DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

GRANDSTAND UNROOFED.

MOTOR CYCLIST KILLED.

AN EXTRAORDINARY COIN-

CIDENCE

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, August 18

• Ronald Hugh Brownlee, aged 23, single, who was severely injured in a collision between his motor cycle and a motor lorry in Dominion Road yesterday morning, died in hospital in the afternoon.

By 'an extraordinary coincidence Brownlee’s mother, Mrs Mary Brownlee, was. severely injured when crossing the road at the same spot where her son received his fatal injury. She stepped off the footpath late in the evening in heavy rain, when she was struck by a car, sustaining injuries to her head and chest, and a broken leg. Her condition is improving.

CAR, SMASH AT TRENTHAM. WELLINGTON, August 18

■ A motor ear carrying four passengers; collided with a train at the Camp Road level crossing at Trcnthain, at about 8.45 p.m. on Saturday. The car was Ibadly knocked about, although all the occupants escaped serious injury. ■■ Harold 1 Sanderson, of King Street, Upper Hutt (.driver), a plumbing ap- , prentice; received a scalp wound; Daniel Auld, of IS, Henry Street, Upper Hiitt, an’ apprentice boilermaker, received wounds on his face and knees;.and George McKeghey, of 20. Benzie' Avenue, Upper Hut, shop assistant, received an injury to bis left hand. All were suffering from shock. Eric Butler, the fourth passenger, escaped uninjured. : - ;i - BLASTING FATALITY.

PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE

KILLED,

CHRISTCHURCH, August 18,

One man was killed and another injured in a blasting accident at Gabbies' Pass'yesterday. The man killed was John Hubber, widower, aged 53, employed by the -Public’ Works Department on the road at Gob bios Valley. Hubber was 80 yards from the spot where some gelignite was fired, but a large piece of rock was thrown out, which hit Hubber, causing severe internal injuries; and he died an hour and a half'after the accident.

John Daly, who was working with Hubber; was also struck by a piece of rock,'hut was only bruised.

’"•“'A PITIFUL CASE

MARTON, Aug. 17

When William Thomas Boyce, aged 65, witlr no'fixed address, was charged this morning with vagrancy, the police stacecT“liYlt when accused was arrested, lie bluish -his possession a quantity of salts, "which lie intended ,to take, Ee had lost his wife 23 years ago in" Queensland. His plan was to retire to the’rear of a shop in Main St. swallow the salts and then expire on the shop front at the exact hour of his wife’s death. Accused who is down and dirt, is being cared for by a local clergyman; and was ordered .to come up for sentence when called upon.

SCHOONER PAROTO REACHES C' AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, Aug. 17

The -auxiliary -schooner Paroto, which went ashore -on 'White Island, on the night of August 7th. arrived at Auckland in tow of the steamer Apanui this morning. The exact extent of the damage suffered by the vessel will not he known till she is slipped, and' an inspection made. At present she is known to have torn a hole in her bottom underneath the engine room by grinding on the rocks that lie in numbers on the Lour of Crateh Bay; and a'out. 20ft. of her starboard bulwarks word flattened out on to the deck. This latter 'ins' already been partly rectified. "

IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME

HAMILTON, Aug. 18

• An inspection of the Waikato River was made yesterday by the Hon A. E. Ransom (Minister of Public Works) 'in reply to a request for assistance of a river improvement scheme, the purpose’ of which .is the draining of adjacent'land. The Minister promised to spend £ISOO on investigation. BETTING RAID. GISBORNE, Aug. 17. The police made a raid on the betting fraternity this afternoon, four prominent reisdenfs being arrested on charges of breaches of the Gairling Act. The cases will be heard on Monday. BUST OF SIR E. MITCHELSON. AUCKLAND, Aug. 17. A bust of Sir Edwin Mitchelson, President of the Auckland Racing Club, , made by Sir Bertram MacKennal, was unveiled at Ellerslie Racecourse this afternoon, in the presence of a large crowd, the Mayor, Mr G. Baiklon presiding. STORE ROBBER USES PEPPER. MELBOURNE, August 17. An armed robber, who held up Frank Garden, manager of a grocery establishment at Prahran, dashed a handful of pepper, into Garlen’s eyes when he fought for possession of the tlii r ' pistol. The robber got away with £lO.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. A strong nor’-west wind yesterday unroofed the grandstand now in course of erection at Rangiora for the North Canterbury Jockey Club. The whole building will have to be rebuilt. SUSPICIOUS FIRES. CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. Two suspicious fires occurred in the city on Saturday night. In one case the outbreak began in a wash-house which had not been used during the day and spread to the kitchen where the Brigade checked it. In the other ease a small office attached to J. E. Cooper’s coal yard in Montreal Street, was destroyed. An employee living nearby was awakened by the sound of a muffled explosion and ran out to see the front wall of the structure ablaze. SUDDEN DEATH. AUCKLAND, Aug. 17. Edwin King, aged 63 years, collapsed and died while watching the Hawke’s Bay-Auckland Rugby match at Eden Park this afternoon.