DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) SURF BATHERS IN TROUBLE DUNEDIN, Jan. 23. At least four bathers, three of whom were over venturesome young women, required assistance in reaching the shore during the past few days. At St. Clair on Sunday afternoon a young man was carried ashore unconscious, and an hour later a girl got into difficulties and had to he helped ashore also. The St. Clair Life-Saving Club effected the rescues on both occasions. At Brighton on Friday two young women also had a narrow escape from drowning. Their cries attracted the attention of a young man named Alfred Jones, who had just left the water. and lie lost no time in again dashing into the breakers. He succeeded in bringing one of the girls to safety, and then, with the assistance ol another man, rescued the other. He is to he recommended for bis prompt and exceedingly plucky action, for there is no doubt that the girls would have been carried out to sen beyond human aid had he not been in the vicinity. As it was, both girls were badly shaken, and the rescuer himself was tired out by the time he reached the shore. There were very few people about at the time.

SPEEDERS SHOULD BE HANGED AND QUARTERED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 21. Leo G. Movim, ai the Magistrate's Court, pleaded guilty 'to a charge of dangerous driving. •‘He Was riding lii.s iiioior-cyclc at thirty-five miles an hour over a route that is bristling with intersections,” said Mr Louglinan for the prosecution. “Had you lost your .senses’’? the Magistrate (Air E. D. Mosley) asked. “How fast do you think you were going ?” “Not over forty,” said defendant. “You fellows ought to tie hanged, drawn and quartered,” said the Magistrate. “There’s a difference of opinion,” said defendant. Mr Mosley: Do you know you are liable to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of £100? Supposing I fine vou £o0?

“T couldn't pay it." .said defend

“You would have to go to gaol,” replied the Bench. Defendant was convicted and fined £3 and costs.

A NAD HOW ESCAPE. AFOKLAND. Jan. 2J

Mrs L. Hill, of Mmicere, mid two children, who wo it with her hud a very lucky escape on Sat unlay morning. Mr Hill was away at the time, and .Mrs Hill was alone in the house with a small nephew and niece. When awakened by the crackling of the lire she had only time to save herself and the two children. The house was snoii ablaze, and, despite the efforts of the volunteer f|re-fighlors, it was completely razed to the ground. None of the furniture or personal effects were saved. The house, which was a wooden one of four rooms and a kitchenette, was owned and occupied by Mr Hill. Shortly before one o’clock this afternoon, the, Avondale Fire Brigade was summoned to attend an outbreak that occurred in a five-roomed wooden dwelling in Willow Avenue, Avondale, owned and occupied by Me {buffo. ■ The building was completely gutted. The house and contents were insured in the South British Office. |

NO ADMISSION. ArCKLAND, dan. 211. .Mr Gurr. editor of the ‘‘Samoan Guardian,”• has been refused permission to land in Tutnila (American Samoa’.

KILLED BY HORSE. AUCKLAND. Jan. 24. Knocked down by a bolting horse and cart, at Green Lane. Francis Carlton, single, aged fill, died a.t the Auckland Hospital this afternoon, five minutes after being admitted. 'file dead man was working on the footpath, when a horse shying, bolted and jumped on the footpath knocking Carlton down.

RECORD PRICE FOR YEARLING. WELLINGTON, dan. ‘2l. The New Zealand record for the price for a yearling was established to-day when Air G. D. Greenwood, of Christchurch, bought a chest nut colt by Lomond from the Absurd mare Homage, who is a sister to Humbug. Epitaph, Commendation. Eulalio and Fulsome. The bidding opened at oUO guineas, and quickly rose to and closed at 2.300 guineas. . CROQUET. A rCKI.AXD, Jan. 24. Members of the English croquet team, which lias just completed a very successful tour of Australia, arrived by the rlimaroa from Sydney, tc, play matches in the Dominion. WHARF FATALITY. SEA.'IAX FALLS IN HARBOUR. AUCKLAND. Jan. 24. A fatality occurred at the Princes Wharf this afternoon, when an able seaman on the Union Steamship Coy’s steamer Ivanna. Win. Ogle, single, aged about 00, fell into the water between the vessel and the wharf. Although he was rescued after being in the water only two or three minutes, the man was dead when examined b.v a doctor shortly afterwards. Ogle had signed on the ship’s articles only this morning. The vessel was preparing to leave for Noumea, Surprise and Walpole Islands, and in company with others of the crew lie was loading stores. When the accident occurred, packages were being carried from the wharf to the poop without the aid of a gangway, and in stepping on to the wharf, Ogle slipped and fell into the water. The chief officer and two others immediately climbed down to the waters edge, and brought the man lo the wharf. There were no marks on the body, and it is believed that death was due to shock.

FINDING OF COURT OF INQUIRY. AUCKLAND, Jan. 24. j An inquiry into the sinking of the Clan AlaeWilliani in Vnvau Harbour, | Tonga, on Christmas morning, was held I at the British Residency. Nukualofa, I on January 3rd. The steamer caught fire while loading copra, and after the officers and crew had heroically fought the flames for many hours, sank; the captain and thief engineer being drowned. The Court delivered its finding on January 9tli. It was unable to determine the origin of the fire, but found that the copra appeared to have been properly stowed, and the hold adequately ventilated. It also held that every possible step was taken to save the ship, and that the conduct of the master, officers and crew was exemplary, no blame being attachable to anyone. Regarding Capt. William Thompson, and the Chief Engineer. Mr Dishington. the Court stated: “Throughout the fire these two officers directed operations in a calm and collected manner, and the Court, in placing on record its high opinion of their conduct, ex- ,

tends its sympathy to th© relatives be- | reaved.” The above report shows that an earlier account, obtained from officers of the Niagara, who had .intercepted wireless messages on the subjest, was incorrect in some important particulars, especially in the statements that the vessel was alongside the wharf; that the port authortiics ordered her into the stream, and that white officers and the Lascar crew refused to ; mail her. declaring that she was unsafe, i