DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

PERISHED COAL. STEAMER SUSSEX IN TROUBLE. (By Telegraph—Per Prose Association. AUCKLAND, September Id. The Kaitoko, which was diverted on her voyage from Newcastle to Auckland to convoy the steamer Sussex, the latter being short of coal, arrived this morning.

The Sussex was sighted by .the Kaitoke on Thursday at 11 n.m. Both steamers by arrangement made for Spirit’s Bay, where they anchored. The Sussex had about 10 tons of coal in her bunkers. By 3 p.m. on Friday 50 tons of coal had been transferred from the Kaitoko.

Late yesterday afternoon both vessels started for Auckland. The Kaitoke, being the faster boat, got into port three hours abend of the Sussex. The captain of the Sussex stated that the voyage was uneventful, but for the coal shortage. There was never any danger of not reaching the New Zealand coast. Part of the trouble was that a patch of perished coal was struck in the bunkers.

£IOOO DAMAGE. A YOUTHFUL INCENDIARIST. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17. The mystery surrounding several strange fires at New Brighton was cleared up on Saturday, when a boy of 14 appeared in the Children’s Court, on charges of arson, which he admitted. On March 29K.1i he had set fire to a bach, and to cottages on June sth and June 7th. On the latter day and on June Oth he also lit scrub fires. Chief-Detective J. Carroll said the damage done was about £IOOO, and there was no chance of restitution being made. Ho was the same boy that had been in Court a fortnight ago for setting launches adrift. When asked by*the Magistrate (Mr H. A. Young, S.M.) why ho lit the fires, the hoy replied: “Oh, just to see the flames and the brigade, that’s all. 1 set light to the dry grass underneath the houses.” .Mr A. Bissett, child welfare officer, said the hoy was ono of a large family, and was not under proper parental control. Having already been placed under the care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare for setting the launches adrift, the boy was convicted and discharged on the arson charge.

HIGH SCHOOLS. CAMBRIDGE, Sept. 17. At a conference of the headmasters of the District High Schools for Auckland, a resolution was passed that the salaries of assistant teachers in junior, sonior and secondary classes in district high schools should ho equal those of assistants doing similar work in secondary schools and further that in view of their qualifications, duties and responsibility, headmasters of district and junior high schools wore inadequately paid, and their remuneration should approximate more closely that of the headmasters of secondary schools. The resolutions will he sent to the Minister of Education (Hon. It. A. Wright) through the Educational Institute.

TOOK POISON.

DEBTOR. DIES AT PAPARUA. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17. The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Thomas Gill, aged '45, was concluded to-day. Gill was admitted to Pnparna Prison on September 4th. on a warrant foi imprisonment for debt. He died the same afternoon. The Government analyst who had examined the contents of (Jill’s stomach, gave evidence that it had contained enough poison to cause death. If Gill had been admitted to <raol at 12.15 mm. and died at 2.45 p.m. he would say that Gill must have taken poison half an hour before admission. Constable Gibson, of Coalgnte, said that about 8.50 a.m. on September 4-til. lie arrested Gill on a warrant foi imprisonment for debt. They arrived at the gaol at 12.15. Gill had been sitting in the rear scat of the motor coi-T Oil arrival at the. gaol, Gill attempted to get out, but fell back, saying his legs would not work. Alitness had to assist him out, and along the corridor oif the gaol to a. coll. It would" have been possible for Gill to take poison when lie was in the back of the car. Witness had arrested Gill as the bailiff, and not as a constable, and in those circumstances it was not customary to search persons, and ho therefore did not search Gill. The Coroner returned a verdict that Gill committed suicide by poisoning.

CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. NELSON, Sept. 17. A case before the Magistrate’s Court in which Albert E. Walker appeared on a charge of manslaughter in that he did “by omission to perform public duty,” cause the death of Alexander Joss, concluded to-day. Accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence and was committed for trial. Ai a sitting of the Coroner’s Court, presided over by Mr Maunsell, S.M.. tiie Coroner announced the verdict “That deceased died of haemorrhage caused l>,v injuries received through being run down by a motor lorry driven I>/ Albert Edward Walker while riding or pushing a bicycle along the Main Street to Richmond Road from the south.”

REMARKABLE MEDICAL SUCCESS CHRISTCHURCH, Sept, IP. In a football match early this season James Turpin, of Limvood Club, sustained a vertebral dislocation in the neck and was for a time very seriously ill. Several remarkable operations were performed in order to reduce Ur dislocation and to the gratification ol all concerned success was achieved, and on Saturday Turpin was allowed to leave the hospital. He is still wearing artificial supports for his head, ami will remain under special care for somo time, but there is good ground to believe that complete restoration to normal health is not far distant. The ease already has attracted notice in medical journals in other countries.

A WARNING. AUCKLAND, Sept, 17. “I think the .public should he warned that aluminium point is inflammable,” said Mr E. K. Hunt, S.M. Coroner, at an inquest into the death of Mnljatina Turner, aged 50 years, who died fin Saturday after receiving severe burns ns the result of ft tin of aluminium paint igniting. Deceased stated, prior to her death, that she was cleaning the kitchen stove, when the paint caught I fire, igniting her clothing. Death was due to shock, following burns, and the f Coroner returned a verdict accordingly.