DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

■WOMAN’S NARROW ESCAPE

'[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.)

HASTINGS, November 11

Eflie Ellis, wife of a farmer at Pakawliai, had a narrow escape from fatal injuries as a result .of a thunderstorm on Saturday. She was engaged in the kitchen and took a kettle off the stove and was carrying it through to an open lire in the 'front of the house where it would boil quicker. When in the passage, a matter of a few seconds, lightning struck the kitchen, smashing the timbenvork and shattering the window panes and setting fire to--a kerosene stove. The shock flung her to the ground and she was picked up stunned with her lace partially paralysed, but she escaped the full force of the shock. She made a good recovery and the paralysis disappeared. The lightning struck an aerial connected with her house from a neighbouring macrocarpa tree.

GAMING HOUSE FINES,

DUNEDIN, November 11

At the Police Court, James Denis Duggan, charged with keeping a common gaming house, was fined £lO and nine other men found on the premises wore each fined £l. Seven of the defendants admitted to detectives that they were playing Sing Tai Loo and two that they went to the house to learn the game.

DRIVER GAOLED

CHRISTCHURCH, November 11

William Gamble, a motor driver, aged -Id, was this morning sentenced to twenty-one days for being intoxicated while in a car on RiccartoU roiijrl. Gamble’s license was suspended and he was declared unfit to hold a license •for twelve months. Gamble did not appear. “ I’m tired of warning these people,” said tlie Magistrate (Mr Levvy) in passing sentence.

LA WREATH HOLD UP

DUNEDIN, November 11

The steanier Lnwbeath was idle again to-day. An early start on unloading the vessel is anticipated, however, as tlie captain is now in Wellington to discuss the position with the owners’ representatives.

-MOTOR CYCLIST BREAKS LEG

CHRISTCHURCH, November 11

The Australian dirt track motorcyclist, F. Bennish, was taken to the hospital on Saturday evening suffering from a broken leg which resulted from a collision at Monica Park speedway. Bemiish, who arrived in New Zealand last week was making his first public appearance here. He was riding in the principal event of the evening when the chain off his machine broke.. An Auckland rider, A. Mat-son, was racing behind Bennish and a collision could hot be avoided. . Matson was bruised and shaken.

A MONTH HARD

PALMERSTON N., Nov. 11

On Saturday last, a man calling himself John Davis, on a charge of being idle and disorderly, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. Accused had told the Bench that he would be reremployed at Longbnrn freezing works. Police inquiries revealed that there was a position at the works for John Davis, but the accused used another man’s name, his real name being S. Davis. Accused was arrested by the police and sentenced this morning to one month’s hard labour on the previous charge.

BANKRUPT ADMITTED TO PROBATION.

ROTORUA, Nov. 9

Frederick White, hairdresser, aged 47. was charged before Mr Paterson, S.M., with five breaches of the Bankruptcy Act. On two charges, failure to keep proper hooks, and contracting debts whilst insolvent, accused pleaded guilty. The other three charges were withdrawn.

The Magistrate said he was sorry to have accused before him. He would not send him to prison. White was admitted' to probation for two years under the usual statutory conditions. He was ordered to pay £ls within twelve months, the cost of the prosecution, and £SO to tlie Official Assignee for the benefit of creditors.

VIOLENT EXPLOSION

DURING ARMISTICE DAY

SILENCE,

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 11

A* noise of a violent explosion reverberated through the city this morning during Armistice Day silence. It originated from the Royal Exchange buildings in the Square where demolition work was proceeding. Flying stones and junks of conereto broke fifteen panes of glass in the rear of the Public Trust Office nearby. The foreman -explains that a heavy charge had been inserted in a big block of concrete that had been found hard to shitt. No one was hurt.

DAMAGES AGAINST MOTOR COY. WELLINGTON, November 11. In the Supreme Court, before the Chief Justice and a jury, Peter Mclntyre, a waterside worker, aged sixtvsix years, was awarded £551 8s against the Canadian Knight and Whippet Motor Coy. for injuries received by being knocked down in September'by a motor van driven by a < servant or agent in their employ. The

verdict was for the full amount claimed.

INTER KSTING RATING

DECISION

PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 11

Mr Justice Blair delivered his reserved decision in a case m which Henry James Whitelaw appealed against the Woodville Borough Council holding him liable 'for rates on an adjoining section belonging to an absentee owner whose address is unknown. The evidence disclosed that there was no fence between the two properties, which, however, were enclosed in one ring fence, but there was nothing to prove that Whitelaw had occupied the adjoining land, except that he had promised to pay the rates on the same. If the case had not included this promise, His Honour stated, he would have had great difficulty in finding no tunl occupancy.

BUTTER-FAT

GRADING FIGURES ANNOUNCED

WELLINGTON, Nov. 9

The Dairy Division girding figures for three months ending October, 1929, show an increase for butter of 7.85 per cent, at 20,181 tons, and for cheese a decrease of 10.34 per cent, at 12.710 tons, as compared with the corresponding period last year. Reduced to terms of butter-fat equivalent, the gradings of dairy-produce for the three months: show a decrease of 2.04 per cent, over the' gr (tidings;,;: for the 'corresponding period last year.

A FATALITY.

AUCKLAND, November-11

Albert Baker, married, employed by the Devon port Ferry Company, fell from a- ferry tee and .sustained a fractured skull. He, died on the, way to the hospital.

MOTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH

TIMARU, November 11

The death Occurred at Timaru Hospital to-night, of Thomas Rooney, of Kingsdown, as tlie result of injuries received in an accident on the Main South Road in the early hours of Sunday morning. Deceased, who was riding a motor cycle, with sidecar attached, was proceeding south when the sidecar struck a bicycle which was being wheeled up the grade by Henry Holmes, of Normanby. The impact capsized the motor cycle, and Rooney was thrown heavily on to the bitumen road. He suffered severe head injuries and failed to regain consciousness.

PRESENTATION OF PICTURES

WELLINGTON, Nov. 12,

D. Hope-Johnson, of Sydney, has presented the New Zealand Government a set of six pictures depicting the founding of each Australian State, painted hv John Alleott. Historical data were collected by Johnson when the New Zealand cruisers were in Sydney. The bluer gave Commodore Swahey pictures of historical .Australian ships for the New Zealand navy, and sent over by him the collection now mentioned. They will be placed in the National Gallery at Wellington when it is built, and meanwhile are on view in Turnbull Library. Sir Joseph Ward, in thanking Hope Johnson, expressed the desire to arrange with him for a similar series on New Zealand subjects.