DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] ACTING PREMIER, AUCKLAND, Sept. G. Hon J. G. Coates announced that Hon Downie Stewart will be ActingPremier during his absence. PORT KEMBLA’S CARGO. AUCKLAND, Sept. 6. Auckland agents of the Commonwealth and Dominion have been advised that the cargo salved from the Port Kembla is not in as good condition as at first supposed and will probably be returned to London. MAORI THIEF SHOOTS. WAIPAWA, Sept. 6. When Edward .Watts, an clderly farmer living at Otane returned to the house this morning from attending his sheep, lie discovered a young Maori ransacking the bedroom. A struggle ensued in the course of .which the Maori fired a shot gun wounding Watts in the left arm and a second charge entered his side. Watts was removed to the hospital suffering from severe shock as well as wounds. The assailant disappeared, although a strong posse searched the district all day, no trace was discovered. NAPIER, September G. The mysterious assailant Of the farmer at Otane was caught close to Wnipnwa at five o’clock to-night and was found to be a Maori hoy named 'l’uio Hatena. He was discovered five miles from the scene of the shooting. Ho was taken in custody to Waipawa. A charge of attempted murder will lie laid against him to-morrow at Waipawa or Waipukurau.

MAORI YOUTH CHARGED. WAIPAWA, September 7. I Tori Ngatoro, a .Maori youth, who was wanted in connection with the shooting of Edward Watts at Otane, was arrested last evening near Waipawa. Later a gun was discovered planted in some rushes near Watts’ house. Watts’ evidence was taken at the hospital and the accused was formally remanded. DROPPED BEAD. FEILDfXG. September 5.

James Anderson, aged 52, a business man at Holcombe, died with tragic suddenness. He had driven a car to Palmerston and home, and on alighting lie dropped dead from heart failure. DRUNK ON MOTOR CYCLE. AUCKLAND, September G. On Saturday night, shortly after 0 o’clock, Constable Wilkes found a youth of 1!) lying underneath his motor cycle close to the kerbstone in Parnell Road. The rider was arrested on a charge of being found in a state, of intoxication while in charge of a motor cycle.

Accused, who was represented by Mr Hall Skelton, pleaded guilty to the charge at the Police Court to-day. Senior Sergeant Edwards said the accused told the Constable that he had drunk half a bottle of wine and some whisky, hut later said lie had seven drinks. The position was that accused did not know how many drinks he had taken. He was intoxicated. Mr Hall Skelton said the accused had been out at a house where ho had taken some whisky. He had not consumed half a bottle of wine on his way home, lie decided to get something to eat and pulled up alongside the foot path near refreshment rooms. On placing his foot out to get off the machine it caught in the kerbstone, and he slipped the cycle falling across him. Accused was not used to alcohol, and the effects of having taken a' drink had overtaken him while lie was riding home.

Magistrate Poynton: “Tic will lie sentenced to five days’ imprisonment. Do you rvnnt his name suppressed?” Mr Hall Skelton: ‘‘lt was his first offence. Will you not inflict a lino instead of sending the young man to gaol ? ” Mr Poynton : “No. There have been too many of these cases lately.s’

CONSTABLE B EINSTATED. ’WELLINGTON. September 6. The Minister of Justice announced to-day that the appeal of Constable Harris against his dismissnsl from the New Zealand Police Force on a charge of assault has been upheld by the Board of Inquiry, consisting of Mr E. Page. S.M. (Chairman). Mr J. W. Staples, J.P.. and Supt. Wohlmann, of Auckland. The Commissioner of Police (W. B. Mcllvcney) stated that the appeal having been upheld, he had given instructions for the constable’s reinstatement. ' POLICE COURT CHARGE. * AUCKLAND, September (1. AVlien found sitting in a tramway shelter shed shortly after one o’clock on Sunday morning by a constable, Myrtle Brady, aged 23 years, explained that she had no relatives or friends in Auckland, and also that she came from Putaruru on Tuesday last, and had been walking about the- streets ever since. She added that she had eaten little food during that time. This morning the girl admitted in the Police Court that she was an idle and disorderly person.

Major Gordon, of the Salvation Army, and also the Female Probation Officer, said she knew accused, who was a lazy girl that would not work. The Magistrate (Mr Poynton) : “She will have to work.” At- the request of Major Gordon, accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within twelve month, the first three months to be spent at the Salvation Army Home. BUS DRIVER’S TRIAL. AUCKLAND. September G. Arising out of an accident on Mnnukau Road, on tile evening of August 16. when a cyclist named Alan Basil Banks, aged 17, received fatal injuries' through being involved in a collision with a motor bus. the driver of the bus, Harold Bruce I?ill, pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter, before Mr E. K. Hunt. S.M., in the Police Court to-day. The deceased, with three companions, was riding home from town when the accident occurred. In a written statement-, lead by Constable G. Smith, the accused said that the visibility was rendered had by a blurred windscreen. Suddenly he saw three cyclists ahead, none having tail lights or reflectors. It was too Lite to swerve, and lie jammed on the brakes. The bus skidded on the wet road, and lie came to rest within about 12 feet.

The accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at £IOO, with a surety for a similar amount.

The Coroner found that the deceased was killed through being knocked from liis cycle by the bus driver, B. Hill.

MAHENO’S trip. WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. It is understood that the Maheno’s trip to Sydney lias been abandoned owing to the fact that she could not maintain her timetable.

FISHING BOAT TRAGEDY. PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept. G. While out in a fishing launch near Rangitikei Heads this afternoon. Thomas Geertsen and William Samson got into difficulties on account of a sudden squall and the 1 former was drowned. Nothing lias been seen since of his companion or of the launch, butfisli boxes from the vessel were washed up this evening. Geertsen lived at Tnngimoana, near the mouth of the river, and he had followed the occupation of fisherman for the last six years. He was a widower with one son. HOTEL THEFT. AUCKLAND, September 6. Harold Vivian CAstley, aged 29, alias Golden, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a wrist watch, gold chain, diamond ring, and Lo in cash, of a total value of £49, the property of Marion Watson Powell, at the Police Court to-day. Acting-Detective Hobbs said that on Saturday lie made inquiries relative to jewellery and money stolen from a bedroom at the Britomart Hotel. On interviewing accused, ho found portion of the stolen property on him while the balance was later found in Costlev’s room. Chief Detective Cummings said that at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, the accused went upstairs to the bedroom oi tc licensee and stole the articles, all of which had been recovered, with the exception of £1 in cash. Cost Icy had never been in trouble before, and was a married man who was separated from his wife. The theft was a most impudent one. Accused told the magistrate he was under the influence of drink at the time of the bhelt. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. HUMAN SKULL FOUND. AUCKLAND, September G. A human skull in a fairly good state of preservation was found on a property owned by .Mr E. Cullen, at Waikowliai. Two hoys were searching for botles in a bush near the 'lea Kiosk, when they found the skull of a human being. The lower jawbone could not ho lound, hut in the remains of the impel ’llw there were several teeth, which had been stopped. A gold filling was found in one of the teeth. The Mount Albert police are making inquiries. BODY FOUND. WELLINGTON. September G. The body of Frank Milton Winter, proprietor of a seaside picture theatre at Lyall Bay, who disappeared from his house on August 15, leaving a loiter in his overcoat, addressed to his wife, of his intention to commit snicide, was recovered to-day near the Miramar wharf. N./(. BROADCASTERS. AUCKLAND. September (>. An amicable arrangement has beer, reached between the Australian Performing Right Association, and the Radio Broadcastings Coy on the question of broadcasting the musical composition of which tiie Association possesses the copyright. A per cent age was demanded hv the Association in return for permission to broadcast the music affected.

Mr Edwards (Secretary of the Association) stated afterwards that it had boon possible for the Association to concede lower terms than those agreed upon ill Australia, as it was realised that some encouragement should be given to young organisations.