DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1927, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. OLD MAX WANDERSW AIM ATE, Nov. 24. After wandering over the lulls for the greater part of Wednesday night, an old and respected resident. Air John Af’Rae, over seventy years of age was found on Thursday morning and brought- home by bis sons. Air Al’Rae, who has been suffering from ill-health' for .some time, apparently owing to loss of memory, wandered in the hills all night. A search was instituted hv a large number of relatives and friends, and be was found sitting under a hedge, little the worse for bis experience. CHEQUES STOLEN FROAr MAIL-BAG. HAMILTON. Nov. 24. The missing mail-bag case, in which Harold Alelville Taylor was charged with receiving two cheques known to have been amongst the contents of a mail-bag stolen from Frankton railway station on September 3rd. was continued at the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day. No evidence was called by the defence and Crown counsel did not give a final address to the jury. Aftei two hours deliberation the jury brought in a verdict of guilty on both counts. Sentence was postponed till to-morrow.

A BOROUGH’S MISTAKE. SATURDAA' HALF-HOLIDAY. AVELLIXGTOX, Nov. 24. Discussion recently occurred Lit Parliament over the difficulty which the small borough of Eketahuna had experienced through adopting the Saturday half-holiday. It found its trade from the country diverted to a rival l>orougli, which had a Wednesday lialfholiday, and it has no power under the main Act to take a poll with the hope of making a change. A new clause to the Local 1 indies Empowering Bill aims at solving the problem. Eketahuna may take another poll if not less than two-fifths of tho electors present a jietition to that end and give security for tho cost of the poll.

1,1 FT WELL FATALITY. WELLINGTON. Nov. 25

George Shepherd, a carpenter, aged 31. of 22 Chamberlain Street, lvarori. died ill the Public Hospital this afternoon from a fractured skull received us the result of being knocked down a lift well during building operations in the T. and G. Building, at the corner of Grey Street and Lnmbton Quay, about 11.40 a.m.

It appears that deceased was leaning over the lift well on the third door sawing a piece ol timber when the lift descended suddenly and knocked him down the well. Shepherd, who was a married man, was immediately rushed off to tho hospital in the free ambulance, hut succumbed at 3.30 p.m., without regaining consciousness.

SOI (ICITOR’S SI'IjCIDE. WELLINGTON. Nov. 25. At the inquest on B. J. Dolan, barrister and solictor, the verdict was death from the effects of coal gas poisoning, self-ailministered while in a state o' temporary mental depression.

GRUESOME FIND IN TRAWLING NET. BLEXHETAf, Nov. 25. While trawling off AVairan Ear yesterday, a party of fishermen found in their net a hoot with the remains of a human foot in it. This discovery, iT is believed, will throw some light upon the disappearance from his lauciih some months ago, of a young fisherman, Roy Eyles. The hoot- is being brought to Blenheim for identification purposes.

HUTT ROAD BUS COY. WELLINGTON, Nov. 25

■ It is stated on good authority that the Railway Department lias purchased the Hutt Road bus service known as the Community buses, between Wellington and Petone, and will take over the running almost immediately. Tt is understood that the Company owns ix almost new buses, and these form tho nucleus of a fleet the Department will run in conjunction with the railways.

COAL QUESTION. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2fi

At the annual meeting of the Grey Valley Collieries Ltd., the Chairman said: “1 would like to see New Zealand Railways who are the largest consumers of coal in Xew Zealand, stop importing the Australian article. These remarks also - apply to other large importers. Competition of oil and electricity is having a decreasing effect on coal sales, and it is up to all who have the well are of the Dominion at heart to burn only t bo New Zealand produced article.”