DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1921, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

ARSON ADMITTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. At the Winton Court to-day Harold James Hill pleaded guilty to five charges of arson in connection with the recent epidemic of fires in the township. He was committed for sentence. A DUNEDIN FIRE. Dunedin, Dec. 21. Rev. E. H. Statham's residence at Mornington was totally destroyed by fire earlv this morning in the absence of the occupant. The insurances were £I2CO on the house and £5OO on the furniture. DISMISSED POSTAL OFFICIALS. Wellington, Dec. 21. In answer to inquiries regarding the appeals of the dismissed officers of the Napier Post Office in connection with the alleged divulgence of a cablegram commenting on the match Maoris v. the Springboks, Mr. Markman, first assist-ant-secretary, stated that the Board of Appeal decided that it had no jurisdiction to deal with the matter since no preliminary inquiry had been held by the department and the matter therefore was not properly before it. The question of the procedure now to be followed was at present being considered by the department. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. Christchurch, Dee. 21. The charge of manslaughter against Lucy Josephine Pope was dismissed by ' Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at the MagisI trate’s Court. I The charge was that accused failed to provide the necessities of life to her i illegitimate male child, born on Novem- • ber 14. It aroee out of the inquest on the body of the child and the hearing was co/imenced on December 14. To-day Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at Christchurch Hospital, gave evidence that in the ordinary course of events lie would not expect* a mother similarly situated to be in a condition to attend to the child. The Magistrate said that in view of the evidence, he did not think a jury could convict.