DOMINION NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS

(By Telegraph—P?r Press Association.) WANGANUI HARBOUR. A DANGEROUS GROYNE. WELLINGTON, June 15. In reply to a, letter From the Wanganui Harbour Board, requesting that the captains of vessels who have petitioned the Board to remove the groyne at the mouth of the Wanganui River should submit for the Board’s consideration the grounds upon which the objections are based, the Merchant Service '.Guild has submitted the following: “The navigable channel has been decreased by 150 feet. In rough weather in the past, vessels ha-vo had great difficulty in negotiating the entrance, owing to the easterly set and run of the sea carrying them over to starboard at

night. Under these conditions, the entrance appears very narrow, with the ship yawing. The object of the groyne is to set up a scour. In this case it is westerly. The groyne is too close to the seaward end of the moles, for the reason that a vessel running in on the sea, has not sufficient time, or room, to square up. If it is ebb tide, most natural forces will bo present to turn the ship round, via., pressure of the starboard bow from the water deflected off the grovne, and pressure on the port quarter from the easterly set. Although it has been stated that several master mariners were consulted before the starting of the groyne, the members of the Guild trading to the port say that they were not consulted ; but we have been informed that at least threo experienced masters have constantly voiced their objections to the officers on hoard.

DAYLIGHT SAVING. AAiELT.IGTON. June 15. “Are you in favour of daylight-sav-ing?” This question was put to the Flruit GroWerh’ Conference by Afr BrnSh, who asked tho delegates to vote without discussion. A motion in favour of daylight saving was carried on the voices. Air Brasil mentioned that every province, with the exception of Canterbury, has carried a motion in favour of daylight saving.

A SEXUAL CHARGE. HAMILTON, June 15

In a case in which a middle-aged man, Jeremiah O’Connell, a farmer, of Kopaki, was charged with assaulting a girl of five and a-lialf years of age, for whose father he had previously worked for some tiiiie. Judge Blair cautioned tho jury that it would lie exceedingly dangerous for them to convict on the uncorroborated evidence of the girl, now of eight years of ago, regarding an offence which had allegedly taken place three years before. Judge Blair expressed the opinion from the manner in which the girl irave her evidence, that probably the evidence was the outcome of imagination, or that her story had lveen prompted by sonvelxid.v who bore O’Connell a grudge. The Judge pointed out that the doctor had stated that the girl’s present condition must have been the result of interference within the past six months at the very longest. Furthermore, said His Honour, the girl had related certain incidents which allegedly had occurred in tho bathroom, whereas it had been proved beyond

doubt that the bathroom was not built until at least twelve months after tho prisoner had given up living there. The jury returned a verdict of “not guilty.”

POST OFFICE BURGLED. AUCKLAND, June 15. Karanni Post Office was entered by burglars last night, the safe being blown open with explosives. A cashbox containing money, stamps and cheques was taken.

fatally burned. AVATROA, June 15,

At the inquest on the death of Michael Afaloney this afternoon a verdict was returned that deceased met his death through burns accidentally received while engaged in painting the inside of a pipe lino at AA’aikaromomia Hv d ro-Elcc tr i c AA’ork s.

YOUNG AVOAIAN KILLED. ASHBURTON, June 16

Afaude Bishop, aged 22, died en route to the hospital last evening from, injuries through being knocked down by a motor driven by a youth. She had alighted from a bus and was crossing to the opposite side of the road when she was struck. Her parents reside at AVaikanai, Afataura. Afiss Bishop had been spending a holiday with her uncle and intended returning home to-day. TJAIARU ROAD RACK. CHRISTCHURCH, June 16. "i lie date of the next Tiinarn to Christchurch road race has been fixed for October 3th, provided that date is free from big football fixtures.