DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

TRIPLE TRAGEDY. FURTHER PARTICULARS. PUKEKOHE, Sept. 7. A. t 12.15 the hoy Gordon yesterday arrived at Yates's place with a note for a "doctor. The Yates’s homestead is that of Mr Biaekwell's employer, and the n >te | was written in n shaky hand by the mother. On the back ol tl;e > nvelope were the words: •• Eend for Doctor Page.” Mr Yates sent the boy back with a note to find out w iiy a doctor was m-ed'-d. He telephone in the Yates’s home win out of order, and Yates rode to a neighbour's house a mile away, and there got. through to Dr Page, who did not arrive till 3 p.m., ns his err was held up on route. The doctor found ai'l three victims with 4 heir clothing on. The husband in the n orning had taker, a cup of tea to his wife before lie went to milk seven o..ws. Marjorie helped him. Alter breakfast he left home at 7 o’clock to truck sheep to Pnpakura. When he left his wife and family they were in good spirits. Airs Blackwell was washing the breakfast dishes as he rode away. After his day’s work, Blackwell was coming home from Papakuni about 5 o’clock, when lie met Dr Page on Ihe way hack, and it was only then lie learned of the dreadful tragedy. The husband was not altogether .surprised, as Mrs Bi'ackwell liad previously threatened to commit sui- I eide. Once last year she admitted she poisoned, the food.

MAIN 111 GUAVA Y MONEYS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 8. Appi -her. Ton regarding the pos ibilitv of moneys standing to the credit of the South Island in the revenue fund of the Alain Highways Board being expended in the North Island as a result of tin' action of Hie Board in temporarily transferring £350,000 from the revenue fund to construction’ fund, was expressed at last night’s meeting of the executive of Canterbury Progress I eagne. The League decided to forward a strong protest against tho Board’s articn to Mr Sullivan ATP., with the request that ho convoy it to the Prime* Minister to-day, lion the South Island members of Parliament are to discuss the matter with him.

NATIVE- LAND COURT’. GI9RORX IT. Kept. 9. The heaving of the Tea-rrdia township t-ac at the Native Land Court created a new record in prolonged sittings, the Court having fat continuously fur II weeks, the hearing concluding with the reading of 156 different judgments, which took the whole day. The case concerned the last uninvested bloc!: in the East Toast District and as a considerable sum in rentals had arctiimdatod -since the township was settled thirty years ago, every native who could produce evidence of ancestral claims to tli-a property was represented.

The Court had to deal with the claims of 30 different groups. The general effect of the judgment is to admit to title resident claimants and refuse these resident elsewhere.

a Finn. WELLINGTON, gent. 8. .Shortly after 9 o’clock last night Hie Fire Brigade were called to Taranaki Street, where a. building was found to bo alight, but Hie Brigade soon had the blaze under. The building, which !.--- being renovated, was owned by Combined Buyers Ltd. and their stores are on the first floor. The fire was confined to the ground floor, occupied by AVilliam Henry Alacßeady, motor trimmer and painted, and considerable damage was done to his premises and tli-cs contents Six; 'motor oars -were badly damaged. Insurance figures are not available.

WAIROA, Sept. 8. Shortly before three o’clock this morning a shop in North Clyde, owned by C. Cameron and occupied hy tlio Rntann Committee was completely gutted. nothing being saved. The Brigade effected a splendid save of the adjoining buii'dings. The shop’s contents were insured in the Guardian office. The amount is unavailable.

SOUTHLAND FLOODS. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 8. As a result of heavy rain early in the week and melting snow in the mountain country a considerable area of river flats were flooded. East of AA'intou became a sea of water, and railway passengers had to be carried to the station in vehicles. All stock were safely removed from the inundated areas. The weather is now fine and tlio rivers are falling.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 8. A claim for £39 damages, the result of an alleged assault, was made r»y Hugh Dm (fin, a labourer, in the Magistrate’s Court, against AAA .T. Pritchard, licensee of the Club Hotel, Sydenham. Plaintiff said that while in the hotel defendant entered under tlio influence of liquor, made objectionabi’e remarks and then struck witness.

As the result of a scuffle witness broke his hand and had been out of work for eight weeks. The defence was that Drnffin was a cadger and a liar. (Proceeding.) FLOOD AfENACE. DUNEDIN, Sept. S. AA’itli the complete cessation of rain the flood menace is removed from Outram and Lawrence, hut the railway lines are still blocked. The Otago Central line is clear. AfIS.STNG CHEQUES. AUCKLAND. Sept. 8. A number of cheques in the mail hag were lost at Frankton Junction on Saturday. They were forwarded by hanks for collection hy agencies, and were only stamped. The banks are now calling on depositors to make good the amounts of the cheques as they merely act ns collecting agents. TAIMTTNITY OF CROAVX. AUCKLAND. Sept. S. The immunity of the Crown from counter-claims in legal actions was upheld hy Justice Stringer. The Government forest service claimed £<so. the cost of 250,000 seedlings supplied to the New Zealand Redwood Forest Ltd. Tlio Company counter-claimed £1.150 damages on the ground that the contract for half a million seedlings had not been fulfilled. Afr Paterson for the Government said everv endeavour had been made to settle the case hut an unreasonable attitude was adopted hy the Company and special circumstances of the case had resulted in the Department standing on its rights. His Honour said the Crown’s objection must prevail as the Crown Suits Act stopped proceedings.