DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 January 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

(Per Press Association). YOUTH FATALLY KICKED. OPOTIKI, January 31. A named Pona Te Pinini was prodding a' horse’s hind legs with a pitchfork, when the horse let fly with both hoofs, striking Pinini a terrific blow in the stomach, causing a fractured liver and severe haemorrhage. He died soon after arrival at the hospital. SCHOOL BATH FATALITY.. CHRISTCHURCH, January 31. Wilfred King, residing with his parents, at Smith Street, Woolston, was drowned at the Woolston School Baths yesterday. He was noticed to be floating in a peculiar manner, and another boy brought the body out of but artificial respiration failed.

PRISONERS SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, January 3D. At the Supreme Court, Tukarawa Pomare for breaking and theft, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, concurrent with the sentence he is now serving. Philip Alexander Gentil, for indecent assault on a little girl, was ordered two years’ reformative treatment. Alfred Hinton, on six charges of forgery and uttering, was ordered three years’ imprisonment. Robert Irvwin Meachin for giving false name when contracting a ' second marriage was given three months’ imprisonment. - DENTAL SCHOOL. DUNEDIN, January 30. As the outcome of a meeting on Monday this telegram was sent to Mr Massey: “Intense feeling in Dunedin against even the suggestion of removal of the dental school. Will ba glad of your assurance that no such transfer will be made; or in the alternative, that the Government will not commit itself to the proposal until we have the opportunity of putting the case before you personally. If unable to do this, will be impossible to (prevent public meeting and strong agitation.” Mr Massey replied: “No action taken until Dunedin people interested have the opportunity of seeing me personally.” It is expected that Mr Massey will be here in a fortnight. ” FARMERS AND LABOUR. WELLINGTON, January 30. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union Executive unanimously, adopted a motion. that the executive welcomes the I'eturn of the Prime Minister, ; and expresses appreciation of his valuable services in the cause of the Empire, realising his sincerity and patriotic desire to draw closer the bonds of Empire. Mr Polson, in moving the motion, expressed the conviction that the Labour Party in Britain and in New Zealand, were employing the soft pedal to induce people to trust them and give them power, but their' objections were purely socialism. H a warned small fatrmerss ■against- ffie attempts of the Labour Party to capture their support.

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED TE KUITI, January 30. The consummation of a long and patient effort was reached yesterday when a war memorial erected Tiere in New Zealand marble at 'a cost of £650, and bearing the names of 80 Te Kuiti and district soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice in the late war, was unveiled by Sir Edward Chaytor in the presence of a large gathering of residents. The ceremony was. preceded by a parade of returned soldiers under the command of Lieut.-Colonel C. Dick, assisted by Captain D. Kennedy, D. 5.0., M.C. In the evening Sir E. Chaytor was the guest of the returned soldiers at a smoke concert. At the conclusion of the entertainment. drag ropes, manned by those present, were attached to his car, which was triumphantly escorted to the railway station, where the General was accorded an enthusiastic farewell.

. BIG GRASS FIRE. MASTERTON, January 30. The lighting of a fire by youths on the river-bed at Waingawa was responsible for one of the most extensive and destructive grass fires that-have* occurred in this locality. Beginning at mid-day, in a gdrse blaze, it spread rapidly to the properties of J. Montgomery and J. A. Betts. ■ Assisted by a growing breeze, the progress of the

fi?e, which was startling in its rapidity, arrested the attention of five other settlers, whose places were all threatened. Volunteer helpers gathered to cope with the outbreak and succeeded in averting the destruction of houses, though two outbuildings on one farm were demolished. An unfortunate as-

peek of the episode is that many of these farmers who had paddocks shut up for winter feed, lost th e lot, .jlrincipally Mr Montgomery. (80) acres and Mr Betts (40). The losses of plantations, pasture and fences are heavy. The total. area swept is estimated at between 300 and 400 acres.;! •