DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 33, 3 February 1912, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, February 2. i At the Supreme Court Judge Ed- 1 wards sentenced William Brown lor causing actual bodily harm at Gis- i borne to six months’ hard labour; Henry Westwood Brown, alias Me- ■ , Cormack, obtaining money by false pretences, one year on each of three charges (concurrent); James Charles Graham, a youth with several aliases, breaking and entering at Now Plymouth, 18 months’ hard labour; .Alexander McLeod, alias Smith, lorgcry and uttering at Gisborne, two years’imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal; James McLaren, theft from dwelling at Waitara, two years on each of two charges (concurrent) and declared an habitual criminal; William Wolley, alias Robinson, horse stealing at New Plymouth, 18 months’ hard labour and declared an habitual criminal; William Grant, horse stealing at Tolog.a Bay, admitted to probation ; Honare Waiti, horse stoalig at Tologa Bay, admitted to probation. Whangarei, February 1. A new coal-bearing area has been proved at Kiripaka. It is estimated to contain half, a million tons of fine quality. Auckland, February 1. A painful scene occurred at Waahi on Tuesday at the funeral of Whin Himlona, a well-known Huntly native. Just as the coffin had been lowered into a box prepared for its reception and dust was being added to dust, the older of two daughters of deceased (Mrs I'awera), in a proxy sin of sorrow, flung herself upon the coffin and demanded interment beside her beloved father. Convulsive fits followed after she had been lifted out of the grave. Drastic and, to European minds, dangerous remedies were tried, the effects of which, while they mitigated the convulsions, did not restore consciousness. At 6 p.m. Mrs Tawera was still unconscious. The sad scene had a very marked effect upon the largo number present, and brought the obsequies to a sudden and painful conclusion. A number of charges of racecourse betting wore heard at the Police Court to-day, before Mr Cuttcn, S.M.. P. and H. Conway, two carters, pleaded guilty to having made bets at Ellerslie on December 26. They had been seen by a detective and taken to the racing club secretary, to whom they admitted the offence, and from whom they asked for “a chance.” They were fined the minimum of £2O each, and allowed to pay at the rate of £1 a week. Joseph Hewson admitted having made bets at Takapuna on January 29. It was stated that he was working in conjunction with two brothers who had not yot been served with summonses. Ho was also lined £2O, and ordered to pay instalments of £1 a week. In a similar case against Ernest Maud, of betting at Ellersiie, tlie. offence was admitted, and a fine of £2O was imposed. Humphrey Heran, who dal nut appear, was similarly charged in respect to December 20. Evidence was given that accused was seen,to take money from people on Ellersiie racecourse and to make entries in a book. When Constable Hosier accosted him lie said, “What’s up?” to which Constable Hosier replied that he was tote, netting. Accused then offered Hosier £o to let him get out of it. Accused tvas taken to the office, and when charged with tote betting replied “xes.” His Worship imposed a line of £26. Janies Ernest McCarthy and Joseph Broun were oacii charged that on January 1, at Ellerslio, they made bets within view of persons frequenting the course. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate said he was quite satisfied that accused had been making bets, but he was i not satisfied that they were bookmakers. He would therefore reserve decision on that point. Thames, February 1.

A young man named George Dodson, with a long record of previous convictions, was sentenced to throe months' for vagrancy. Ho came to the Thames with a woman of ill-re-pute, and while living on the proceeds of her shame, had the audacity to insinuate himself into the home of a respectable local resident. Representing himself as a traveller for a well-known firm, ho courted a young girl and secured her affection. The Bench stigmatised ins conduct as most scoundrelly, and regretted that the punishment inflicted was the maximum allowed by law. In connection with the tragedy on the steamer Wakatcre last month, when Arthur Waffling shot another lad named Koderick Howlands with a revolver, the former was before the court, charged with doing actually bodily harm. The injured lad, who is half paralysed as the result of an injury to the brain, gave evidence at the hospital intelligently, but his memory re the actual shooting is a blank. The evidence showed that the shooting was quite accidental. Waffling, not knowing that the weapon was loaded, playfully pointed it at Rowlands and shot him in the forehead. The bullet was extracted from the back of the brain. Waffling pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial, being liberated on bail. Gisborne, February 1.

Derwent Scott, aged 12, the son of Robert Scott, sheep farmer, of The Willows, Kaiteratahi, Gisborne, was drowned in the Waipoa river this afternoon. Deceased, with another boy, swam across the river, and on the return evidently got cramp and sapk. The body lias been recovered. Napier, February 1.

During his visit to the Ruketitiri district with a view to determining the practicability of a road from the Puketitiri springs to Talndm, Mr I). N. McMillan, District Roads Engineer, discovered quite a numher of additional springs, extending for u dis-

tance of eight miles along the Mohaka river. The largest of the springs is sending out such a volume of water that the river into which it flows is virtually changed into a hot stream, and is delightful for bathing. Mr McMillan is of opinion that there arc great possibilities before the district. Wanganui, February 1. The Customs duties collected at Wanganui during January totalled £7649 8s 7d, as against £4BIO 10s 2d for the corresponding month of the previous year.