DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) A STARTLING DISCOVERY. HAWEIIA, Jan. 5. A startling discovery was made on a farm at To Kiri this morning, when a farmer found his step-mother dead with a wound in her throat and a razor beside her body. The deceased was Charlotte Lillian Ferguson, widow, aged about 5G years, who had been living with her step-son Charles Joseph Ferguson. Deceased had been in poor health for a long time and for several months had been receiving medical treatment for nerve trouble. An inquest will be held.

ASSAULTED BY GUEST. WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. To be knocked down by a guest whom he told in a friendly way that he would have to hurry to catch his dioat was the experience of Thomas Coltmnn. proprietor of the Grand Hotel yesterday afternoon. The assailant, Oscar Edward Solvin, master mariner, aged twenty-eight, appeared in Court to-day and pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Lander said that Solviu took no notice of a porter when he went to remind him that he had very little time, to catch the ship, and Coltmnn himself went to Solvin’s room with tho information. Without warning Solvin knocked Coltmnn down and stood over him in a threatening manner. Solvin had had a certain amount of drink, hut was hv no means drunk. Coltnuui had hied profusely from a cut in the chin, and had to obtain medical attention. Ilis suit was also damaged. “I .had too many drinks yesterday, and don’t remember what happened,'’ was Solvin’s excuse.

Mr Salmon. S.M.; No doubt you are thoroughly ashamed of yourself. lon will be fined £3, and will also have to pay £3 3s medical expenses. Default was fixed at a month’s imprisonment. Half the fine goes to Coltmnn.

TOTAL!SATOR FIGURES. AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. For the racing and trotting carnivals the totalisator investments reached the tall figure of £002,<381, an increase of £55,193 over last season’s seven days’ sport. T. GREEN’S RIDING RECORD. AUCKLAND. Jan. 4. Between December 26 and January 3 T. AY. Green, the apprentice jockey, rode eleven winners at Ellerslie, Awnpuni and Tniihereniknu meetings. For tho Auckland Racing Club’s four-day carnival alone his fees approximated £240. TAAYA FLAT TUNNEL. THE LABOUR TROUBLE. WELLINGTON, Jan. I. The deadlock between the contractors for the Tawa Flat tunnel and their workmen, concerning conditions and rates of pay, still continues. Alter the last abortive conference the contractors declared that if the men did not accept their offers by the end of the year they would man the tunnel with independent workers, and recommence operations. Mr Cook, general secretary of the New Zealand Workers Union stated to-day that his union had not been further approached b.v the contractors, and the union intended to make no further move in the meantime. AYork was not restarted at the tunnel to-day.

- FORGED A CHEQUE. i CH iIC STC'H U RCII, Jan. o. * Albert Robert Wilcoxson, twenty-one ■ years of age, in the Magistrate’s Court i yesterday, pleaded guilty to having, at Culverden on December 2<>, forged a > cheque for £7 Ids on the Bank of New : Zealand, purported to having boon signed by Robert A. Holism, fanner, and to having stolen q blank cheque form. Wilcoxson was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence For having stolen a microphone valued at £l, belonging to the Government at Culverden, he was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. A charge of breach of probationary license was withdrawn. MAN AND BOY DROWNED. WAXGANUr, .Jan. o. The drowning of Claude Mulvaney, married, of Auckland, and Howard Bernard Loft, the nine year old son of a Westmore family, formed a tragic end to a picnic* party on the River today. -Mnlvanoy and his wife were spending tin* holiday with the Lofts, and j with Mrs Loft and the latter’s four children, went for a holiday outing. Deceased was bathing when he stepped over a ledge in deep water. The bov was in difficulties and though Mulvaney was not a swimmer he went to his assistance. Both sank out of sight, hut two other children also in trouble were saved by three others. The bodies were recovered by the police staff an hour later. The boy was found tightly clasped in Mulvnney’s

arms. BODY FOUND IN LUPTXS. DUNEDIN, Jan. o. The body of a woman named Annie Waters was found by a boy in tlio Lupins at St. Kildn at 3.30 p.m. this afternoon. Docasod. who lived with her sister at > ■l3. Douglas Street. St. Tvilda. wjjs reported missing at 4.30 p.m. on January 3rd.