DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1935, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PEE PBEBS ASSOCIATION.]

WAIPAWA SEAT

NAPIER, February. 26.

Mr. J. D. Ormond, jnr.. has announced his candidature for the Waipawa seat at the next election.

SHOOTING MISHAP. CHRISTCHURCH, February 25

While playing with a dog, when he was cut rabbit shooting. Roderick H. Fitzgibbon, aged 1-1 years, of Culverden, fell and the light rifle he- was cariyiiig fired. The bullet entered the left side of his right leg, just below the hip, ami caused a dec-p wound.

ARAPUNI FIRE

AUCKLAND, February 25.

“The department does not look upon the Arapuni trouble as a major disaster, and the cost of repairs, about £5OOO, will be met from reserve funds,” said Mr F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department. The repairs', he added, would take four to five months to complete.

OPEN-AIR THEATRE. NELSON, February 25

Mr E. Norden, manager of the Theatre Royal, states' that plans are now’ nearing completion for an open air talkie theatre stadium for Nelson, probably the first of its kind in New Zealand. The exact site has not yet been decided on, but there will be accommodation for 400 people.

MURDER CHARGE.

NAPIER, February 26.

Charles William Price, alias Charles William Edwards 6 , charged with the murder of Evelyn Mary Madden, at Argyll East, near Waipawa, appeared again on remand at the Napier Police Court, to-day. He was again remanded until Thursdav. March 21, by which time the poiicee consider that they will be readv to go ahead with the lower Court hearing.

NOT GUILTY VERDICT. NAPIER, February 26.

George Leslie Houlton, a gardener, appeared in the Supreme Court, yesterday, before Mr Justice Smith, on retrial, on a charge-of manslaughter. Houlton was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car,' thereby causing the deaths of two children (his own), and also with negligent driving, causing death.

On the first trial, the jury disagreed, but yesterday, a verdict of not guilty was returned, His Honoi having directed the jury to deal with the first count only.

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. CHRISTCHURCH, February 25

The Christchurch City Council, at its meeting this evening, approved of the report of its sub-committee favouring tiie completion of the South Island Main Trunk line. Dr Thacker was the chairman* of the sub-commit-tee. The members of the committee, and other members of the Council, who spoke, advanced as a. main reason for urging the completion of the line that it would provide work at. standard rates of pay for many men who are at present unemployed. / . CYCLISTS INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, February 25. Miss L. Munro, of 33S North Road, Styx, received head and shoulder injuries when the bicycle she was riding came into collision with a motorcycle at Northcote. Head injuries which necessitated his removal to the Christchurch Public Hospital, were received by A. E. Paget, a. young man employed on the Sloss Estate, Leamington, Cheviot, whose parents reside at Oxford, when the motor-cycle which he was riding collided with a motor-car driven by Mrs N. Archer, of Southbrook, Rangiora. ( METHODIST CONFERENCE. DUNEDIN, February 25. At the Methodist Conference, the Rev. Mr Seamer, head of the Home Missions Committee, drew attention to cases of hardship revealed by the first draft of stations. He stated that the present position reacted unfairly on some struggling country circuits as compared with the more affluent city circuits, and a disproportionate burden fell on the Home Mission Fund. The committee on circuits was permitted to retire to hear Mr Seamer’s evidence.

Tne conference adopted a motion reaffirming adherence to the policj’ of the Bible-in-Schools League, and also expressing appreciation of the policy of the New Zealand Alliance. It was rest! veil to release a number of ministers to assist in the campaign before the poll is taken. PRISONERS SENTENCED. WELLINGTON, February 25. Prisoners were sentenced by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) as follow: —Jack Denton French, 3?>, motor dealer, obtaining £235 from John Shelly by false representations, six months’ hard labour. George 'Walter Roche, 32, theft of £5!), received on behalf of a motor company, for which he was not working. two years’ probation, conditional on making restitution in eight quarterly instalments. Herman Sinclair Love and four young Maoris. Sam Waikare. Tai Houie, Harry Wharepapa, and Mark Morete, breaking, entering and theft at Port Awanui, reformative detention not exeeedhig three years. Olga Corkran, 22, breaking, entering and theft from a dwelling-house, three years' reformative detention.

OLD MAN’ DROWNED. WHANGAREI, Fohruarv 25

Siephcn Uouitiiey, about St;, residing at i'lik'eiiui. near lloiihora. was accidentally drowned on Saiurdav. During Hie afternoon, he told u neighbour named Sheldon, who passed the shanty when ho was going fishing, that ho intuidod to drown some kittens. Whim passing the old man's residence on his return in the evening, Sheldon could find no sign of C’ourtnov.

Returning to the whare on Sunday, and finding that Courtney was still absent, Sheldon, remembering what had been said about The kittens, examined r, disused well nearby, and found the body in two feet of water, in hoi; 1 12 feet in diameter, surrounded by ti-tree and scrub.

A sack containing kittens was still firmly grasped by the deceased, who had evidently overbalanced.

CHATHAM ISLANDS. CHRISTCHURCH, February 25.

Bishop Bennett, back from the Chiitham l-dands, records several changes, including the gradual disappearance of both black swans and

(•els, and the withering of the kopi trees.

At one time, the Chatham Islands were noted for the thousands of black £wans that crowded its many lakes, especially Te Whanga, the

large inland sea of about -10,000 acres. A few years ago the Maoris were able to gather swans eggs by the cart-load. Now, the swans are not nearly so numerous. "There is a very real danger that the Maori race will lure its rich tra-

ditions, its beautiful language, and its unique customs." said Bishop Bennett. It was evident not only in the Chatham Island", but in the South Island, and'even to some extent in the North Island.