DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

BREACH OF CONTRACT. PLAINTIFF AWARDED £2500. (B,y Telegraph—Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 17. On behalf of Mrs Cecilia Linis Kunst, of Auckland, Mr Leary this morning in the Supremo Court, before Mr Justice Reed, moved for judgment against William Ravage Tate, of Ashburton. The motion aroso out of a breach of contract respecting the sale of property at Awanui. When the case was heard Mr Justice Reed made a declaration in favour of plaintiff, Mrs Kunst, in the hope that the parties might be able to make some compromise. As no offer had been made to plaintiff his Honor entered judgment for £2500 and costs. The claim was for £3OOO. The financial result of the recent Hospital Ball promises to be very satisfactory. Though all details are not yet settled it is expected that this year’s effort will show an increase of nearly £25 on that of last year and that the net profit will he in the vicinity of £llO, which will bo recognised as highly satisfactory, and reflecting every ci-cdit on the members of the Ladies’ Committee responsible therefor. There was not much improvement in the weather yesterday, and last night was stormy with occasional showers. This morning a strong northerly was blowing for a time and the wind then changed round to the south-west, with heavy rain, the conditions being very cold and miserable. <

WOMAN’S ATTEMPT. TO COMMIT SUICIDE. WELLINGTON, September IK A young married woman, whose name was ordered to be suppressed, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr Riddell, S.M., witli having attempted to commit suicide. The accused pleaded guilty. --

Sub-Inspector Lander said that on the 14th April accused attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the balcony of the City Hotel to the concrete yard below, a fall of about 2fi feet. She had received very severe injuries, and was still a patient at the hospital. The accused, who had not been in a court previously, had had some serious trouble.

“ You pleaded guilty,” said Mr Riddell to accused, “ and I think the injuries which you received have been sufficient punishment. You will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within twelve months il called upon,” THREE FISHERMEN MISSING. WELLINGTON, September 18. The Secretary-General of the Post Office advises that the following warning was broadcast by the Melbourne radio at 1.33 on the 18th inst: “Reported that three fishermen have been missing in a motor dinghy in the vicinity of Babel Island, in the Flinders Group, since 14th inst. There is a possibility that the motor boat is drifting eastwards. A police party are searching. Ail shipmasters in the vicinity are requested to keep a sharp lookout.”

A FIRE. PALMERSTON N., September M. Shortly after 2.30 this morning, fire on the premises in Main Street West, occupied by Diedriek, cabinetmaker, caused serious damage to the polishing room, besides destroying n quantity of valuable furniture ready for delivery. The building was owned by Mrs Goodwin, Lower Hutt. Diedrick’s furniture was uninsured, and ho is u heavy loser. HOMESTEAD BURNED DOWN. , BLENHEIM, Sept. 18. A homestead at Crovetown, of nine rooms, owned and occupied by Mr John Casey, was totally destroyed b; fire with its contents. The fire had a big hold when discovered. No watei was available. Four straw stacks valued at £25, were also destroyed. The house was valued at £I4OO, anr the contents at £SOO. Both were insured at the Norwich Office, the cm tents for £3OO, hut the figure on tli house is not available. MOTOR CAPSIZES. ONE OF FIVE OCCUPANTS KII.LF.r WAIMATE, September 18. Estimated to have been travelling at about fifty miles an hour, a five-seater car, driven by L. Rodgers (Invercargill), turned a corner alongside Quinn’s Farm, five miles from Waimate, this afternoon, too quickly to maintain its place on the road, and it made a wide swing hack into the centre oi the road, from there swinging hack again to the left, and capsizing over a culvert, making a complete somersault and landing on the wheels faced the direction whence it came. Rodgers suffered injuries to his head, from which lie died as a doctor arrived. P. O’Slmughnessey lost half an ear, and sustained a broken collar-bone. Other occupants, M. Wakelin, J. Markwell mid S. Beard escaped with a severe shaking. It is understood that all five men were travelling for a Wellington firm, selling coloured photo enlargements. BLENHEIM. September 18.

A motor ear owned hv Ilelior Pike, of Nelson, mid driven by B. M. Richmond, of Christchurch; skidded on loose gravel <>» the Blenheim-Nelson road at Kaituna. It rolled down a 10-foot hank. Pike sustained a broken arm and cuts mi the face and bend. He was taken to Wairmi Hospital. Richmond escaped unhurt.

FATAL FALL FROM SCAFFOLD WELLINGTON, September 18. John Seppings, a rigger, working on Hannah’s reconstruction job, Lambton Qunv. fell off a scaffold at about one o’clock to-day, and fractured his skull. He was taken to the hospital, but died on admission. A WOMAN’S THEFT. EXPOSED IN PUBLIC. WELLINGTON, September 19. Great amusement was caused in Hunter Street by the sight of a seaman who had evidently been enjoying himself, struggling with a woman whom lie accused of robbing him. She broke away from his clutches hut the man was determined mid caught her again, pointing to a bulge in one of her stockings. The merriment increased when he insisted on her taking it down, mu there were revealed the missing notes. The woman handed them over, and was allowed to make her escape. BANIvER RETIRING. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept- IS. J Mr Ci J. Donaldson (mnmtgar »'f too

Christchurch branch of the National Bank) retires on pension in December. Mr Bonaldson joined the bank’s services 50 years ago at Tokomairiro. He will ho succeeded in the managership of Christchurch branch by the assistant manager, Mr J. S. Middleton.

THEFT OF FUR OOAT. WELLINGTON, September 17. A ship’s steward, Raymond Patrick Letton, alias McCullough, aged 24, got six months hard labour from the Magistrate to-day for theft of a far coat valued at £4B, the property ol Mollio Duncan, from a bedroom at tile Alhambra Hotel. On charge of breaking a pane of glass in a, skylight he was ordered to pay 10s, in default seven days. PUSHED INTO BATHS. LEAGUE PLAYER IN DIFFICULTIES. AUCKLAND, September 17. At the tepid baths, after the interprovincial match at Carlaw' Park on Saturday, an incident occurred which gave the Otago Rugby League team and others present a few minutes’ ap prehensfion. ,T. 'Hicks- pvns standing at the side of the pool when another player pushed him in. Unknown to the latter and to the others present, ITieks cannot swim, and he was soon seen to bo in difficulties. By the time ho was rescued and pulled out he was in a serious condition, but restorative measures were promptly adopted with good results. NEW DREDGE FOR OTAGO. DUNEDIN, September 17. In connection with the construction of the Otago Harbour Board’s now dredge, Otakou, the question of finance was discussed at a meeting of the Board this afternoon. The chairman (Mr H. E. Moller) reported that satisfactory negotiations Had been concluded with a London house for the £125,000 required to meet the cost of the now dredge. The negotiations of the committee were confirmed and tho necessary authorising motions in connection with tho completion of negotntions and the issuing of the required debentures and tho creation of sinking funds accounts were passed.

RHODES SCHOLARS NOMINEES. DUNEDIN, September 17. Tho Otago nominees for the two Rhodes scholarships available to New Zealand students in 1928 have been cl;osen by the Council of the University of Otago. They are Frank Marcus Hanan and Wilton Earnest Henley. -Both arp 21 years of ago.