DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

THEFT CHARGE. [By Telegraph, Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. James Joseph Thomas Morris, aged 22, a clerk, was charged this morning, with the theft of sums totalling £403, the property of J. C. Hutton, New Zealand Ltd., of which firm he was employed. -He pleaded not guilty and was Committed for trial. MAN DROWNED. > . , , WANGANUI, July 9. Charles . Brougham, aged 70, while out.in a. .cqnpe on the Wanganui-river alter driftwood this morning, it capsized and lje ..was drowned. His body has not been recovered., SUDDEN DEATH. , 'tAUMARANUI, July 8. W. Gilkjnson, aged 28, clerk at the Okaliukura...-railway station, expired suddenly on arrival at a surgery where he had. gone to consult a doctor. ■ ■ FATAL ACCIDENT AT, BLENHEIM.

BLENHEIM, July 9. There was a fatal accident in the Seddon railway yard.,tins morning, resulting in ..the. death, of .John Mervvn aged 34,.a farm.hand. Deceased was unloading, an .iron, hath from a railway, truck, tq a,, dray when liis three-horse, team took ...fright, and .oolteiL Deceased .attebiipted tp stop . the, houses at -the gate , and .was .crushed agnjnst-rthe gfite posts a.nd. expired almost, immediately,,. . . . . Jt is understood deceased wa,,s. single, his father residing at N t elson. ... , TRANSPORT BOARD’S DEMANDS. OPPOSED BY AUCKLAND UNION. AUCKLAND, July 9. The Auckland Tramway Employees’ Union having refused to expunge a resolution objected to by the Transport Board, the Board this morning decided that a deadlock had arisen, and carried a resolution suggesting that the matter he. referred to the arbitration of Justice Blair, acting President .of the Court. . .. . ;j. . ....

The Board objected, to..the.. Union’s resolution, anil a notice,was posted in the. tram barns to the, effect that members were not to give evidence against fellow members., . .

In reply,'the Union had forwarded a resolution 'pjj.^he.mass meeting endorsing the action pf the Executive, resenting interference by tlje Board in the domestic affairs of the Union, and reiterating that the resolution which was the subject -oi dispute, was in accordance with the law, and within the scope of the Union’s authority as dealing wijthji a past transaction. C|sS ;SET AFIRE.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. In a garage owned by Mr R. C. Dobson, .Hereford ,Strept> -.to-night thre • motor cars were burned. It is believed. the, oars j -were' set .on. fir©,--.as they were heavily saturated with petrol. The, three,,qars were, in widely-separat-ed positions-,,in ,the garage. Petrol was also spilt over other cars, which, however, were, not fired., ,There, was an empty petrol can lying near, . which, had beep .opened , with a chisel. . -s

CQMMJTTED FOR TRIAL. CHRISTCHURCH, . July 9. In the case in which Morris was charged .with theft, evidence was given as to cheques being sent to J. C. Hutton Ltd., which cheques were negotiated at the bank, but no receipts were forwarded. This, it was stated, should have been accused’s- duty. .The, accused pleaded.not guilty and was .coipniittyd fo.r trial.

' CIJECUE. 'FORGER. HAMILTON, July 9. ] Will.i;\pi-.<Augustine Lagan.-, >vfi° week f ' pleaded guilty to forgery and uttering, a> cheque in. the game of a Ko.toruiV. boiir.dinghp.use keeper, tq-day pleaded .. guilty at -Handlton Court to issuing ~ yjjlu.eless cheques,' at Greymouth,. NeTson,' Ashlmftgn. and Napier, to a total of. £49 17s. , . Detective-Sergeant, Thompson said the accused belonged to a well-known family in the .South Island. He felt his position .keenly. JEje.had given the police every assistance since arrest, Lagan was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

FALL FROM TRAIN. \ WELLINGTON, July 9. A verdict that the deceased was accidentally killed through falling from a railway train at Paekakariki on ,30th June, was returned .by Coroner Barton, S.M.i at the inquest to-day on the late Henry llodley. ’’ ' SET AFIRE. CHRISTCHURCH. July 10A fire which destroyed three ears in R. C. Dobson’s' garage in . Hereford Street yesterday evening was obviously the work, of incendiarism. When the Brigade arrived it found thepetrol tank of one car had lieen cut open with a chisel and that the upholstering of three others had been flooded with petrol. Evidently the inccndiarists had been disturbed. How they obtained entrance is ft mystery for the doors of the 'building and the windows were undamaged. Everything was safe when the proprietor left at 0.20 p.m. Pedestrians saw smoke issuing at 8.30 p.m.