DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

,) (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. ESCAPE FROM FIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 29. Awakened from sleep last night to , find the rooms in (lames. William Stephens, eiglitv-ninc years, had his hands and left foot severely scorched, before lie could gel out of range of the outbreak. He was admitted to the hospital, but bis condition is not serious. Stephens was on a visit from 'I imam. The (lames were confined to one room. A DOUBLE FIRE. TA UM Alt UNU (, Feb. 29. A four roomed house at Kakalii owned and occupied by H. (lark was destroyed ijy fire, the cause being unknown. I lie insurances are unavailable.

\\ bile ;i neighbour of Chirk, a nia named Haigli wns assisting to (pit tin: outbreak a (ire broke out in tl hitter's lioaoy shed, which was total] destroyed together with over Hire tons of honey, an extractor and a oil endin '. Haigli’s property was in insured and Ire is a heavy loser. AN INCrKST. TAC.M A HUNT I, Feb. 'llie inquest concernilie; the death o Walter Aiding;, a inisiinian, killed a .Waniinili. tlirolljrli a piece of hraiic-l lulling and piercing his eye and lira in was held before Air Laird, coroner who returned a .verdict of accident:! death. THKFT OF POSTAL L’ACKKT. A! ALTON, Feb. til). Krnest Nelson Butler, married, witl live children and a former postal employee, pleaded guilty to liie tnel't 01 a postal packet containing cheques k. the value of seven pounds and ills: a five pound note, lie was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Accused stole the packet in Noveinlier and on the second clay ot he Afanawatu races cashed one cheque n a ( hinnman'.s simp in Palmerston North. 'file Chinaman formerly leaded at Alarton and thus identified i censed. j Km irk pi.avkrs puotkst. Cl 111 ISTCII IBCII, Fehruary -'9. At a meeting of Fucltrc players and promoters, a deputation was appointed to wait oil the Premier to-morrow to protest against the suppression of euchre parties one speaker said, "we want to impress the Prime AI inis to r that we are indignant at this prosecution of euchre parly promoters, which really amounts to police dictatorship. They are settling themselves up as moralists and endeavouring ta regulate the morals of the community. ISIT.SU KIRKS. CdSIiORNK. Feb. L>9. The whole of the vegetation in the valleys from Hicks Bay to Cape RunI away have been completely destroyed by fires which got out of control during the week end. One homestead has been btirnecT out. and it is estimated that fully ftltltl sheep have been lost in the Haines, besides a few head of (-11111!'. Panic stricken settlers were compelled to lice from their homes and seek refuge further north. I'lie lire started three miles from Hicks Itiiv. and burned through AlcOuire’s Tralford property and continued up the Owekn Valley to Aladdox Wilson’s ami .Neale’s properties, leaving a blackened waste. Settlers were powerless to chock the Haines. At 1 a.m.. Air and Airs Downey with with two babies bad evacuated their homo, being hunted from place to place, by the flames. finally finding refuge in the .Maori meeling house all stock being destroyed. Waitangihia station homesteads were endangered and settlers, 'fliomas and Cranswick. had to leave their homes, burying their valuables. They lost some sheep. A workman named Calnau on this station and his wile had to make a hurried exit from their camp and lost everything they possessed. A. C. Wood’s station house at Boltin Point had a narrow escape, hoses being placed on tile building throughout the night, every available man assisting. AlacNiven’s home at Omareporoa was similarly saved. Fires were still raging lasL night in Owekn Valley. Neal’s and Wilson’s houses being endangered. I he* Haines wise at one time dangerously iieai flicks Bay township. ’lhe report tlml the- Koliu station woolshed was liestroved is unfounded.

CAB I,ETON FOB SOUTH AFRICA. CHBISTOHUItOII, Eeh. 29. S. B. Carleton has been asked by the New Zealand Rugby Union whether lie will he available lor the African tour and has replied “yes.'’ ROTA RIANS CONFER. BALMEBSTON N.. Feb. 29. For the first occasion on which the event has been held outside of the four centres, the Rotary Clubs of New Zealand met in anitpal conference at Palmerston North to-day. The fixture, which will extend for lour days has brought many notable visitors, including luitarians from Australia • and Honolulu. This morning the delegates and their wives, numbering 309, were welcomed by Palmerston North Rotary Club. Proceedings were officially opened by Hon. Young. This evening a civic reception will I'c accorded the visitors at Awapuni racecourse, when the principal speakers will he the Mayor and Mr J. A. Nash M.P. MISSING LAUNCH. GISBORNE. Feb. ■_’!). A message from Tokomaru Bay states the Harbour Board’s launch. \Vaima has been searching yesterday and to-dav for the missing launch but without success. A message has been sent to places on the coast north and .south of Tokomaru requesting a careful watch be kept, though it is feared the launch could hardly have weathered yesterday’s gale. GOVERN 08-GE NHR Al. EX PI. AI NS. WELLINGTON. Eeh. 29. With reference Jo the press announcement of a resolution passed by a gathering of returned soldiers at Denniston during the recent visit of the Governor-General. His Excellency desires it to be. understood, that when the proposal for the despatch of a telegram to Major-General Sir George Richardson was made, llis Excellence expressly stated that as the situation in Samoa was a subject of political controversy, he could not associate himself with the matter in any form. FORGERY CHARGE. WELLINGTON. Feb. 29; Stewart Robert Cleary , ‘ Fletcher, who admitted forging a letter at Auckland, purported to be signed by l)r J. Macfarlane. was* committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Accused bad been questioned by the police re an application that be made for admission to the police force. A detective doubted t'— genuineness of testimonials end later in Wellington accused admitted they were forgeries but no use was made of them.