DOMINION ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1931, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS

FALL FROM EXCURSION TRAIN. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. After the Tiniaru excursion train left Addington last evening Albert Betteridge married of 208 North East Belt Ashburton, was found lying in the. station yard near the track, He had injuries ito the face and back and was suffering from shock. He was hospital led in an unconscious and serious condition. He is believed to have fallen from the train. COMMON GAMING HOUSE. CHRISTCHURCH. June 22. On a charge of using his premises a.s a common gaming house, William George Everett, a hairdresser, was fined £SO and costs by Magistrate Mosley. The police said that they found betting material hidden behind a secret panel in accused’s office. HOMESTEAD BURNT. BLENHEIM, June 22. Benopai homestead, owned by W. G. Rudd, was completely destroyed by fire at three o’clock this morning. The building was a very fine structure, containing fourteen rooms. Insured for £2,500, furniture and effects £I,OBO in Alliance Office. Practically nothing was saved.

Miss Betty Rudd in leaping from an upstairs window sustained minor injuries to one foot. TOBACCO IMPORTS. - WELLINGTON, June 20. Sinne people labour under the fallacy tlmt a depression makes little or no difference to the consumption of tobacco and cigarettes, but figures prove the contrary. The tobacco imported into the Domoinion in the first four months of this year under review was valued at £116,913, against £283,488 — a shrinkage of £103,505, and the quantity was 986,6701 b against 1,583,446’i0. Cigarettes make a worse showing, the value of the imports being £68,792 against £192,403—a decrease of L‘l23, 601, or well over 65 per cent.

A LICENSE LIMIT. GISBORNE, .June 20. Tlie Public Works Department has notified that Opotiki County will Tie expected to take over the new high way Mntawi via Waioeka to Opotiki in September. When the matter was mentioned at the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee comment was made that soon the present route via Motn--110 longer would be used, consequently the Motu Hotel, one of the finest on the East Coast, would be more useful at latawai, nine miles nearer Gisborne than at Motu, and it was decided to ask for the removal of tne limit of a mile on the district, by which licenses may be moved in a district. The police inspector and the Magistrate spoke in support of the recommendation.

MOTOR ACCIDENT. TIM ABU, June 20. A serious motor accident occurred at 11.50 a.m., to-day, near the Show Grounds, when a car travelling north down the hill, skidded across the road and struck a post. It was badly damaged. Two men, believed to Tie —Orr, of Oainaru, and William Johnson, of Kakanui. were seriously inured, and were conveyed by ambulance to the Timaru Hospital. ASSAULTED AND ROBBED. AUCKLAND, June 2'J. A man walikiig home w!ith his wages in his pocket was brutally assaulted and robbed in New Lynn about seven o’clock last night. The man, Harry Davis, aged 00. who is employed by tbe Public M orks Department. in the country, was within 100 yards of his home when lie was attacked bv two m‘en from behind. One dragged him on the footpath on his face, while the other stole £BS.

MOTOR CYCLIST FINED. CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. The discovery of number plates that proved to lie last year’s repainted and altered led to the appearance of Donald McKenzie, motor cyclist, on 1 'a charge of using an unregistered motor eve le. Ala gistrate Mosley imposed a fine of €2O remarking that the offence was a deliberate fraud.

L> ()STMASTER SBNTENCEP. AUCKLAND, June ( 2'2. 'William Richard Holmes, formerly postmaster at Alt. Eden for nine years, was sentenced to two years reformative for theft (£6OO Govt, money) to which lie pleaded guilty. Judge Smith sand lie did not think the mn'nner 7 would be held in close confinement. The Court took into consideration the fact that Holmes lost £3OO superannuation money.