DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[ny telegraph—per press association. THE TRAM SMASH. AUCKLAND. Aug. 23. A statement concerning the sensational tramcar accident in Symonds Street on Friday evening was made yesterday 'by Conductor C. Boyce. Ho says he noticed that the car was going fast when it was opposite Stoneyliurst. and as it was nearing Wellesley Street, he realised that it was out of control. He then applied tho handbrake, but to no- effect. ‘‘lt would have been foolish to pull down, the trolley pole” he said. ‘‘The car was going so fast that there would have been a. possibility of its bringing down the overhead wire. Then we might all have been electrocuted.” The motortnan, J. Phillpott, who sustained a fracture- of the skull through falling o(F near the Maori War Memorial, is reported to be progressing satisfactorily. CONSTABLE’S APPEAL. WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. An appeal by a Wellington constable who was recently dismissed from the Police Force against the decision of a Departmental inquiry which investigated allegations of having used undue violence against civilians is to be heard. The Minister of .Justice (the Hon F. J. Rolleston) has signed a warrant appointing a board to hear the appeal. The personnel comprises a Stipendiary Magistrate, a senior police officer and a civilian.

EARTHQUAKE PROPHET. HIS PREDICTIONS. AUCKLAND, Aug. 23. In predicting earthquakes and other phenomena, Air J. F. Field, of Auckland, has excited much interest in various parts of New Zealand aiid beyond, and he has correspondents in many quarters. One of these has just telegraphed to him from Wellington that a sharp shock of earthquake was felt on Saturday. This coincides with MiField’s prediction some time ago that there would he earthquake activity between August 20th. and 26th.

This morning Mr Field said that after tho present activity we need not expect anything more until about the end of next April. He thought that there would probably ho an alarming ’quake about September 20th. of next year.

Mi* Field contends that solar energy not only governs these earth movements, but that it affects such personal things as surgical operations, collapse under anaesthetic, sudden death from heart failure and similar mishaps. Ho was asked the other day by a. correspondent as to the best date upon which to undergo a. certain rather delicate operation. Air Field worked out figures and iound that the date suggested in the letter would not he a favourable one, and advised that September 21st. next a I about 9 a.m. would be the host and safest day and time for tho operation.

Aluch as this seems to resembio astrology, there is nothing of the kind about Air Field’s theory, his results being obtained with the cold matter-ei fact aid of figures. A POLICE RAID. WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The spectacle of about forty Chinese being marched to the Alouiit CookPolice Station, in batches, was witnessed on Sunday evening. Suspecting a house in Haining Street, a raid was carried ou t. It is alleged that the Cliine.se were playing fan-tan. The Police Station was full and the overflow was detained in the billiard room, but bail was arranged in a number of cases, thus relieving tho congestion. The raid was arranged and carried out so quietly and efficaciously that only a. few people in the vicinity were aware anything unusual was taking place. Fines of £2 each wore imposed this morning on twenty-eight Chinese, and a fine of £3 in the case of the twentyninth, who had been previously convicted. Charges against one Chinese o r keeping a common gaming house, and against two others of assisting, were adjourned for a week. Rail was fixed at £SO.