DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1931, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

OPIUM RAID SUSPECT. (Bij Telegraph —Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 23. It took four detectives, working with a pick, tomahawk and marlin spike, an hour to break into a lionise in Grey Street on Sunday night and when they finally entered nil they found was a benzine tin from which flames were leaping to the pealing and ten complacent Chinese. It is suspected the premises were used as an opium den but no arrests wore made presumably because the evidence was in the benzine tin. The occupants were apparently warned by secret hells The door was steel lined, triple barred and padlocked.

THE NIAGARA. RETURN AFTER. ACCIDENT. AUCKLAND, February 23. When the Niagara reached Auckland from Vancouver to-day, further particulars were obtained of the accident to the vessel at Vancouver, where she collided with the wharf. The accident occurred in a dense fog, the collision twisting the upper part of the steamer’s stern. The impact was slight, hut the weight of the vessel caused damage costing £1,500. Repairs were made an Vancouver hv the pilot in charge at the time. TRIAL OF COLSTON. . NATIONAL DARK TRAGEDY. HAMILTON, February 23. The trial of Charles Colston, aged 38 years, for the alleged murder, at the National Park, on January 6th, of Alice Rose Florence Anderson, aged 35, was opened to-day at the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Evidence on the lines of that in the lower court was taken. POISONING OFFENCE. AUCKLAND, February 23.

“You may consider yourself fortunate you are not standing trial on a much more serious charge,” said Judge Herdman,” in sentencing to three years’ hard labour, .Edward Charles Watdi. 52, charged with administering poison to his employer at To Awamutu, with intent to injure. ‘•Fortunately, you didn’t put enough poison in to kill him.” His Honour gave him the maximum on tlu* charge. Walsh li'iid previously been declared an habitual criminal.