DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

A CLERK’S THEFTS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 22. Employed in a responsible position in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington, .Vine.©lit Cranfield Butcher, a clerk, aged 29, abused the trust and bellied himself to money out of the strong room, and was charged to-day with theft of £lO3 16s sjd, the property of the Government. He pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court. It- was stated in evidence that it was accuseds duty to look after the strong room door, and he had a key for the purpose. The money was abstracted frill cash boxes.

Accused was brought to Wellington under escort from Auckland, where he was arrested on the wharf pior to em - barking on the Ulimaroa for Sydney, under the name of Cranfield. FARMERS’ HOUSEKEEPERS. PALMERSTON N., Oct. 22. A meeting- of Dominion Bush Nurses and housekeepers, an auxiliary of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, held yesterday afternoon, Mrs Jackson, of Master ton, Dominion President presiding, a report was presented by the secretary that showed forty-three housekeepers were employed in various districts from North Auckland to Southland. Applications lor housekeeers were steadily coming ito hand. It. had been’ found necessary to increase the staff of emergency housekeepers.

A SERIOUS CHARGE

CHRISTCHURCH Oct. 22

Arising out of a fatal collision between a motor car and shingle lorry at the gates of Paparua Prison on August 12t?h, Vernon 'Clemens, the driver of the car, a salesman employed by Adams Ltd., was charged to-day before Magistrate Young with negligently driving a car on the road to the 'West Coant thereby causing the death of Edward Reynolds, of Wellington. .

A new witness, Wilfred Brian Fitchett, of Palmerston North, said that on August 12th he saw a Studobaker car going in a westerly direction. It passed over an intersection at an estimated speed of over .forty miles an hour. Later he saw the same car being towed back. Other evidence followed on the lilies of the inquest. The Magistrate held that a prinia facie case had been made out. - 11 accused had been keeping a proper look-out he should have 'been able to pull up or swerve to the right. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

A HEAVY GALE.

PALMERSTON N., October 22.

' A gate of exceptional severity was experienced in the district to-day, the velocity at time being over fifty miles an hour. A large plate glass window was blown in, passers by had a narrow escape. Trees in places were blown down, while considerable damage was done to gardens. The weather during the past ten days has been exceptionally boisterous for this period of the year. AN OLD OFFENDED. BLENHEIM, October 2. John Robertson Campbell, convicted of theft of money and a ring valued at eighteen guineas, the property of Miss B. J. Williams, was revealed as an old offender having two previous convictions for theft, on one of which he served two years. lie was sentenced to three months’ hard labour, to be followed by reformative detention for three years. On a further charge of vagrancy lie was convicted and discharged.

KAWARAU MINING

PROF. HORNELL TO REPORT.

DUNEDIN, Oct. 22

A report on the system for mining of Kawarau river is to be prepared by Professor Hornell, in collaboration with Mr H. Vickerman, of Wellington. They will inspect the river immediately and later deposit their ieport in Wellington.