AN AMAZING ADVENTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1928, Page 4

AN AMAZING ADVENTURE

SYDNEY, April ft). While attending a picnic with her parents in the Peak Hill district, New South Wales, little Diana Johnston, four years of age, made off with another child in chase of a rabbit. Her companion soon returned, hut not so Diana. As soon as she was found to lie missing the picnic party commenced a search, as thorough and as systematic as the circumstances would allow. Dusk came and there was no sign of the child. She seemed to have disappeared as completely as if she had been swallowed by the earth, which had afterwards closed about her. Darkness came, and a frantic mother and father tore wildly through the hush shouting and calling, while others went to nearby towns for assistance. At daybreak the next day motor-ears arrived from all over the district bringing searchers, and hy il o’clock there wore 300 people scouring the hush. The search parties were properly organised, and the women carried meals to the men, so that, no time would he lost. All through the day the search went on, and ten miles from the scene of tile picnic the child’s bat was found late in the afternoon. A Idaektrncker was summoned, hut owing to the footprints of so many searchers lie'was tumble to render any material help. The searchers were mystified.

At dusk Unit night a tired anil worn child arrived at a homestead miles away and said that she had been looking for her mother “ for such a long time.” At the picnic she had taken off her shoes and socks, and her little feet were sore and bleeding, anil the few clothes that she wore were almost torn from her back. She was soon eared for, and alter tier ravenous hunger and thirst had boon partially satisfied she was returned to her home. As she gathered her baby in her arms her mother collapsed, but revived when she heard the child sobbing on her shoulder. It was a dramatic scene, and there were few dry eves to witness the reunion. The child was put to bed. anil, "although delirious through tlie night, had almost recovered the next day. of the buildings. Smith was married, and had two children. *He was commencing his first day’s work on the building. \\ hen on the root ot the building, deceased lost, his balance, and fell through a skylight 27tt oil to a concrete Moor. He sustained a fracture of the skull, and injuries to the right knee and hip, being killed instantly.

TAITPIRI MINES DIVIDENDS. AUCKLAND, May 1. The report of the Taupiri Coal Mines Limited states that the profit for tlie year, after making allowance for depreciation, amounts to £18.50(5 IDs Id, to which must he added £5.158 Lis 111. brought forward from last year, giving a total of £23,752 Is 2d. -A preference share dividend amounting to £1 GOO and an interim dividend amounting to £6050, and representing Is a share on the ordinary shares, have been paid, totalling £76,50. Ihe balance to he dealt with is £1(5,075 -ts 2d. This, the Directors recommend shall tie appropriated as follows: To pay final dividends of Is a share, £6.050 ; to transer to the Accident Reserve Final. £1000; to carry foruaid £0025 Is 2d.

UNIQUE CLAIM. ' AUCKLAND. May 1. A oinpousation claim of interest to the employers of outdoor labour was heard before Mr Justice Eraser in the Arbitration Court to-day. when the chief point at issue was whether an employee, who contracted illness through exposure to rain in the course of his work, could lie said to have licen the victim of an accident within the meaning of the At orkers’ ( omjiensalion Act. The plaintiff. Hairy liresant, claimed from the Northern Steamship Coy. compensation for time lost and medical expenses incurred when he was incapacitated for two weeks with an attack of muscular rheumatism, alleged to have been caused through exposure when painting for the delcmlant company. During the work b ■ was exposed to heavy rain. Counsel for the defence said the ms.was brought to obtain the court’s ruling. The defence, while making a general denial of the circumstances, < ontended that the falling of rain in the course of ship cleaning work was not an untoward or unlooked-for occurrence nn.l any such conditions which it was alleged had caused plaintiff’s illness were such as would he normally anticipated . “ Could the plaintiff, on arriving home after having receiving a wetting, have told anyone that he lu'd met with an accident?” asked eornsel. Decison was reserved.