DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1937, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[FEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION.]

RECHABITES’ DISPUTE. WELLINGTON, March 12.

Decision was reserved by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court today, in the claim by Alfred Martin, of Christchurch, on behalf of himself and other members of the New Zealand Central District of the Independent Order of Rechabites, against the district officers of the Society, in an endeavour to have the office of the order shifted from Wellington to Christchurch.

FATAL INJURIES

DANNEVIRKE, March 13.

Knocked down last evening by a taxi-driver, L. Harris, of Dannevirke, Charles Mitchell, 73, farmer, of Ruaroa, sustained injuries from which he died in the Dannevirke Hospital, less than two hours later.

Drizzling rain was falling at the time of the accident, and the visibility was poor. Mitchell was crossing the street, apparently with his hack to 'ihe approaching taxi.

ASHBURTON BY-ELECTION. CHRISTCHURCH, March 13.

Mr. H. W. Sherratt was elected to the vacancy on the Ashburton Borough Council caused by the death of Mr. H. Pv. C. McElrea,, obtaining a majority of 67 votes over Mr. A. L. Jones, the only other candidate, at the bjrelection held yesterday. The’ votes cast were: Sherratt 302, Jones 235. There were seven declaration votes, which are still to be counted. The total vote of 537 represents a small percentage of about 3000 electors who were eligible to vote. ■ Mr. Sherratt was president of the •Advance Ashburton Association for a term, and was also a member of the Ashburton East School Committee.

ENGINE DERAILED. TEMUKA, March 12.

The derailment of an engine and two freight trucks almost in front of Temuka railway station yesterday afternoon delayed the 3.20 o’clock south express and ‘caused considerable interruption to shunting operations. No damage was done, and railway timetables did not suffer any appreciable set-back.

The mishap occurred early in the afternoon, when an A class locomotive drawing two trucks jumped the rails at the points leading into a crossing loop as it was about to be used for shunting. Fortunately a gang of workmen was close at hand, and with their assistance the engine was put back on the rails in the record time of 15 minutes by the adroit use of railway jacks, but some difficulty was encountered in replacing the trucks. Officials are unable to account for the mishap, as the points at the time were properly locked. Although the south express was held up for 16 minutes, the special train taking the Minister for Railways (Hon D. G. Sullivan) from Timaru to Christchurch was not delayed by the accident, and goods trains were able to keep to schedule.