LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1926, Page 3

LATE LOCALS

The Westport News says on Wednesday the two dismantled dredge hoppers. Stunner and Heatheote, were towed to sea and sunk ten miles off the Steeples. The tug Mana took them down the river, with one on either side of her. Nearing the bar. the hoppers were dropped astern, being towed out abreast of each other. L» the roadstead, the one was placed astern of the other. One hopper broke away, delaying the towing for some time, hut eventually the tow rope was connected again and they "ere taken on their last journey. Dredgemen describe the sight of the vessels taking their last dives as almost weird and uncoilnv. The hows rose high m t.ic air and the vessels swung round as it looking reproachfully towards the tug before they sank into the deep.

An alarming experience befel a Wanganui girl on Saturday, the victim bealmost sulfcated by the fumes from a "ms-heated hot water geyser. She was preparing for a. hath and had heated the caliphont, which was vithout vent to the outer air. Consequently when the door and window were closed the girl was overcome and faulted. Her mother, noting a disquieting silence, tried the door and then looked through the window ti her daughter inert upon the floor. Neighbours were summoned and the door battered in. Not for some time was the girl resuscitated, and then only after a doctor had been called.

A member of the Wanganui “Chronicle” staff had a serious experience one morning recently. Learning of a fire, he was told that the Fire Brigade would ring his office as soon as the nature of the fire was known. This was duly carried out. and the “Chronicle” man was horrified to learn that it was his own house that had been burning. Suspicions of a practical joke made him doutb the report, hut lie was soon convinced that what was to have been merely*-a news item, wns now - <1 soiious personal misfortune.