DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1927, Page 9

DOMINION ITEMS

(Per Press Association.)

MAN’S OFFENCE Hamilton, August si. Horace Benjamin Martin was found guilty at the Supreme Court to day on three charges Of indecent assault. Sentence was deferred.

HOUSE BURGLARY PALMERSTON N., Sept. 1.

During the temporary absence of the occupants, a residence at Terrfice End was burglariously entered, and a quantity of goods, including jewellery, clothing etc. valued at thirty pounds, was stolen. BODY ON BEACH. CHRISTCHURCH, . August 31. James Heeney, until recently barman at the Rotherfield Hotel, was found washed up on the beach at New Brighton, this afternoon. The body was fully clothed, and it appeared as if the man had been dead about one day.

EX-MANAGER COMMITTED. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 1.

William Roy McDonald, ex-manager of the Christchurch branch, charged with the theft of sums totalling £654, the property of the Guardian Assurance Coy., pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

BRICKLAYER’S SUICIDE. AUCKLAND, August 31.

Allan Fowlds, aged 49, a bricklayer, residing at New Lynn, was found dead this morning. He got up as usual about six o’clock, and a couple of hours later, his wife, on going into the kitchen, found him lying on a chair beside the gas -stove. His head was wrapped in a towel and the gas was turned on. The dead man had been out of work for some time, and this had evidently played on his mind.

INCENDIARISM. ALLEGED.

WELLINGTON, August 31.

James Perry, a boiler maker, aged 36, was to-day committed to the Supreme Court foi' trial on a charge of attempting to set fire to a house at Kilbirnie on the night of August 19. Accused, who admitted breaking and entering five houses in that district within the last month or so, was committed for sentence on the latter charges.

COMPENSATION AWARD.

WELLINGTON, September 1.

In the case in which Benjamin Semeloff claimed £6575 from the City Corporation, for property taken by the Corporation at the junction of Taranaki, Wallace and Hankey Streets, the Compensation Court entered judgment for the claimant for £1250, in addition, to £2141 already paid by the Crporation, for discharge of mortgage, and £2lB paid in respect* of rates. The Corporation was ordered to pay £BO costs and court fees to be fixed by the Registrar. Each party was ordered to pay its assessor’s fees, £l5 15s.

HUSBAND’S ALLEGED THEFT. PALMERSTON N., September 1.

Appearing before Justices at the Police Court this morning, Andrew McEwan, a middle aged labourer, was charged on the information of his wife, at present living at Woodville, with theft of sundry articles of furniture and clothing of the total value of £5O.

It was stated in evidence that the parties separated at the end of March. The wife closed her home here/zand went to Woodville. Returning later, she found the articles had disappeared. '

Defendant several times visited the house, a carter taking away a kapoc mattress, while a pawnbroker stated that defendant sold him sundry househeld effects and articles of jewellery in June.

Defendant was committed for triaL

DRUNKEN MOTORIST. AUCKLAND, August 31.

A fine of £2O was imposed in the Police Court on Harold Stanley Hall, on a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a'motor car. Accused collided with another car at a street intersection, and it was alleged that he was driving at a dangerous speed. Accused denied the offence, but Magistrate McKeen said that from accused’s own actions he had to assume he was drunk. He was a fool. No man in his sober senses would have approached the intersection at the pace he did. Accused’s driving license was cancelled. x

AUCKLAND, Sept. 1.

Thomas Harold Cotter, 49, Auckland business man, owner of a car which careered backwards in Symonds Street on Tuesday night, and crashed through the window of a millinery establishment was to-day ordered by Mr. Hunt S.M. to pay a fine of fifty pounds, and had his driver’s license cancelled for twelve months, on a charge of intoxication whilst in charge of a motorcar.

MANAWATU STORM PALMERSTON N., Sept. 1.

A severe electrical disturbance was experienced in Manawatu- district yesterday afternoon commencing early in the afternoon and continuing-nmtil the early evening. Lightning played all round the countryside, while rain fell in torrents. All varieties of lightning were witnessed, while the rain was particularly heavy, flooding the streets in the town to a considerable depth. The telephone service was dislocated, many instruments being affected. The major damage whs caused by disturbance to the lines of the Manawatu or Orua Power Boards. At Whakaronga, lightning struck the lines while at Te Matai sub station, the oil switch was completely wrecked. Lightning also struck lines at Fitzherbert and other places. It was 5 o’clock this morning before the last repairs were made to lines. From recording instruments at the Board’s station at Bunnythorpe, .it appears that lightning started in the vicinity of Whakaronga then- travelled .to Bunnythorpe, to Kairanga, Palmerston North, Awapuni and Linton. Despite the deluge in Manawatu, practically no rain fell at Mangahao where there is a shortage of water. To-day, some steam plants are assisting Mangahao.