DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

QUARRY BUILDING DESTROYED. B Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright WHANG ARE!, Dec. 27. At three o’clock on Boxing Day morning the Tauraroa stone crushing plant with buildings were totally destroyed by fire. The quarry was owned by the Public "Works Department and supplied metal for main highways, some county councils and the railways in the north. FINE FOR HOLIDAYS. WHANUAREI, Dec. 27. There was fine weather for the holidays. ATHLETIC SPORTS. TE AROHA, Dec. 27. Eighteen professional athletes from all parts of New Zealand competed for cash prizes aggregating LI SO at Springdale, yesterday. A. W atson won the principal running events. Stace of-~l'o Aroha winning the duel cycling event from McCann, of New Plymouth. J. C. Lapkin defeated J. McCormach in a fifteen inch standing chop for a purse of £3O sterling. DRUNKEN DRIVERS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 27. The season’s festivities cost two more drivers their licenses for twelve months to-day. George Inglis, a marine engineer, was one and was “Iso fined £lO, and Alfred G. Y. Baxter was the other and was fined £2O. Baxter’s condition was discovered as a result of his colliding with another car. Justices on the bench remarked on the plea that some consideration should be extended to the season, said drink and motoring should not go together and drivers should leave it alone. CONVERSION OF CAR, MASTERTON, December 26. Charged with converting a car to his own use on Christmas Eve a young man named Leslie Hay, pleaded guilty in the Police Court, and was fined £5. Messrs T. Wagg. J.P., and J Caselberg J.P., were on the bench. Jhe which was taken from Masterton Street, was located two hours later in another street. DIRT TRACK RIDER CRASHES. CONDITIONS REPORTED SERIOUS. WELLINGTON, December 26. V. Dinaldie, ricling at the Kilbirnie Stadium dirt track meeting to-night in the sixth heat of the Kilbirnie Speedway Christmas Handicap, crashed into the fence and was pitched heavily to the ground. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and was taken to hospital. His condition is serious He will be examined by X-ray tomorrow. A DOCTOR’S SUDDEN DEATH. DUNEDIN, December 26. Dr. William Stewart, aged 50, of Kelvin street, Invercargill, who was en route to Christchurch for a holiday died suddenly last night in a city hotel as the result of heart failure. Dr. Brown, of Invercargill, was communicated with and he was prepared to certify as to the cause of death, so that no inquest will be necessary.

OLD MAX BEATEN AND BOBBED BLENHEIM. Dec. 27. An alleged robbery with violence occurred at Picton on Xmas Day. J. C. Wiese, a Picton resident, was accosted early in the afternoon on the foreshore by a woman, who stated she wanted to have a wash. Wiese took her to his home. Later a man appeared on the scene. He savagely attacked Weise. rendering him insensible. Wiese is 63 years old. The sum of £9 was removed from the victim’s pocket. The pair decamped, borrowed a dinghy and commenced to row down the harbour. A constable on becoming aware of the facts, gave chase, and he captured the pair, who were brought before Justices and remanded till January 2nd.

A HOPELESS CASE. HAMILTON, Dec. 27. With a record dating back to 1915, a middle aged man, Daniel Hebley, a few days after his discharge from gaol, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for issuing a valueless cheque for eight pounds. Accused started on orgy at drinking, and filled in a cheque to pay his hoard. Ihc Magistrate, Mr Wyvern Wilson, said it was useless sending accused to Rotoroa, as he had escaped there twice already, and was guilty of insubordination. He served twelve months for forgery in 1928, and six months for false pretences a jcai later.

FOUND DEAD. MASTERTON, December 26. Thomas Jesse Towersey Dunn, aged 40, baker of Greytown, was found in a shed at the back of his residence, on Tuesday afternoon, suffering from the effects of poisoning, and he later died in the Greytown Hospital. At the inquest a verdict was returned of death from shock and collapse caused by drinking corrosive acid, self administered while of temporary unsound mind. Deceased who was a returned soldier suffered from injuries in the head. He leaves a wife and child.

AN INQUEST. WELLINGTON, December 27. At the inquest concerning the death of Had fie Id, 63, the watersider who fell from a truck on the wharf on Monday, the evidence showed that lie seemed to slip while releasing the rope ifrom some sacks of coke he was stacking, or the rope came away more readily than he expected, and he fell heavily. A verdict was returned that ho was accidently killed in the course of his work.