DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ABBOCIATION-] FALSE PRETENCES. GISBORNE, April 21). A well-dressed man, Alfred Douglas Grant, pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining money by false pretences. The police stated accused was staying at a hoarding house at Opotiki, in which an immigrant lad introduced under the Salvation Army scheme was also hoarding. He gained the confidence of this lad and falsely representing he was a road contractor at Gisborne and would give the youth a job. Accused obtained t'd from him. Counsel stuted accused was highly educated and a.- a civil engineer had several positions in New Zealand, but through drink had got into financial difficulties. The Mngstratc ordered three months’ imprisonment to he followed by three months’ reformative treatment.

SUSPECTED ’FLU. AUCKLAND EAST, April 20. Owing to a suspected case ol influenza the steamer Somerset from Brisbane this morning was delayed in the stream awaiting instructions front Wellington. TIMBER INDUSTRY. NAPIER. April 20. The Labour Conference decided to urge the necessity of a royal commission to inquire into and report on the timber industry, with the object of protecting timber workers’ families, even to an adequate lurid or subsidy, with safeguards against exploitation. MAORI DROWNED. EOTXOX, April 20.

Joseph Mason, a Native, aged IS, was drowned in M:\navvalll river at Marotiri on Tuesday. In company with another Native he essayed to cross the river on a log which rolled over and threw Mason into the water fully clothed. Although a strong swimmer he got into difficulties and was drowned. 3he body has not yet been recovered. A TRAIN SMASH. CHRISTCHURCH. April 20. Struck by a stock train which was being shunted into a private siding at Addington Kaleyards about I 1 0 ( lock last night, two sheep waggons were derailed and one was badly smashed, while eight others sutlered minor damage. Niue sheep were killed. The

waggons were thrown on to .Viliam Street, one being piled up ill an angl of about 45 degrees. I lie mishap wa stated by railwayinen to he one ol 111 most remarkable they had ever wit liessed.

IN' FEMALE ATTTiRE. NAPIER. April 20. George Grace, a male native ol H years, who appeared in female attire at the Police Court was charged with being disguised. Hi pleaded guilty. It was stilled by the police that Grace ■ ruined admission to a girl’s college. I!,- had nothing to say in reply to the .Magistrate asking for the reason for his behaviour. He was sent to gaol for tVi roc* months. r I Ik* M ajxistrato • i’ll tench von to leave girls’ clothing and girls’ colleges alone in

N \PIER RESOLUTIONS. NAPIER. April 19At a meeting of the Seamen's Uninn at Port Alittriri this morning the Wellington dispute was explained by Messrs F. P. Walsh (general presiodiit). T. F. Anderson (Auckland) and W. Clark (Dunedin). Tlie meeting passed unanimously a vote of confidence in tlio present Dominion officials and endorsed the action of file executive in expelling Messrs W. T. Young, F. C. Howell. C. 11. Fiftes, J. Pavne and D. Currie. A further resolution was passed that in the event of Mr Young going aboard ships in this port, which up to the present he has not done, the members would treat him as bona fide members of Hie union are called upon to treat expelled officials.

CAVEATS LODGED. ASHBURTON. April 19,

Caveats have been lodged by interested parties wit hi lie Registrar of Lands with the object of stopping the sale hv the mortgagees, the Rank of New Zealand, of the Surrey Hills estate, which has been advertised to be sold by auction at Christchurch on Friday. MEN MISSING. MASTEKTON. April 20. Parties of experienced busluncn and trampers leave early in the morning to search for Messrs Scanlon and Diedericli, who are overdue on u trip across the ranges from Levin to Mnsterton. Excepting accidents, the most likely cause of their absence is bad weather, as it. lias been raining and foggv on the range for two days. A .SETODE. AUCKLAND, April 20. A pedestrian on Grafton Bridge at 8 o'clock to-night was horrified to see a man climb the parapet and hurl himself over. When the body was found in the scrub below, life was extinct. The man was about 35. Written in pencil, on a piece of cardboard, in the mail’s pocket, was the following message : “Ted Bell—T am going to commit suicide. I am going over Grafton Bridge.—Jose McLennan.” On another piece of paper the address of Vincent St. was given.

DROWNING INQUEST. DUNEDIN, April 20. An inquest was held to-day on the two hoys, James and Alfred Duncan, who were drowned in the Freezing Works dam yesterday at Green Island. Evidence was given by boys who attempted a rescue. James Mehalski dived in to rescue the second Duncan, who was trying to get his brother out, hut it was of no avail. The works' employees also gave evidence of the recovery of the lmdies and the rescue of three hoys who were struggling in the water. The Coroner said it was a very sad fatality. The evidence of the hoys showed that everything had been done to help the victims, and the hoys were deserving of commendation. It occurred to him that the dam was in tlio nature of a trap for boys, and the evidence showed that it was a dangerous place. That was a matter about which he would make some recommendation to the management. The dam was just the sort of place boys would frequent, thus running a serious risk. The verdict was that death was due to accidental drowning.

MiORT DROWNED. FOXTON. April 20. Joseph Mason, aged IS, a native, was drowned in the Manawatn River at Mnrotiri on Tuesday. Tn company with another native, he essayed to cross the river on a log which rolled over and threw Mason in the water fully clothed. Although a strong .swimmer. he got into difficulties, and was drowned. The body has not yet been recovered. LEG BROKEN. PAHIAUA, April 20. Don Reid, aged 15, son of Peter Reid, of Pahiatua, was admitted to the hospital after a motor cycle ear collision at Konini, with a compound fracture of the .right leg.

PETROL TAX ADVOCATED. WELLINGTON. April XT Mr .MrKem-.ie, < Itnirman of the Highway;, Hoard, .stated to-day that lie did not. as reported on Thursday, imply that a. petrol tax was impending. All lie did was to express his personal opinion in favour of a petrol tax. S.S. NORTTII'MBERLAND. .UTKI.AND, April ‘2O. Her repairs brine; almost completed, the Eederal Line steamer Northumberland undocked this morning, and berthed at the Kino’s Wharf. All eonecrneil are very much pleased with the high standard of work. Ihe Northumberland, which ' unloaded all her Home cargo for Southern ports while In do, k. is now loading for London. SHEEP SIT’D STOCK SOLD. MASTERT'ON. April 20. The sale is reported ol the whole of Messrs W. Perry and Sons’ Penrose Stud I.iucn]u thick to a Now South Wales purchaser. The thick was loumlcd in 1 7(> hy purchase of imported ev.es. The Penrose Lincolns won championships at the last two Royal slimvs.