DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

AN EXPLOSION.

INJURES THREE CHILDREN.

'By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

OPOTIKI, July 16. An explosion occurred at Waimana, the home of J. Addion, on Monday evening, when a boy andtwo girls clothing caught fire. They were extensively burned, and were admitted to the hospital yesterday'. It appears that blasting powder was left in the scullery and the children must have dropped a lighted match on the package. The explosion lifted the iron off the roor and the side of the wall of the building was blown out. The parents were away at the time. Neighbours gave assistance and saved the house from being burnt. The little sufferers are progressing as well as can be expected. A FIRE. OPOTIKI, July 16. A fire occurred at Opotiki last evenining when a shack owned by G. Stacey was destroyed. The ow.iner was away at the time. The cause is a mystery. A FORTUNATE ESCAPE. HAWERA, July 16. The condition of J udge Browne of the Native Land Court who sustained shock and bruises when a baby car, in which he and Mrs Browne were proceeding from Wanganui to Hawera on Monday' overturned on the south road, and the car was. badly' smashed, is now quite satisfactory. Mrs Browne was uninjured. KNOCKED DOWN BY MOTOR LORRY. GISBORNE, July 16. The action of a motorist, L. A. Potts, in giving chase to a lorry after an accident last evening, and in stopping the driver and securing his name and address and other details is warmly commended by the police. At 5.10 p.m. yesterday Noeline Kidd, aged 8, was knocked off a bicycle at an intersection near the town and left lying on the road with a fractured jaw and arm and other less serious injuries. The lorry had gained a considerable lead when Potts started in pursuit, but -despite numerous delays on account of traffic, and the necessity of obtaining petrol, the motorist caught up with the lorry after a 10 mile chase. The driver of the lorry stopped by Potts denied knowledge of any accident. When Potts overtook the ltfffy he noticed the headlamps damaged arid glass missing, a»d fragments of a headlamp ami glass were found ° n the road where the accident occurred. The driver stated the lamps had been;-dnm-aged a month before. YOUTHS CHARGED. HAMILTON, July 16. Nine young men, all of Cambridge, whose ages range from 18 to 19, were before the Court to-day l on twenty-two charges of arson, theft and mischief. The charges relate to the setting fire to six buildings, including two halls, two motor cars, and the theft of cars and parts. One car they ran over a bridge into a river, where it still lies. In all the offences some pleaded guilty to certain charges and the others not guilty. All will be dealt with by thg Supreme Court.