DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1928, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

POSTAL OFFICER’S THEFTS. STAMPS KEPT FROM, PARCELS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 1. David Mervyn Bathgate, aged 20, was in Court to-day charged with the theft from the Postmaster-General of money totalling £42 2s ,and £43. Accused was not charged as a postal officer, in view of his age, and to enable the charge to be dealt with in the Lower Court. His system‘was, when stamping parcels, to accept the money and put stamps on the parcels, and after the sender left left the office ho would reverse the stamps and then use the date marker. He kept the stamps, the package going forward with the gum mark and the cancelling dato mark, as if the stamp had dropped off. The accused was stated to be a good sons to his widowed mother. He had not used any of the money. Mr Page, S.M., admitted the accused to three years’ probation, on condition that restitution was made forthwith.

BODY FOUND AT RANGITOTO. AUCKLAND, December 1. According to a message received by the police from Rangitoto this afternoon, the body of Henry James Whitley has been found on tho top of Rangitoto. Whitley was a well known business man, of the firm of W. S. Whitley and Sons, gum brokers and produce merchants. He has been missing since last Saturday. He left his office that daj at noon as usual, and that was the last seen of him. Whitley was 56 years of ago. BANKRUPTCY. WELLINGTON, November 30. J. D- M. Mclntyre, Land and Estate Agent, was to-day adjudged bankrupt by Judge Reed on the application of J. A. Symonds, butcher. SURE BATHING DANGERS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. Members of the Lyall Bay and Maranui Surf Clubs gave assistance at Lyall Bay yesterday afternoon to two ladies and gentlemen who found themselves outside the line of breakers and were unable to get ashore. Later, when the Maranui surf boat was cruising beyond the breakers, the crew observed a swimmer unable to get back to the shore. He was picked up and landed safely. The surf was only moderate but there was a slight backwash.

PRINCE OF WALES. DARSHALAAM, December 2. At Suez the Prince intends to entrain to Port Said and thence by cruiser to Brindisi and hopes to arrive home on 14th December. TWO FIRES. . OAMARU, December 3. The railway station and post office at Kurow, which is combined in one building, was totally destroyed by fire this morning. The police suspect robbing of tho Post Office. Tlie schoolmaster’s residence at Herbert was destroyed by fire last night. No details are available. DEATH OF J. P. IRVINE. GREYMOUTH, December 3. Obituary.—Mr James Patterson Irvine, aged 63 years, a member off tlio Grey County Council and Hospital Board, and director of Greymouth “Evening Star.” death of well-known farmer. CHRISTCHURCH, Doe. 3. Obituary—James Storry, aged 76, a •well-known Ellesmere farmer, and member of the Hospital Board, Progress League and Harbour Board. TROTTING HANDICAPPING. WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. At a meeting of Stewards of tlio Wellington Trotting Club held on Saturday the attention of members was drawn to a letter now being circulated for signature asking the President of the New Zealand Trotting Conference to set up a special committee to examine and report on the desirableness of the institution of a new system of handicapping under the rules of trotting.