DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Tress Association

AIAI NT EX AN CE CH AB GE. CHRISTCHURCH, July 2.

William Alfred Burgess, who was a central figure in the recent Now Blnigbton Bach, tragedy, was to-day sentenced to three months’ gaol by .Magistrate Lowry on a charge of disobeying a maintenance order in favour of lii.s wife. His arrears totalled £298. The warrant will be suspended provided Burgess pays off £2 7s Gd weekly.

Tho Afagi.strate said: “You had no reasonable excuse for not paying this maintenance. You were running two baches at the time when you were lettting your wife get on as best she could without money.”

Burgess said he was now working as a truck driver in the country.

A SERIOUS OUTCOME. ROTORUA, July 2. An inquest on John O’CYnnor. killed on Friday, was opened on Saturday and adjourned sine dio. A taxi driver, Arthur Duncan, whose car was brought to a garage with a shattered wind screen and other s'gtts of ill usage, on Friday night, and whose account was deemed unsatisfactory, was arrested and charged with negligently driving, a motor vehicle, thereby causing the death cf John O'Connor on Friday night. Sergt. Hogan, representing tho police, asked for a remand till July 17th. which was granted. Bail was allowed, self in £2OO and two sureties of £IOO each.

\ CHRISTENING CEREMONY. PAIIIATUA, July 2. An amusing incident occurred at Xgaturi on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of tho Premier’s visit to open bridges. Air Bolton (County Chairman) handed Air Coates a bottle of champagne to christen the new bridge with. It was with a 'show of reluctance that Air Coates balanced the bottle in his hand. “Haven’t you got an empty one,’’ lie asked. Air Bolton (Clufirmhii) —“Has any lady or gentleman got a ‘dead marine’ ? ” (Laughter). “it’s got to lie done, ladies and gentlemen.” The Premier turned to perform the fell deed, but again paused rehictant-

“Has anyone got a dixie? " But no digger could oblige. “Well. I don’t like doing it, hut we’ll have to christen this bridge thoroughly,” lie remarked, as lie aimed the fatal blow after several taps. Air Coates also showed similar reluctance wiui the champagne bottle at the Alangataiiioka saying: “It’s tho hardest job I have had to do for a long time. I don't like it a hit.” (Laughter).

jC'USTOAIS REVENUE. AUCKLAND, .July 2. The Customs Revenue, collected in Auckland for the first half of 1928 was £1.012,801, a decrease of £183,-107 on the corresponding period of 1927 and to £174,283 on the figures to 30th. June, 1926.

A SUGGESTION. AUCKLAND. July 2. AY. E. Rockingham, Superintendent of the Pacific Cable Board, returning to British Columbia after two years in the AA’cst Indies and twelve months in Aleibourne, states New Zealand should invite tho West Indies cricket team to the Dominion if they came to Australia, where a. tour of the Commonwealth is mooted.

A YOUTH'S ESCAPE. AUCKLAND, July 2. A youth. Jack Alorgan, had a re-

markable escape from death at Dcvoiipurt at 9.30 on Sunday morning when a ton motor lorry ran over the apron

of tlie vehicular ferry wharf and fell on to a motor launch, and then slipped off into fifteen feet of water. Alorgan. in the call of the vehicle, was carried under the water, and was rescued with diliicultv.

WHALIXG LAUNCH BURNT BLEXHELM, July

A whaling launch, .Miss Liberty, owned by W. A. Perano's ‘whaling party in Tory Channel, took fire while chasing a whale in Cook Strait on Saturday. A tow line was attached and the vessel brought into the Channel, out the tow-line burnt through. The launch was completely destroyed. The crew were all saved. Aliss Liberty was one of the fastest crafts in Now Zealand waters.

FOUND DEAD. CARTERTON, July 2

A young man. Sidney Tucker, aged twenty, the son of J. AY. Tucker, Wood St.. Grey town, was found dead this morning ou’side a dwelling in AfcAlaster St., with an empty bottle which had contained poison, alongside.

CUT IMS THROAT. GREYAIOUTH, July 2. Alonty Hill, aged 50, single, a porter at the hospital, was found with his throat cut at the Criterion Motel this morning. Mis condition is critical. EUCHRE TO URN AAI ENT CONVICTION. GREYAIOUTM, July 2. Two members ol the Blaketown Citizens’ Committee were convicted without penalty, on a charge of keeping a common gaming house. Euchre tournaments were conducted to help pay tor the hall, two-thirds of the takings being given as prizes. Magistrate Aleldruiu said the act made no distinction between tournaments run for the public or private purposes.

COAL -MINERS CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON. July 2

The conference is still proceeding with the object of securing fresh agreements with the coal miners. The position was explained by -Ur Bishop (Secretary of the Employers’ Federation.) to-day. He says the conferences at Westport and Auckland reached agree incuts oil many points, hut there are one or two matters in the mine-owners linn! proposals lo which some exception has been taken by the unions, lie is of the opinion that the position is more a matter of misunderstanding than anything else and that an amicable settlement will shortly' he arrived at.

A FIRE. G'AAIBRIDGE, July 2. A fire occurred about 3.30 this morning in a shop and dwelling opposite the Town Ilall owned by Mrs Davy’s and occupied by Mrs Milburn. Ihe front shop was completely destroyed and the rear gutted. Insurances are: Stock £250 in Standard Office; building £3OO in State.

MOTOR COLLISION. CAMBRIDGE. July 2,

A serious motor accident occurred on Cambridge-Haniilton Road near Tamuore store about 10.30 last night, when a Chevrolet car driven by McLeod, oi Thames Valley Dairy Coy. crashed into a stationery* Chrysler taxi sedan ovv ned by Mrs Fife, of Frankton, driven by Jack .Muir. Four passengers were in the taxi. The collision caused the taxi to. burst into flames. . One passenger in the back sustained a broken leg. He was rescued with difficulty. A man named Neil, of Frankton, was severely cut about the face.

Both men were conveyed to AA’aikato Hospital. The taxi was completely destroyed and the Chevrolet badly damaged. A heavy fog at the time doubtless caused tlie collision.

A MAN SUICIDES.

CAMBRIDGE, July 2

A well-known Cambridge Felix McGnrry, aged 63, married, with three children, committed suicide yesterday afternoon. He asked his wife for his shaving outfit- and gashed his throat with a razor in her presence.Ho had been ill for eight months and was confined to his bed for several weeks suffering great pain. lie told his wife he could not stand the pain any longer. At the inquest this morning a verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane.

-MAIL BAGS ROBBED. TAUAIARUNUI, July 2. On Saturday evening, mail hags containing outward mail from Raurimu and Kaitiokc was placed in a box on the railway station to be lifted when the express went through at three o’clock on Alondny morning. The discovery was made on Sunday that the mail box had been rifled, the hags being cut open and all the contents stolen WEALTHY MAN SUED. I’AIIIATUA, June 29. A maintenance case, adjourned from Hamilton, in which .1. 1!. Westlake, a well-known resident, who has been living for some time past in the A\ aikato. is defendant, was further adjourned to Auckland.

Defendant was further admitted to bail in the sum of £SO. Westlake; who is a, Justice of the Peace, is said to he a very wealthy man. Mis wife instituted the proceedings. her allegations being that Westlake was about to leave the Dominion without making provision for her. Counsel argued the matter at length Westlake’s solicitor complained strongly of tho arrest and the proceedings at Hamilton, characterising them as disgraceful. DUNEDIN GAS SUPPLY. DUNEDIN, June 28.

Dunedin may make claim that it possesses the most modern gas manufacturing plant in New Zealand. The construction of new vertical retorts by an English firm has just been completed, ami it is expected that- the plant will ho in operation within a few weeks, and turning out 20,000 ft of gas per ton of coal, as compared with 12,000 ft per ton under the old system. Less labour is needed for the new plant, which is almost entirely automatic. it has cost L' 150,000, and the City Corporation, its owners, will he able to supply to its customers the cheapest gas in the Dominion. 1 lie coal will go into the retorts, gas will he manufactured, and the coke will come out continuously. The plant will never stop working day or night. The labour of shovelling coal into the retorts will not now he required, as the trucks carrying coal will ho tipped up mechanically and carried up 8011 in height and tho fuel fed into the retorts. Even the water used to cool the coke will be utilised, and water gas made put of it. Aboslutely nothing is Wasted. engineer appointed. GISBORNE, July 2. C. F. Alnrxliall-Smith was appointed Engineer to the Gisborne Harbour Board to-day. Smith is now associated with the Christchurch Drainage Board and will take up his duties hence at the end of the month. CAR DRIVER FINED. AUCKLAND. July 2. AY. W. Fa aider, dentist, of Newt«on, was fined £SO at Onehunga police court for being drunk in charge of a car on February 20th. and for dangerous driving, causing severe injuries to a passenger. Accused subsequently disappeared. Magistrate Levin described it- as a deplorable case, hut said apparently it was.not the custom in Auckland to inflict imprisonment.