DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1928, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

PEDESTRIAN INJURED. DUNEDIN, Aug. 3. George Heads a middle-aged man, residing at Gladstone Road, North-east Valley was knocked down by a motor delivery van in the street this morn- -;2--ing and suffered injuries to thei ; head which necessitated his removal to the hospital. His condition is serious.

■ TIMBER YARD ACCIDENT. AVELLINGTON Aug. 3. A stack of timber fell on M. Briggs at Odlin’s Petone timlier yard this morning and fractured his left thigh and left arm. He was taken to the Hospital.

SCHOOL LABORATORY DANGER PAHIATUA, Aug. 3. An analytical investigation in regard to the recent accident at the local District 'High School, which ended tragically, is being made by Air A\ r . Donovan, of the Dominion Laboratory, who is on a visit to Pahiatua. In due course he will present His report to his Department. The use of sodium in ihe science experiments at the school has been suspended by a Department ' order since the accident.

ESCAPEE HARBOURED. AVELLINGTON, August 3. A plea of guilty was entered by Samson Hawkins in the Lower Hutt V- 7 Court, when charged with having harboured an escapee from the Girls’ Home at Burwood, Christchurch. Sergeant AlcHolm said that the girl was a sister of accused’s wife.

Air Findlay, for accused, said that the wife had threatened to leave home if the girl was given up. All the parties concerned were Alnoris. The Magistrate, in imposing a fine of £3, warned accused that the girl must not be harboured if she escaped again.

AN UNUSUAL POINT. PAHIATUA, August 3. At the Pongaroii Court an unusual point cropped up regarding one of the ■ presiding Justices. J. AV. Reid was charged with having kept a billiard saloon open after hours, and was fined 5s and 10s costs. AY. A. Reid was charged with being on the saloon premises after hours. Air 1). AA r . Reid represented 'defendant, and before the commencement of proceedings he objected to Mr J. AA r . Alurray’s adjudication upon the case, stating his objection was the latter’s participation as a witness for the prosecution in a recent case in which the defendant was a witness for the defence. Air Neild stated the defendant was alleged 'to have made uncomplimentary remarks in connection b4iji the previous case. It would not he in the interests of justice that Air Alurray should preside to give judgment upon the present case, quoting in support of his contention some recent remarks by Justice AlcGregor. Air Alurray, in reply, said he had no objection to retiring from the Bench for the hearing.

The case was then proceeded with, dismissed under the J’s P. Act, as Air Neild submitted that the case be treated as trivial. This was accordingly done with tho payment of costs.

STOWAWAY’S SENTENCE. «~' A AUCKLAND, August 3. Thomas Henry Barry, aged 37, who last week stowed away on the steamer lyaiwarra, which had to return to port to land him, appeared in the Police Court for sentence before Air A[cKean, S.AI. He was sentenced t o seven days’ imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to a further charge of on November 12 last obtaining £1 2s at Arapuni by means of valueless cheques. On thischarge he was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment.

MAIL ROBBERY. « ON SOUTH EXPRESS. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 3. A mail bag, containing a quantity of : egistored mail, was stolen from the van of the night express, whic-li left Invercargill at 6.40 p.m. on Sunday last. This information was conveyed to the press late to-night by Mr W; T. J oil nston, Chief Postmaster at. Invercargill. Tweiify-two bags were placed on the van here, and on making a check a Dunedin, one was found to bo missing. The one that, was not accounted tor contained mail for Christchurch, Nelsoil, Blenheim, and all the North land towns, with the exception of Wellington and Auckland. The matter was placed in the hands of the police here, and at Dunedin. Although the railway track has been thoroughly searched, no signs of the missing mail have been discovered. The mail van on the night express is placed between tlie passenger ears and the sleeping cars, and to reach the latter, it is necessary for the passengers to pass through the van. Thus, it would he possible for persons to pass through the van while the guard was attending to his duties in another part of the train. At three stations, bei.ween here and Dunedin, mail is > taken in, but none is put off. The affair at present is shrouded in mystery. KA.WARAU DAM CLOSED. - DUNEDIN, Aug. 3. Although it was known that negotiations were well advanced for the closing of the Kawarau Dam, Cromwell residents were surprised at daylight this morning to find that the Kawarau was steadily receding, thus clearly indicating that the gates had been lowered. The river has been falling steadily all day reports the Cromwell eorres- \_ pondent of the “Daily Times,” -and the general opinion is that it is lower at the town than last year’s level. A representative of the local companies is at present up the Gorge inspecting the levels as more definite marks are available there, and any action will be decided on their return. If the level is favourable men will at once be employed. The weather is cold and stormy. MIGRANT NURSE’S THEFTS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 3. Ruth Grace Meat, aged 27, a nurse who came from England last year, pleaded guilty to-day to the theft of £3 and a ring valued a.t £1 10s. She also appeared for sentence on a charge , , of the theft of £lO, to which she had__U plealed guilty last Friday. .Some of the thefts were committed at the Y.W.C.A. Hostel. The ring was stolen from a nurse at a private hospital. Tlio police stated that she had committed the thefts at Christchurch fro;., lr ' various employers, and was regarded as an imposter. Magistrate Page imposed a sentence of 12 months reformative treatment. The accused’s plea was that she came to the Dominion understanding that she was to lie a nursery maid. She found that her mistress required a housemaid. She did not regard her- j self as a qualified nurse. There was ■ little demand for a nurserymaid. Slie>"s. had been practically penniless <1 u- -r,q her stay in New Veal iiid.