DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH- -PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

SNOW IN THE CAPITAL

A ELLINGTON, September 16

A most unusual sight in Wellington . is a tail ol snow this aitei'noon. It is . but no snow has been seen hero . lor many years. CONTRACT LET. l AUCKLAND, September l(i. i I lie trusiees ol tlie Jubilee Institute ■ *°r the Blind have accepted the tender of Fletcher Construction Company of £13,518 for the erection of new workl shops. APPEAL ABANDONEE. . AUCKLAND. September 111. Arthur Cleave has abandoned his appeal to the Privy Council in the Wai- . ] ' nki legitimation ease. The result is t tll;,t ll 'e verdfet of £2,000 awarded plaintiff stands. ' A PRISONER’S DEATH. ! WELLINGTON. Sept. 15. An inquest touching the death of Stanley ADii-phy. labourer .aged 21, "bo died under tragic circumstances in a cell in Pctono Gaol on Saturday night, was bold to-day. Dr Kerr Hi.slop S.iitl the appearance of deceased, who lmd been found dead in a cell with his head through the observation hole, was that caused by ■strangulation, Marks on the chest probably were caused from suffocation, and partly through deceased's body rubbing up against the door of the cell in his struggles. Tn reply to deceased’s mother. Dr Kcrr-Hisiop said he did not think the marks were caused by a. struggle during the day. There was no denial plate in deceased's mouth when examined. Two teeth and a hit of the plate were found on the floor outside the cell door.

Constable M’Namara said deceased was arrested for drunkenness at -1.50 p.m.-a.n'd placed in a roll immediately after. Later witness saw deceased, who asked when be could get out. Witm’s.: said about nine, as a reused bad partly recovered. He was standing quietly near the cell door. The übesrvaton hole was left open when Murphy was locked up. Senior-Sergeant M’Kilvie said he went to the observation hole at fi.so and saw deceased’s, bead. He tric'd to push it back, but failed. Entering tlm cell, be found deceased banging, with a cell pan. evidently used to slam! nit. overturned a few feet away. The body was removed and inrtifieinl respiration applied until the doctor arrived. The Coroner returned a verdict, of accidental death. Tie said that it was a very rare occurrence. No blame wa attachable to tlio police.

INCIDENT AT'LEAGUE MATCH .UTKDAND. Sept. 1-5

The echo of an incident at the conclusion of the League football championship final match between Ponsonby ami City, and Carl aw Park, on Saturday, in connexion with which a spectator strode the referee. Mr AV. Mineh.am. was beard to-night, when the alleged offender appeared before (be Judicial (iimmllti'e of the Auckland Rugby League." It was decided.to suspend the man from attending any grounds under the jurisdiction of tlv Auckland League.

The chairman, Mr AY. .1. Hanimill. said lie wished it. to be known that such conduct would not be tolerated, and every protection should be offered both to players and referee.

SERIOUS CHARGES. ASTI BURTON, Sept. 16.

William Watts, an old-age pensioner, aged 7G. who resided recently in a lint in t'lie river bed, appeared before Mr Moseley, S.M., at tlie Ashburton Children’s Court charged on three counts with committing unnatural offences on hoys, and further with attempting to commit suicide. The first three charges concerned hoys whoso ages ranged from nine to eleven years, and the offences were alleged to have boon committed on various dates in -Inly and September. The accused pleaded not guilty and uncommitted for trial. On the charge ol attempted suicide accused pleaded guilty. lie said it was because of unlair charges against him that ho had “gone off his head.” and had attempted to end his life. The accused was found i: the bed in his cell at the Police Station on the morning of September (Sth. with his throat lacerated and his hands covered with blood. fie admitted having clawed his throat with his fingers. The accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. SHOT KillED IX TRAIN. AUCKLAND. September l(i. As a train left Ranatoe*, oe station at 7.30 last night, a. shot was tired which broke two windows of a carriage in which several sailors from the Philomel were returning to town. It s thought the siiot was not accidental, considering the time of tile occurrence. The police are investigating.

NOT WANTED IN N X. EXOTIC PLANTS AND AXIHALS. DUNEDIN. September lb. The following resolution, which was adopted at a meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute this month, was endorsed at a meeting of the Otago Institute; “That this Institute desires to support- very strongly the attitude taken bv the New Zealand Institute in respect of the introduction of exotic plants and animals into Tongnriro and other national parks, and hopes that prompt measures will he taken in particular to eradicate heather in Tongariro Park at any cost, and that everything which may he possible should he done to control and cheek the increase of such plants and animals as have already spread into the park.

This Institute further is ol opinion that the introduction of exotic animals into New Zealand should be far more strictly controlled than at present.” Concerning the suggestion that had been made at a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society that heavers be introduced into the Dominion, Dr Benham said: “How any reasonable person could make such a suggestion, I can’t understand.”

MURDEROUS ATTACK. ON SLEEPING MAN. AUCKLAND. September lf>. Mr George Ronsil Cosse.v. aged 4(1, a chemist residing at Mount Eden, was attacked by an unknown assailant while he was asleep at 2 o’clock this morning. He was battered about the bead and body with a blunt instrument. Mr Cossey is over (ill in height, and weighs 13st (libs. He retired to bed soon after 9.30, his wife being in Whangnrei. The only other occupant ol the bouse was Mrs Thompson, a widow, and Mrs Broadfoot. the t mother of Mrs Thompson. Mr Cossey slept in a single bed usually occupied by his wife, in a porch on ihe side of the house. At about 2 a.m. Mrs Broadfoot beard a commotion in Mr Casey’s bedroom. She beard thud after thud. AA’itb her daughter, she looked through a. window overlooking the porch, and she saw Cossey standing in the porch with blood streaming from bis bead ami face. A constable was called, who made a thorough search without finding the assailant. There must have been a terrible .struggle. There were tufts of hair out* from Mr Co.-sey’s boat! with a blunt instrument, and these were scattered over the floor.

The bedding was soaked with blood, and there were blood splashes on the walls. Cossey said that, when struck, bthought lie was dreaming, and be lifted bis bands to protect bis head. He then received more blows from an iron bar. which was wielded by a man. who held an electric torch, which be directed on to Cosscy’s face. One blow tore lli .■ skin of Ct>ssey’s right leg from the thigh to the knee. He had seven scalp wounds, several being right into the Lone, ami also extensive bruises all ever f.lie body. Any mail less physically fd would, no doubt, have succumbed, but Cossey will survive, and his condition is now quite satisfactory.