DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

A ( IHLD’S BODY. CHRISTCHURCH, .May 15. I lie body of a fully-developed male (liild was found in the lavatories at the Christchurch Railway Station at about noon to-day.

RAPE CHARGE. WIfANGAREI, May 15. Ai the Court to-day, Whakatutere Horn’ Delia was committed to the Supreme Court for trial oil a charge of rape of a Maori girl, aged twelve years, at Piliiwahine, on .May Ith.

A BETTING FRAUD. CHRISTCHURCH, May 15. Richard Green appeared at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, charged with stealing CIO .">s (id, wliic-h charge was amended to one of stealing £3. The circumstances were that Green accepted a sum of three pounds to invest on Padlock at a recent trotting meeting. Padlock won, and the dividend on the £3 amounted to £lO 5s 6d. The accused failed to return either the dividend or the three pounds, lie was convicted, and placed on probation for two years.

SEXUAL OE FENCE. IXVERCAROfLL, May 15. At the Supreme Court, Ernest Hoffman was charged with unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of sixteen. The intercourse was admitted by both the accused and the girl concerned, whose present age is fourteen •’and n-lmlf years. Counsel lor the accused based his de fence on Sub-Section 2 of Section 21.0 of the Crimes Act. The jury were unable to agree, and a new trial was ordered for next session.

.MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. . NEW PLYMOUTH, -May 15. A tragedy on the Alain Road near Makoia on February 24 had its sequel in the Supreme Court to-day, when George Gravy Smith, a stone buyer, o! Unworn, was charged with inan--.laugliler; with driving a car negli gently so as to cause the death of Alilli Cent Elizabeth Richter, wife of a Mokoia farmer; and with driving a car while intoxicated si that death was caused. A plea of not guilty was entered on all counts. Evidence was given that a< cased drove past .Mokoia at 35 miles an hour, one man in his car hanging over the side of the car as though drunk or asleep. Shortly afterwards motorists found Mrs Richter lying seriously inujred on tln> roadside with the accused's car standing farther on. The woman was taken to the hospital, and died next evening.

The police said that when they inters viewed the accused lie showed signs of being under the influence of liquor, and a passenger in accused's car admitted that they had had drinks. The medical evidence was that accused had had more drink than was good for him. The Crown case had not concluded when the Court adjourn ed to-night.

MOTOR DRIVER. ACQUITTED. WELLINGTON, May 15,

The accused Tromayne gave evidence in the Supreme Court to-day, in the. case in which he is charged with manslaughter in connection with a motor collision near Masterton on 18th I'cbruary. He stated that lie had refused to say anything about his speed because there was a machine on his car to indicate his speed, and it was useless for him to guess. I lie suit had momentarily dazzled him. and made him feel dizzy. Then the crash occurred. He was certain that he had not diverged front Ids course. He judged the point of impact from the cut. which appeared to he on his correct side ol the road.

Hi ; Honour -aid that the test winch tlie jury had to apply was what "ould an ordinarily skilful motor driver have done in the circumstances. There were three tests: First, was the accused driving at a reasonable speed:-' Mas lie keeping a proper look-outr Mas ho on the proper side of the road:- If the point of impact was where the police said it was, then the accused was on the wrong side of the road. The accused had set up the defence of misadventure. To return a verdict against the accused, the jury would have to he satisfied, beyond any reasonable doubt, of the prisoner’s, guilt.

OBSERVATORY RESULTS. WELLINGTON. May 16. The Dominion Observatory lias published results of observations made (luring October and November last, as part of a world wide scheme for the determination of longtitiule. Radio signals were used and it is holiered much greater accuracy was attained. One result is that New Zealand was found to he 20f) feet further westward .than was supposed. This gives rise to the question whether further observations will increase the distance or not. and so confirm the theory held by some geologists of a continental drift.

’ HEENEY-TUNXKY date. GISBORNE, May 10. ,\ wireless message message received through Patty Radio Amateur from 'lorn Heaney reports that the date of the light is definitely fixed for July 26th. Heaney has commenced solid training in rieiiaration lor the fight, and states lie is in splendid condition. EDITOR APPOINTED. AUCKLAND. May 16. Mr Francis lifting, of Auckland, has been appointed editor ol the U angsinui Chronicle.

A COMBINE. CHRISTCHURCH. May 10. Something in the nature of a bombshell was sprung at a meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board when H. G. Livingstone made a declaration that there existed in New Zealand to-day a. combine or trust of some earthenware pipe manufacturers, whereby the price and output of pipes was controlled by a monopoly much to the detriment of public and local. bodies. He supported his allegations by n copy oi‘ an agreement winch no claimed was in operation. The subject arose from a letter from the Napier Concrete Co (Auckland) quoting prices for the supply of pipes. Alter a vigorous discussion, the Board decided not to call for tenders for the pines it requires. H was determined to give a straight out order to the Napier Concrete Company lor 65000 worth of pipes.

COURT FINES. WANGANUI, May 16. William Krutli was fined 20s for employing a hoy on a milk round before 7 a.m?. by. Magistrate Free. This is the first prosecution of tlie kind in tnc Dominion and the Magistrate intimate! it would net ns n warning. Frederick E. Hansoll was fined €5 for selling bacon to a Health Inspector that had been dusted with bone acul to keep array flies.