DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1913, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

PRISONERS’ ESCAPADE. i {Per Press Association.) Rotorua, February 11. On Monday morning two prisoners, named Charles Victor Raymond Stanway and Walter James Boss, escaped from the tree plantation camp at Kainaroa Plains, but were re-captured by Maoris last night. On being challenged both ran away, and one of the Maoris fired a rifle bullet, which lodged in Ross’s buttock. The injury was' slight. .[Ross was arrested about a year 'ago in New Plymouth on a charge of theft, and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and five years’ reformative treatment.] A DRINKING BOUT AND ITS SEQUEL. Rotorua, February 11. At an inquest touching the death of Solomon Newton, a Maori, who was drowned in Lake Rotorua on Sunday, the evidence showed that a party of fifteen, including three natives, spent a day on the lake. They had with them five dozen bottles of beer and six bottles of whisky, and by the time Hamurana (the second port of call) was reached all the liquor had been consumed. The party were more or less intoxicated, and the organiser of the excursion admitted that he was not sober enough to remember the details of the accident. Others, however, stated that Solomon was walking along the side "of the launch when he slipped. Although a good swim-i mer he made no effort in the water and sank when the launch was close to him. Evidence was given that the i man in charge was under the influence j of liquor shortly after landing. A j verdict of accidental drowning was re- I turned. HUMAN HAND FOUND. Ashburton, February 11. j A human hand was found on the I beach at Lowcliffe, about six miles ; south of the Rangitata river, to-day. I It is supposed to ,be part of the remains of either Nicholas or Darby, who were washed out to sea on January 21. • THOSE COAL AREAS. Wellington, February 11. Opposition critics have expressed a good deal of curiosity as to the legal authorities upon which the Government relies in the position it has taken up regarding a coal-bearing lease in a perpetuity area in Southland, and the Prime Minister to-day made the following statement on the subject:—“The position taken up by the Government' is founded upon an opinion furnished by the AttorneyGeneral. For -obvious reasons I don’t at the present time, propose to make | public the contents of the opinion, but I may say that I have this morning received from the Hon. Mr Bell, K.C., an opinion in which he supports in a most positive way the view taken by the Attorney-General.”