DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1921, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Dec. 14. In the Police Court, William Alfred Gustafson, captain in the New Zealand Staff Corps, was charged with having on September 27 last received a cheque for £5O to pay the Wanganui Regimental Band, and fraudulently converted the proceeds to his own use. The hearing was adjourned to Hawera on December 16. A COMPENSATION CLAIM. ♦- Palmerston N., Dec. 14. The Arbitration Court reserved judgment in a claim for £5OO compensation made against the Borough Council by Mrs. Hickey, arising out of the death of her husband, borough pound-keeper, as the result of injuries sustained in a collison with a motor car while on the way to the pound in February last. MAIN TRUNK LINE CLEARED. Taumarunui, Dec. 14. The expectation that the Main Trunk line would be cleared at midnight proved over sanguine. The men worked hard, but the line was still blocked at 9 o’clock this morning. The slip itself was cleared by 10 o’clock last night, but difficulty was experienced in levering the engine back to the rails. This was accomplished about 10 this morning, and the engine was brought on to Taumarunui. The 0 line is now clear and the express, which left Auckland last night, will arrive here at 11 o’clock this morning. Passengers by the expresses which left Auckland and Wellington at mid-day yesterday changed trains at the slip at 8 this morning, after a long wait during the night. SALE OF WRECKED STEAMER. Greymouth, Dec. 14. The wrecked steamer Perth was sold by auction to-day for £l5O, to a Greymouth syndicate. The cargo was not offered. AEROPLANE WRECKED. Westport, Dec. 14. Captain Buckley and Mr. Harrington (mechanic) arrived over Westport from Nelson at 6.30 a.m. in an Avro aeroplane but, owing to petrol shortage, were forced to land in a swamp, wrecking the machine, which afterwards burnt. The men were bruised, but were not seriously hurt. MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION. Auckland, Dec. 14. Patrick Neill, aged seven years, fell in his. grandmother’s kitchen at Onehunga with a slate pencil. An explosion followed which was heard three doors away. The boy was severely injured about the face and hands, three fingers were practically blown off and a fragment of the pencil entered one eye, the sight of which may be lost. The only explanation is the possibility that the boy had attached a percussion cap to the end of the slate pencil.