DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

A MAORI BANKRUPT. B Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. AUCKANI), January 28. l’ehi Ivaraka, .a labourer of Te Kohuuga near Waikato Heads, met his creditors to-day with a deficiency of £461. His statement as to the causes of bankruptcy showed that hospitality that tribal custom had compelled him to offer to Maoris had involved nun in heavy expense. He had eight cmiuren besides which several relatives were living with him and he had to keep tlie children of other Maoris who went to stay with him. The deficiency was caused by debts for stores. “On several occasions 1 have pointed out to relatives and friends that they ought to help me, but they liavn’t done. so. 1 can only explain my posi- ■ on by the fact that I have been trying to support too many people and those who are partly responsible for my position won’t help me.” Although several creditors were present there was no quorum, and the meeting lapsed. HOUSE BURNT. OTAKI, January 29. A fire yesterday demolished a ten roomed house owned by Mrs Harkness occupied Henry Flutey. The cause of the outbreak is thought to be due to a defective chimney. Insurance on house £12,000, furnituhe £230. EIRE DAMAGE AT SUB-STATION. PALMERSTON N., January 29. Damage caused by a fire at the Public Works sub-station at Burmythorpe yesterday is variously estimated from £12,000 to £14,000. It is expected it will take seven months to bring it into operation again, but a full servillas been restored through an adjacent sub-station. W. Greig, an operator, dashed from the building warned by blue flashes from the instrument board. He was only just clear when the building roared into flames. The devastation was complete in a few minutes with 11000 volts are fed fifty thousand horsepower. The precautions at Manawatu Board’s station to deal with such an emergency prevented a prolonged serious power stoppage.

CANTERBURY WEATHER. CHRISTCHURH, January 29. Yesterday rain fell in the city and many parts cf the province and again held up farm operations. Farmers are complaining that in addition to damage to crops rank feed brought on by excessive rain of the past few weeks is quite unsuitable for fattening, lambs. January will go on record as on of the worst months ever experienced in the province. QUAKE FUND. CHRISTCHURCH,' January 29. The Mayor’s earthquake relief fund was definitely closed to-day the total being £15,646 sterling. OILFIELDS REPORT. GISBORNE, Jan. 28. Taranaki oil report:—Gisborne No. 2 well drilled to 3727 feet, mostly shale; last 25 feet hardy limey sandstone and somewhat less gas; 8£ inch diameter casing leaking at- depth of 80 feet. Propose to cement this off, meantime under-reaming hole from 2726 feet to bottom.

CORONER’S INQUEST. PALMERSTON N., Jan. 29. An enquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bertram Cecil Hazelhurst, aged 31. and Hector Clarence Eggleton, aged 28, both of Bunnythorpe, who were killed when their motor cycle collided with a car at the intersection of Rangitikei line No 4. on January 18th. The driver of the car was Bache Wright Harvey, a farmer, of Waver ley, who said he slowed down at the intersection to 30 miles an hour. The driver of the motor cvtle did not appear to see the car in the opinion of witness, and did not co-operate in endeavouring to avoid a collision. Witness had turned to the right to give the cyclists an opportunity to miss the car by swerving to the left or right. Asked bv the Coroner if he .did not think thirty miles an hour an unsafe speed to pass such an inter-section, Harvey said he did not know the nature of the intersection. Now knowing the road, he would pass it at a slower speed. The Coroner: “Had you been travelling at 15 miles an hour, do you think the accident would have been averted?” Harvey: “I cannot say. It is possible.” The coroner did not comment on the evidence, and returned a verdict that deceased met their death through a car driven by Harvey colliding with a motor cycle ridden by deceased.