DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) SAVED BY A WOMAN. AUCKLAND, Oct. 4. Had it not been for the presence of mind of a woman, Frank Charles Ashman, aged 22, would have leapt to death from the Grafton Bridge the other night. At the Police Court today, Ashman, who was shaking through drink, admitted that lie attempted to commit suicide. Sergeant Calwefl told the Magistrate (Mr F. K. Hunt) that two nurses who were on their way to the hospital at 10.20 last night saw a man clamber to the parapet of the bridge and he was about to leap over when one of the nurses rushed forward and held him. The other went in search of assistance. A young man came along, and the three of them held Ashman until he was handed over to the police. He was recently an inmate at the hospital, suffering from the effects of excessive drinking, said tho sergeant, and he was only recently discharged. He took liquor yesterday, and that probably explained his act. The Magistrate remanded the accused to appear for sentence on Monday so that he would have time to recover from his drinking bout.

ST. JOHN’S AMBULANCE. VARIOUS PROPOSALS. AYE HUNG TON, Oct. G. The Dominion Executive of St. John’s Ambulance met this week. Sir Heaton Rhodes presided. Representatives were present from Auckland, Canterbury and AVest Coast, Tim am, AA ranganui, AVellington and Dunedin. Letters were received from tho Duke of Connaught and Lieut.-Col. AA r oolryche Pcrowne appealing for funds to repair the earthquake damage to the Ophtalmic Hospital nt Jerusalem. These wore referred to Colonel Barclay to communicate with tlie centres. St John’s Gate wrote approving of the use of a railway certificate. After discussion on the letters from New Plymouth and AVanganui it was decided to leave the allocation of the Government grant to the Standing Committee. His Excellency, the Governor-General was appointed patron and head of the Order in the Dominion. An Invercargill remit relating to the issue of a certificate to miners who may not have passed an approved examination, was referred to the Standing Committee for action. The same Committee will also communicate with the Centres on tho subject of the establi.shment of a commanderv in New Zealand. It .was decided the Executive meet half-yearly, hut the suggestion that meetings bo held alternately in tlie North and South Islands was loft to the next an-

nual meeting. Alajor-General Young, Commandant of Now Zealand Forces, wrote agreeing that a- certain portion of tlie service in St. John’s Ambulanco Association, he allowed to count towards military service, subject to a certificate that such service was efficiently performed, such trainees, however, not to be wholly exempt from military duty, but would lie required to do a week’s training each year in the Ambulance Corps in their repective districts.

A STRONG RESOLUTION. DUNEDIN, Oct. G. I’lie Executive of the Chamber of Commerce rosolutioned strongly protesting against the proposals to control the clearance of customs, when the tariff is under consideration and giving collectors power to make a retrospective demand for an additional duty. TRANSPORT MINISTRY OPPOSED DUNEDIN, Oct. 6. A meeting, representing business an trades, etc., rosolutioned strongly opposing the inauguration of a transport ministry, as interfering with private enterprise; aiso viewing with alarm an increase in the Civil Service personnel, and urging a general review. The meeting further objected to the compulsory retirement of Civil Servants still competent to carry on their duties, as seriously affecting the finances of the Dominion and overloading the superannuation funds.

SUDDEN DEATH. AUCKLAND, Oct. G. Levi Coupland, aged 80, died suddenly while being shaved in the hairdressing saloon at Newmarket. The inquest verdict was heart disease. He was formerly in business as a grain merchant in Auckland and Wellington.

THE POSTMASTER’S CASE. AUCKLAND, Oct. G. Frederick John Heerdegen Was charged at the Police Court that, being in possession of £240 as postmaster at Ngongataha, he did steal same; also that he attempted to steal £9O, the property of the Postmaster-General. Detective Cummings in opposing bail on remand to Rotorua, said /there were bad features in the case. Tt was alleged the accused had received sums of money and did not account for them. There were other circumstances he did riot want to disclose. The_ Magistrate refused bail.