MAN’S ROLL OF NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1927, Page 1

MAN’S ROLL OF NOTES

NOT MENTIONED IN PENSION

A PPLfCATION

• WANGANUI, January 11. A case presenting some unusual features was dealt with by AH J. S. I>ai ton S M.. when John O’Keefe answered a charge of drunkenness and assaulting his ’wife on Saturday even-

O’Keefe defended himself vigorously and said that when ho arrived homo under the influence of liquor he noticed his wife drinking stout -ho forced him to have some, and made him worse, hut he did not strike lu-i. The wife also asked for a separation order, and a few days ago had made an application for an old age pension. When O'Keefe was arrested the police on searching him found £lO3 sewed up in the lining of his vest. In the penSion form no mention was made o means except an equity in a house at I evin Tliev had sold two othei houses at Mangaweka, one for £1 To and one for ’~iS5. A deposit of £oo had also been paid on a house on Dune Mill, which was rented for 2os per week, and on which was a mortgage of £565. . , When asked by the Magsitrate why no mention was made of these properties on the application form. 0 Keeie I said that he told the man about it at the time, hut he forgot to put it down. The Magistrate told O’Keefe and his wife that'it was a serious matter to make an application for a pension and then to hide their real means. Such an act, he said, to Mrs O’Reete. was just sufficient to kill any chance she had of getting a pension. He refused the order and told her to try and be more candid next- time, and before she made an application again to read the story in 'the Old Book regarding Ananias and Ids wife Sapphira. who also sold a property. The Magistrate granted his wife a separation "order, and ordered O’Keefe to pay 30s a week maintenance, and

deposit £75 as security from the roll in the lining of his vest. A EIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. A fire broke out at the rear of Turnhull and Jones, Cashel Street, this afternoon and spread to Frist and Small’s. A brisk easterly wind is tanning the flames, which the firemen are still fighting. WOOL SALES. AY E LUNG TON, January 13. The third of the. wool sales to oe held in Wellington, commenced last evening when three catalogues were submitted. There was a full bench of buyers and bidding was extremely keen, and occasionally animated. It cannot be said that any one section ol the trade domiated the situation. Everyone seemed anxious to Imy. liradlord and th i Continent were keen operators. It was considered that reserves were in some eases higher than warranted by the market conditions. Nevertheless it was a good sale. Early indications

suggest an improvement in price, some experts placing it at a hall-penny and others at a fertlhing. The sale will be resumed to-day. INSANE MAN. STRATFORD. Jan. 12. Norman Francis Dixon, single, aged 23 years, a farm hand, was yesterday, as the result of his queer behaviour, certified insane, and put in a police station cell for removal to a Mental Hospital. TIo was in good spirits when visited at 7.30 but at eight o’clock lie was found dead, the appearances being that he had fractured his skull with the sanitary pan.

At the inquest a verdict was returned that death was duo to fractured skull, self-inflicted, no blame being attachable to anyone. PAKAPOO FINES. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. Following n raid on December 22nd, two Chinese were convicted to-day for keeping a common gaming house in Taranaki. Street, and were fined £SO (having been heavily fined previously), in default threo months’ imprisonment. Another Chinese similat)y charged with regard to premises in J-faining Street, was fined £lO.

THEFTS FROM TENNIS CLUB. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. Charged with the theft of sums totalling £7O 3s od, belonging to tho Upper Hu It Tennis (lull, of which he was treasurer for some years, William Joseph Pyrtlo Ilowe, aged 35, a carpenter, pleaded guilty and was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence. A LUCKY ESCAPE. AUCKLAND, Jan. 13. Leonard Keys, seventeen, was knocked down by a' cyclist at busy intersection last evening and before be could rise* ho was run over by a niotoi bus which ho had been trying to avoid Remarkable to relate, tho hospital ■authorities found the injuries confined to thigh abrasions, though Keys was also suffering from shock.