DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

| (By Telegraph—Por Press Association. I VICTIM, OF DROWNING. ASHBURTON, Dec. 19. I The victim of the Tinwald drowning is Ronald Balfour RedclifFe. His father has been an inmate of the County Hospital tor nearly twelve months. AN INQUEST. DUNEDIN, Dec. 20. At the inquest on Alexander IJoggans, school teacher, found dead with a gunshot wound in the head, the evidence. of the wife was that deceased suffered from biliousness and chronic indigestion and gave way to heavy drinking at times. A verdict of suicide while in a depressed state of mind, was returned. !

M'OOL SALE CLOSES. DUNEDIN, Dec. 20. The wool sale finished at one this morning, with competition keen til l the last lot was sold. Top price wast'd! red for a particularly good line of extra super merino, which brought 27d. A line of super fine half bred came next at 2(ld. Growers are well satisfied with the stile. OILFIELDS REPORT. GISBORNE, Dec. 20. Taranaki oilfields report states Mai-

apn No. 2 well was drilled to a depth of 2810 feet, 8) inch, diameter casing to 200 Feet, no change. Gisborne No. I well was drilled to a depth of 1925 feet in sand, 8.1 inch diameter casing to 1905 feet. Gisborne No. 2 well trnnsjiort is in progress but is ticlaved bv rain.

A NEW JUDGE. MELLINGTON, Dec. 20. Mr A. W. Blair, barrister and solicitor. of Wellington, lias been offered and has accepted one of the vacant judgeships on the Supreme Court Bench. AORAXGI’S CARGO. AUCKLAND. Dec. 20. The Aorangi sailing to-night, takes 35,000 boxes of butter for Canada, a proportion of wliieli is for transhipment to Japan and China. FOUND DEAD. AUCKLAND, Dee. 20. John Edward Blythen, 25, single, was found on Shoal Bay Reach, Northcote, at nine o’clock last night, wit his brains blown out by a shot gun. Deceased had been depressed for a long period.

ASSAULT CHARGE. "WELLINGTON Deo. 20.

Undertaking to defend a girl in a laundry depot in Willis Street at six o'clock last evening. A. W. Blair, solicitor, was assaulted by John Jas. Spring, .97, a razor expert, commonly known as Sharpe. When Spring was charged at Court, Blair evidenced that lie went into the depot to collect a parcel and found defendant sitting on the counter in a familiar sort of way towards the girl attendant, a razor in his right hand, and tobacco tin in his left. Defendant was not drunk but. appeared under the influence. Ho asked the girl ini she was being annoyed. She nodded and lie told the defendant to get out. Defendant refused, n.nd when Blair threatened to put him out lie struck Blair with his list. Witness described the struggle which followed. He got defendant down and sent a boy for the police.

The girl. Leah Mills, corroborated Blair. Defendant was making a nuisance or himself. He was sharpening a razor and telling her what a wonderful man he was. The dcloncc was that. Blair provoked the assault by threatening defendant.. ’I be Magistrate said the ease was perfectly clear. Defendant went into the depot halt drunk and disohiycd a razm". terrifying the girl. Blair came to the rescue and was assaulted. Defendant was fined £5. in default 21 days.