DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

BV rELKQRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIO’SI.

AUCKLAND’S R AINFALL

AUCKLAND, January 3.

Heavy rainfall in Auckland during the Christmas holidays provided tho climax to an exceedingly wet year, the rainfall for the twelve months being (i2.98in., compared with a yearly average of 43.7.9 in. The rainfall for last month was 6.39 or 3.85 above the average for December, and within 2.20 in. of the wettest December, which was in 1916, when the fall for the month was 8.59. Bain fell during the past year on 209 days. The heaviest during 24 hours was 3.40 inches on Afay 19, and that was the wettest month, of tho year, tho total fall being 13.70. October and November wore also very wet, over 7)in. of rain falling during each month.

BOATING TRAGEDY. AUCKLAND, January 3. A boy named Philip Clyde Daliantv lie, only son ol Mr C. M. Ballanty nc, of Tekauwhata, was drowned in Lake < Waikgrs yesterday. Ho was in a flat-bottomed boat with Messrs Hatfield. Aliens, and Ramsay, following a model yacht, when the boat capsized. Ramsay and Minns supported Ballantvno, who could not swim, until Ramsay had himself to struggle ashore. .Minns and the hoy both sank. The former rose to the surface, hut tho boy ilid not. The body has not yet been recovered. Deceased was a college student, and was spending a holiday with his parents. A ROTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, January 3. Alfred Noon, aged twenty-four, died at the hospital from injuries received in a motor cycle accident, at Kohimarnma. The machine 101 l the road in the darkness and struck a stone embankment, throwing tbe rider on to the rocks, causing a fracture of the skull. RADY SUFFOCATED. AUCKLAND, January 3. The two-nionths-old baby of Air and Airs Paul, of Ponsonby, was found suffocated in its cot, presumabl' through burying its head in the bedclothes. HOOKIES FIXED. AUCKLAND, January 3. As the sequel to a police raid on Saturday morning, Clifton Sailary, aged 37, and Henry Saunders, aged 27, were (barged at the Police Court wiifi keeping common gaining houses, Saltory in Gladstone Buildings and Saunders at the Elite Tailoring Company’s premises, Customs Street. Lawrence Chapman, aged 23, was charged with assisting Sallary, and Alfred Martin Afattliews, George Pratt and Harry Young with being found in a. common gaming bouse. Sallary, Saunders and Chapman pleaded guilty. Detective Cummings stated that Sallary bad been carrying on a wholesal. business in tote odds and bad been convicted on February 0 last. SfiiuuliTs also carried on a bif; *l>usiness. Sallary was president of tbe Bookmakers’ Association in the Auckland province, and Young was secretary. Mr 11 uni.. K.AL. fined Sallary and Saunders £75 each. Chapman and Young £25 cadi, and .Matthews ana Pratt £2 each. GARDENER’S SUICIDE., AfASTERTON, January 3. Julia Kennedy Liptrott, single, a gardener, committed suicide by cutting bis throat with a razor. At the inquest a verdict of suicide while mentally affected, was returned. CHAMPION CYCLIST’S TOUR. WELLINGTON, January 3. R. "\Y. l.ainb. the Australian amateur cyclist, arrived bv the Makura to-day for a tour of tbe Dominion. His first engagement is at the night meeting at Wellington next Satturday. FIRE AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN. January 2. A fire occurred in the Strand Tonrooms:. Octagon, at 2 o’clock this morning. A police patrol saw the flames bursting through the roof of the rooms and sent for tbe brigade. Tbe fire obtained a. strong bold before it was extinguished. Very great damage was done. The flames spread to premises occupied by Misses A. and G. Gallagher, clothing shop, where considerable damage was done to stock ; to Pattersons’, outfitters ; Hamers, fruiterers ; American Candy Co., and Gourlay’s pork shop. Water contributed largely to the damage.

AN INCIDENT. GISBORNE, Jan. 3. There was a sensational incident during tho sports meeting on Saturday. Morrison, motor cyclist, competiting in the acceleration test against n motor car. The cyclist attained a speed of fifty miles an hour hut was unable to negotiate the bend in the course, fn endeavouring to avoid an obstacle he turned sharply and the machine turned coWpletely runcT/ and threw tho rider dear, reared vertically and somersaulted. The machine, was considerably damaged hut flic rider was uninjured.

SERIES OF ACCIDENTS. GISBORNE, Jan. 3. Members of Beale’s cricket tenm had an unenviable experience en route to Gisborne. The first incident occurred at Morere Hill when their car in attempting to pass another had the luggage torn off tho side and considerably damaged. A little further on tho car broke down and the party were stranded on the roadside. A relief car also broke down and the party did not reach Gisborne till 11.40 p.m. finally when the original dir arrived with tho luggage it caught fire outside tho hotel but was extinguished with little damage. AN EXPLOSION. DARGAVTLT.E. Jan. 3. Early oil New Year’s morning two young men named Frank Cossill and Jim Hodges were boiling a motor cycle chain in kerosene in a, local factory when the kerosene caught fire. Hodges lifted the tin to the door when it got too hot and he put it down and Cossill went to throw tho tin outside when the kerosene exploded in his face and shoulder. He was so severely burned that lie had to he sent to the hospital. His eyes are also injured.