DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1928, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P°r Press Association.)

A SENSATIONAL AFFRAY. TIMARU, Afay 11

A sensational affray occurred at Otaio in the early hours this morning. It appears that Bernard Lewis Blackwell and Ernest McCunn, potato diggers. journeyed with their employer to the house of a man named Aneell, where the alleged visitors forced an entrance by "breaking down the door. Mrs Aneell, in her night attire, made investigations and found Blackwell in the bedroom of her eighteen year old son. She ordered him out hut ho declined. It is alleged lie struck The woman and her son. Airs Ancell then secured a shot gun, which she gave to her son. Blackwell appealed for assistance to AfcCunn and after an interval both visitors left the bouse. BlaGkwiell threatened to i*cs turn and the youth fired a shot in the air. Blackwell then went to the house of Robert Barr, brother-in-law of Airs Aneell close by, where it is alleged, Blackwell shattered a large window and threatened to murder Barr. Blackwell entered Barr’s house and when ordered out made threats and Barr bit the intruder over the bead with a shovel. Blackwell then retreated but returned and broke another window. At this stage young Aneell fired a shot at each man hitting one in the leg and the other in the body. The men returned to tlieir employer’s car and they were brought to the Police Station at St. Andrew’s and later to Timaru, where both are now in the hospital. Their injuries are not regarded as serious. The cause of the disturbance has not been disclosed.

POPUL ATI ON FI G UR.ES. AVELT.INGTON, Afay 10.

According to a return published in to-night’s Gazette the estimated population including Alaoris of New Zealand proper , at. March 31st last was 1,453,517. This total consists of 742,30C nudes and 711,121 females.

The Maori population was estimated at 64.817. comprised of 33.828 males and 30,989 females.

The population, including Alaoris, of the North Island was estimated at 929,434 and that of the South Island at 524,083.

ILL AND ISOLATED. NAPIER, Alav 10.

The keepers of the light on Portland Island early this morning attracted the attention, by means of a. Alor.se lamp, of the steamer Kahika, eu route from Gisborne to Lyttelton, in order to get assistance for the wife of Keeper Gnuccr. who was seriously ill. At daylight Airs Gaucer was taken off in a surf-boat- and brought by the Kahika to Napier for treatment. The incident once more brings forward the need for some sort of communication between Portland 'lsland and the mainland.

LORRY FALLS ICO FEET. NAPIER.. Afay 10

When the lights failed on a lorry travelling in Hie darkness over Tongioi Hill on the AVairoa Road the driver lost his bearings, and before be could pull up the lorry slid off the road and went almost 100 feet before being stopped by a tree. Iho drive 1 , was not injured, hut twenty-three sheep which the lorry was carrying, were killed outright, while a further twenty to thirty were so injured that they were destroyed to stop their sufferings.

WHARF LEASED. WELLINGTON, May Ift.

Burnham wharf, which was erected by the Wellington Harbour Board for the discharge of oil. has been leased to the Shell Company for a period of seven years. Intended only for the handling of oil. the wharf is surrounded by high fences, so that the whole can be locked up when not working, and the public, for safety reasons, are not admitted. The wharf is at Miramar.

THEFT CHARGES. INVERCARGILL, May 11. At a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Queenstown, Thomas A. Hanson. who was, up till Alondav last, Chief Clerk at the Queenstown railway station, was charged with the theft of -022 10s 2d, the property of the Government.

He was further charged that, on May 7th., being an officer of the Government, lie did, for fraudulent purposes, destroy by fire one easn book, one ledger and a quantity of inward goods weigh bills, the property of the Government.

It wi)s stated that other charges are pending. The police asked for a remand for n fortnight in order to obtain further evidence.

Accused was allowed bail, and has to report to the police daily.

INQUEST VERDICT. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11

Coroner Lowry, S.AI.. concluded today an inquest into the death of Alargaret O’Connor, at Christchurch Hospital. on April 20th, from injuries sustained when a motor cycle driven by Trevor Walter Moss, on which she was riding pillon fashion, crashed into a heap of earth on the road.

The Coroner hold that, as the motor cycle was without a light and the night was dark, the speed at which Alos.s drove was excessive. The obstruction, a drainage trench, was marked by four lamps, but Aloss, having seen the warning ligli ts. failed to take proper care in approaching the obstruction.

BIG BRIDGE FOR THAAIES

THAAIES, Afn.v 11

The Premier opened the Hauraki bridge this morning. It was a very wet day. It is an important link in the main highway from Thames to Auckland. It cost 052,000. of which the local bodies found 030.000. The length is 1555 feet, and there is a swing span to let vessels through.

J.P. ASSOCIATION. TLMARU. A fay 11. A meeting attended by fifty Justices of the Peace decided to form a South Canterbury Justices’ Association. Seventy members were enrolled n.nd it is expected that the number will lie increased to one hundred.

WORKER KILLED. AUCKLAND. A fay 11

Edward Reid, aged about 45. single, a labourer, was killed as the result of an accident at the Newmarket- railway workshops this afternoon. Steel wagon frames, each weighing two or three tons, were being unloaded by means of a crane from trucks on a siding alongside tbe engineering workshops. When one frame had been lifted clear of a truck and was being swung round, preparatory to being lowered, one of the chains slipped from the crane, book, and one end of the frame crashed to tbe ground, pinning Reid beneath it. His death is considered to have been practically instantaneous. Another labourer, George Busby, sustained a severe scalp wound, but after an X-ray examination at tbe hospital he was able to proceed home.

RAILWAY FATALITY. AVAIAIATE. May 11. An open verdict was returned at be inquest concerning the death of

George Leal, of Dunedin, who was killed at Studholme Junction on AVednesdav evening, through being run over by a train, the jury adding a rider that the yards were inadequately lit. The deceased, with a companion named John Craig, of Tima.ru, was walking across the rails from the AVaimate train (which had been shunted to a branch line) to the platform on the west side, thinking that the approaching train was going on the east side of the platform. Instead the- train Vent to the west side, and deceased was knocked over and killed, Craig being knocked clear. The engine driver said he was keeping' a. sharp lookout, but the headlight did not show up the spot where the men were. The railway traffic inspector said the Department htgl in band the remodelling of the Junction yards.

POLITICAL. CHRISTCHURCH, Maj- 11. The United Party is awaiting Mrs T. E. Taylor’s decision on its that she be the Party’s candidate against Air H. Holland for Christchurch North. The United Party is also seeking women candidates for other Christchurch seats-. ' THAMES, Afay 11.

AVhon the message concerning the Liberal Party and the United Party fusion was shown to Afr Coates. Prune Afinister, t-liis afternoon, he laughed and said:—“Good! Let ’em all come, the more the merrier.” , '

ABETTING A CRIATE. WELLINGTON, Afay 11. John George Furev was found guilty on three charges of abetting a ser(ious crime by a male. He was remanded till to-morrow for sentence.

FRAUD CHARGE FAILS. WELLINGTON, Afay 11

Airs Wall, at present licensee of the Empire Hotel, was charged in the Supreme Court to-day with attempted fraud in selling furniture in Wellington on which there was a bill of sale. She pleaded not guilty, stating that she had not been .informed by her solicitor of the encumbrance. The jury, after three hours retirement, found her not guilty.

THEFT FROM LETTER. BOX. WELLINGTON. Alav 11

Two youthful labourers, Clarence Barnes and John Edvard Loi is Buron, pleaded guilty to the theft of i a cheque for £6 13s sd, from a. letter box at the Market Gardeners’ Company’s premises. Baines Torgcd the endorsement and the cheque was cashed at an hotel, a bottle of whisky being purchased with part of the proceeds. Air Page admitted Barnes to two years’ probation on condition that the stolen money was repaid at the rate of ten shillings a week, Burton, who had been in Borstal, was sentenced to twelve months’ reformative detention.

SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCES WELLINGTON, Afay 11.

The quarterly meeting of the Public Service Superannuation Board was held on Thursday. Forty-three contributors retired by reason of age or length of service, and were granted allowances totalling £10.299 per an-

ninin. Eight contributors retired as medi eally unfit, and were granted allowances totalling £824 per annum. Eight widows and nine children were granted the statutory allowances amounting to £482 per annum. In consequence of retirements under section 26 of the act, accrued compensation to the amount of £2,185 became a: liability of the Superannuation Fund and a corresponding relief to the Consolidated Fund.

MOMENTARILY AGROUND. > TIATARU. A lav 12. This morning when coming into port from Lyttelton, the steamer Calm. thcim| mentarily grounded on a sand beach" north of the dashing rocks.but was refloated by her own power within a. few minutes and proceeded to berth. At the time of the accident the harbour was enveloped in a dense fog.. It Is understood the vessel sustained no damage.

SUDDEN DEATH. GISBORNE, A lay 11. The death occurred suddenly this morning of Air Edmond Dougherty (Note; Not Air Eugene Dougherty, as

telegraphed to-dav). coal and wood t merchant, aged 34 years. Afr DoufTiierty complained of pains in the chest and abdomen, and later was found dead in h.is wood yard.

TE ACHER S’ INSTITUTE. WELLINGTON, Afav 11

Following are the officers elected for the X.Z.E.1.: President, Air A. J. C. Hall (Auckland); Treasurer, Air C. Robertson’ (Wellington); Vice-Presi-dent. Air J. G. Poison (A’l.A.) ; Executive. Miss M. E. Ala gill, Miss M. C. Edmed, Messrs J. P. Ilawke, H. F. Penliiigton. F. A. Garry. G. F. Griffiths, A. Murdoch, Fiulayson, P. Al. Jackson and T. Irvine.

POSTArASTER CH ARGED. WAIROA, May 11. At the Police Court to-day, William James Atarsin, Postmaster at Timi, was charged with stealing sixty pound*, the property of the Government. He was remanded to appear on Alay 18. Bail was allowed and ho was ordered to report daily to the police.

LOCAL LOANS

£407,190 SANCTIONED. WELLINGTON, Alay 11. At a meeting of the Local Government Loans Board on Wednesday, 27 applications for loans. totalling £431,540 were dealt with, including three renewal loans amounting to £11,500. Loans for £407.19G were sanctioned the balance of £213,344 being either declined or referred back to the local authority concerned for further information.