DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

J (By Telegraph—Per Press Associatio f PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BURN ' GREYMOUTH, Feh. 14. A fire destroyed the Totara FI Presbyterian Church yesterday aftc noon. The origin is a mystery, was an old building and well preserve Ihe insurances are unknown. FRUIT SHOP BURNT. GREYMOUTH, Feb. 14. A fire early this morning wrecked tl fruit show of S. Mclvor. in Taint Street. The damage to the stock an the fittings is estimated at £‘3oo an the building £2OO. The building wa owned by Mrs Lynch. The insurance are unobtainable. SUPRESIECOURT. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 14. The criminal sessions of the Suprenn Court opened to-day. There are four teen prisoners for trial. His Honour Mr Justice Adams, said the most re grettable thing was the undue pro ponderanee of sexual cases. Then were ten charges of this nature. SUICIDE. CHRISTCHURCH. Feh. 14. Henry Washbourne, aged 30 years, farmer, shot himself dead at Selwyn last evening. Previously lie bad entered his wife’s bedroom and fired the gun at her as she lay in bed but the shot missed and entered the wall. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 14. Mashbourne is said to have suffered from depression. He had been separated from his wife for some time, but they were reconciled two months ago. There are four children, one a boy. Airs Washbourne is 38 years old. RATANA AND HIS PIPE. WANGANUI, Feb. 0. A well-known Maori, who has been in the Ratana movement practically since its inception, but has now resigned, states that even in Ratana there is a certain amount of superstitious fear of evil spirits. The old Maori people cling to the tiki as a means of warding off evil spirits. Ratana. in his teachings, did his best to counteract this idea, and the large collection in the Ratana .museum goes to show that hundreds of Maoris cast aside various articles that formerly they thought warded olf evil influences. Now Ratana himself is very rarely without his pipe in his hand. Ho holds it when ho is addressing a gathering, and discards it only when he is preaching in the temple. On those occasions lie has a Bible between him and the congregation, and it is believed by some that both the Bible and the pipe are looked u|k>u by the leader as an effective means of keeping off evil influences. AN INQUEST. GISBORNE, Feb. 14. At tbe inquest on Christian Tange LniiriFscn, of Taihapo, drowned at Waiakne Beach yesterday. Dr Kohlenberg wlio conducted artificial respiration for half an hour, stated he was of opinion that deceased got tired out in tbe water, and getting into difficulties was drowned. Tbe work done by die naval men and others to revive the deceased was very creditable. At the suggestion of the Coroner, the liquest was postponed for a post nortem. A FATAL ACCIDENT. GISBORNE, Feb. 14. '['he visit of H.Af.S. Diomede to Gistorne was marred by a fatal accident vhich occurred early this morning, .vhen the body of one of the members if the crew, George Oswald Carr, a elegraphist, was found lying in a yard it the back of tbe Albion Hotel, licensed, with a mate Thomas Preclad attended a dance and put up an mtel for the night. Carr left his room i tor a few moments and Preece te|l asleep, not noticing that Carr had not returned. Carr's body was lound in the hotel yard by the night porter at o a.m. Deceased was married with one child. He had twelve years’ service with the Navy. STRIKE REPORT. AUCKLAND. Feb. 14. There is little activity at Westfield Freezing Works to-day. A number of men are hanging about discussing the situation. Some questioned by a reporter denied that the trouble was a movement in sympathy with men in southern works reported to be going slow. SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, Feb, 14. The most serious case at the present Supreme Court sessions is proceeding. Laurence McKenzie, 31. pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder his wife Honour Clarke MaeKenzie. at Parnell, on December 30th ; also to minor charges of assault and causing actual bodily harm and of common assault. INQUEST FINDING. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 14. In giving liis finding at the inquest on two men who were killed through the collapse of a wall at C. E. Otley’s yards. Air Mosley, S.M.. said he was satisfied the firm was justified in entrusting the work to a skilled man such as Clark tone of the victims). The Coroner added a rider urging that additions or alterations to any building should be subject to inspection by officers of the Labour Department. In his opinion the safety of workmen demanded such a course. THEFT CH ARGE. DARGAVILLE, Feb. 14. Joseph J. Letica, a young married man, was charged at the Police Couit this morning with breaking and enteiing AV. G. Hyland’s general store on or about November 25th, 192<. and stealing a sum of money amounting to £8 15s fid. As other charges are pending a remand was granted for seven days. The local courthouse this morning presented the appearance of a general store, the floor being strewn with all sorts of merchandise, in view ol a number of petty thieving rases during the past twelve months. Some interesting developments are expected. SCHOOL CONFERENCE. SPEAKER’S CONREMNATION. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 14. At the conference of the South Island school committees, speakers condemned the script writing on grounds that it was no value and led to an easy method of forgery. CROQUET. PALAIERSTON N.. Feb. 14. The croquet tournament was continued this morning. The ladies championship singles, first lihn third round—Miss Steel (England 2b. AH* Brabant (Auckland) 5. . Fourt round—Mrs Johnson yC hnstchurch) 26. Mrs Bennett (Hawera) 21. Ladies championship singles, second life, third round —Airs Matkms (Hastings) 26, Airs Gardner (Wellington) ; 3 : AHss Steel (England) 26. Airs Piteaithly (Hastings) 4.