DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1919, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

| ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. A Wellington, Feb. ' John James Joseph Lee was to-Ufty chajged with attempting to mmder his wile, Olive A. Lee, at Xewtown last night. The two had been living apart for some time- Last uight asked his wife to go back, but she refused, and it is alleged tnat Lee attacked !ior with a razor, :ntlictmg several gashes on her face and head. Accused «at remanded for one week, boil being refund. PECULIAR COMPENSATION CASE. Wellington, Feb. 28An unusual compensation case is pro ceeding in the Arbitration Cour',, (tfk to be the first of the kind in New Z&. lund. The widow of Frank Walker, comp <«itor on the Otaki Mail, claimed £BOO damages from Frank Penn, proprietor of the Mail. While at hi 3 work Walker met with an accident to hia head, fot which he received medical attention. The doctor prescribed rest. Walker, who was formerly a strong, cheerful man, became quite changed. He was irritable and complained of giddineas. The third day after his accident he left his bed and said he was going for a wrtlk. His body was found in the river three weeks later. A post-mortem revealed that under the site of the abr«' sion on his head there was a clot ot blood, which the doctor said was undoubtedly due to +hf injury and would awnunt for the peculiar manner of deceased. Thfl court was asked to infer that Walker, while mentally deranged at work, committed suicide. The compensation claim was made accordingly. FALSE DECLARATION. Wellington, Feb. 28. In the Magistrate's Court to-day, Jfbert John Challenger admitted attempted to obtain a permit to leave New Zealand hv means of false pretences. According to the police, accused Was anxious to get to Hobart, and made application under his correct name for the ncoe«arv pormit. Thin was refustd, and he then made application under tho name of George Lawkin, who was in Hamilton district. A conviction was entered and a fine of £2 and costs imposed. THE FORGED TEN-SiTILLING NOTES. Wellington. Last Night. Two of the forged pink ten-shilling not.es were presented to-day for payment. Both bear the number 555179. A W?LL-DESELVED PINE. Wellington, Last Night. A bootmaker named D. Coronno was ' fined £5 at the Magistrate's Court on a charge of manufacturing and selling a pair of sandals the inner soles of which were composed of cardboard, and With failing to stamp legibly on the outer sole a statement as to what materials were used. . a

THE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE. Timaru, Last Night. The Industries Committee «at for four hours this afternoon. Exhaustive evidence was taken on the wheat-growing industry, Mr. John Talbot being the chief witness. Other matters dealt with were: The Island fruit trade, de-'p sea fishing off Timaru, rectification of railway Uriff anomalies, fur industry and electiM. power. SOUTHLAND FLAX MILLS CLOBING. Invercargill, Last Night. It is reported that some of the Southland flax mills are closing down, owing to the low price of hemp and the high cost of production.