DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

(BY TELEGRAPH— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

EIRE AT BUNANGA. GREYMOUTH. August 23. A five-roomed house and contents at Runangn owned and occupied by A. Richardson and family was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. The occupants escaped through a window. .Small insurance only. THE GOVERNOR AT LEVIN. LEVIN, August 23. The Governor-General paid a visit to Shannon on Saturday and was welcomed by the .Mayor. He addressed the school children in the afternoon. As Grandmaster of New Zealand Masonic Grand Lodge, his Excellency laid the foundation stone of the new masonic temple for the lodge of Mangaha with appropriate ceremonies.

ARSON AND VIOLENT " HASTINGS, August 23. A fire that bears strong evidence of incendiarism totally destroyed a tenroomed residence at Irongrate, near Hastings, bn Saturday night. The house, which was the property of O. E. Small, of Hastings, was occupied by William J. Jamieson and wes extensively furnished. Nothing was saved. So far the cause of the outbreak is not definitely known, hut a version given by the sole spectator, is of a most sensational kind. .Mr and Mrs Jamieson left early in the evening to go to the

pictures in Napier, leaving the place in dharge of a farm employee and Ids wife. The latter were about to set out from their cottage to spend the evening at Hastings, hut before the man left he went to the homestead to see everything was safe and upon entering the hack door, saw a light shining under one of the inside doors, and upon opening it to investigate he re-

ceived a severe blow on the mouth and was rendered senseless. When he regained consciousness, his wife who had remained behind in the cottage, was bending over him and asking what had happened, but lie could give Ho very coherent account of the affair nor any clue regarding the identity of his assailant. By this time the house was

beyond saving, as assistance was a. quarter of a mile away. Constable O’Neill was .summoned hut was unable to find any trace of the intruder. Tt is surmised that incendiarism was the cause of the outbreak and the stranger seeing the Jamesons leaving thought tile place deserted and could carry out his dastardly scheme uninterrupted. A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. AUCKLAND. August 23. Hostility to everything British is manifest throughout France, and illfeeling is often revealed to travellers by some discourteous minor official, said Dr Pinfold', of Hamilton, who returned on Saturday from a tour of Great Britain and Western Europe. He said it was abundantly clear to tourists that the temper of the French Nation, was ready to fluctuate with the

exchange value of the franc. Tourists were being made the scapegoats for what the French believed was financial juggling hv Britain. American visitors usually met the same reception as Englishman. .MAN KILLED. AUCKLAND. August 23. Thomas Capa!,. 50. married, was thrown from a dray when his Ihorse shied at a steam roller, the wheel passing over his body. He died at tiie hospital. a PORT KEMBLA WRECK. DESCRIBED BY PASSENGER. AUCKLAND, Aug. 23. Dr Birch of Adelaide, was a passenger by the Port Kemhln. wrecked aSan Salvador, West Indies on the Bth. July. He arrived here in tho Port Dunedin, lie states that at 4 a.in. a terrific impact awakened everyone, who were asleep. Footplates in the engine room buckled under the foot of the men on watch. Emergency steam pumps were started, simultaneously with the reversal of the engines, hut

the full power produced no movement. There was a hurried mustering on deck and lifeboats were swung out. A handline showed the vessel was on a rocky bottom and the inrush of water indicated that the hull was badly pierced through both skins. At daylight it appeared that the vessel was in the midst of a large reef area within two miles of the Island. The weather I>eimr fine, the crew worked for three clays lightening the hull, nearly two thousand tons of coal being dumped over the side. A salvage tug arrived on 11 tli. July, with a special pump and equipment, and on the 14th. the steamer Venezuela conveyed ten passengers to Colon. All efforts to float the Port Kembla failed. A hurricane caused extensive damage to tho hull and rendered salvage impossible. Other passengers will arrive at Auckland in the Corinthic to-morrow.

FIRE IN FACTORY. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 21. At 1.30 this morning a fire occurred at the Sugar of Milk anil Casino Cov’s new factory at Edendalc. It started in the packing room and rapidly spread to the stoeiis. This part oT the building was gutted and the drying plant destroyed. Workmen by great, efforts saved the main building and valuable machinery. It is impossible at present to estimate the loss. Buildings and contents are covered in the Guardian Insurance Office. The factory is ferroconcrete and was completed about a year ago to replace the original structure destroyed by fire. DOCTOR CHARGED. WELLINGTON, August 23. Doctor Oscar Jacobsen, aged CIO, was arrested and charged with inciting a woman, and to have used upon her an unlawful instrument or other means. A remand was granted till August 25, with bail of £250. Suppression of his name was refused. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. PALMERSTON NORTH. Aug. 23. An action was commenced at the Supreme Court this morning betweeit Frederick ..pencer Easton, of Fov+and Manta Drainage Board, plaintiff claiming £I,OOO damages and a. writ of mandamus or writ of injunction for the purpose of compelling the Board to properly clear and maintain several drains draining plaintiff’s land and that the Board ' lie restrained from deepening Kuril Kuril drain before maintaining, in proper order, other drains, or so deepening Kuril Ivuru drain as to flood plaintiff’s land. Plaintiff alleges that owing to the Hooding of his land lie has suffered great loss and is unable to graze cattle and sheep and his licensees are unable to cut fla X . The defendant Board says that the drains were properly cleaned at the proper time each year. The flooding was not caused by the Board s actions, which a£“ in conformity of the statute authority! After counsels’ opening addresses. his Honour. Justice McGregor, said it seemed to him that the matter could be settled in a day by an expert engineer, who could go out and asceitain the nature of the damage, if any, how caused ’and its effect. The arbitrator could report to the Court and the Court then adjourned to enable an arbitrator to be appointed.