoint Mr Rkerrett (Chief Justice) as his deputy during his Excellency’s absence from the Dominion on a tour of Cook Islands.