DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1942, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

BOY-CYCLISTS INJURED. WELLINGTON, January 29. Severe lacerated wounds to the head and face were suffered by two schoolboys when the cycle they were riding collided with a tramcar about 2 p.m. to-day in Kent Terrace. They were Roy Simmons, li Marion Street, and Raymond Rowell, 15 Kent Terrace. The condition of both was tonight reported to,, be serious. FARMER'S SUICIDE. DANNEVIRKE, January 29. A verdict of suicide while mentally depressed was returned at an inquest into the death of Lloyd Robert Hesketh, a farmer, aged 39, a single man, of Mangatoro, who was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the head. The evidence showed that he suffered from fits of depression. He had worried and was subnormal. He left no relations in the Dominion. BABY’S DEATH. WAIROA, January 30. The son of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Nicol, of Wairoa, Raymond Thomas Nicol, aged 16 months, met his death under unusual circumstances on Wednesday night. The child apparently obtained a box of quinine tablets and had eaten some. After treatment he appeared to recover, but an hour later he became violently ill. and was admitted to the hospital, where he died shortly afterwards. RAZOR SLASHING ALLEGED. WELLINGTON, January 29. Alleged to have slashed James Macken with a razor in Tory Street on December 19, James Joseph Cavanagh, aged 41, a labourer, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial by Mr. J. L Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Cavanagh pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Macken so as to cause actual bodily harm. The case was begun on Wednesday, but Macken was held to be too intoxicated to give evidence, and so was ordered to be kept in custody for _ the night, and his evidence was heard today. Evidence was given that Macken, following an encounter with Cavanagh, was taken to hospital with a wound four and a-half inches long in the cheek. MISUSE OF OIL FUEL. WELLINGTON, January 30. Two charges of the improper use of oil fuel were preferred in the Magistrate’s Court against John Pirie Grant, freezing worker. It was stated that Grant was issued with a license, in order that he might travel by car to Ngahauranga to take up duty on the midnight shift, but it was alleged that he had been using the car for daylight trips to work. In the period from October 22 to November 21, he did no night work. Defendant said he was standing by. expecting work on the midnight shill. “You won't stand by for another 14 days,” said Mr Stout, S.M., in imposing gaol terms totalling that period.

BOY DROWNED. CHRISTCHURCH, January 29. While bathing at North Beach this evening, four boys of the Boys’ Home, Stanmore Road, got into difficulties, and alter excellent work by ths junior members of the Nortn Beach Suri Club, three were rescued, and a fourth, Gordon McCarthy, died alter being brought to the club rooms. There was a very heavy and treacherous sea running. When the alarm was given lan Davison (aged 16), and Berne Brown (aged 16), members of the North Beach Suri' Club, rushed out and saw three boys in difficult les, and after a hard struggle brought them to the shore. They then learned there was a fourth missing, and Davison and Brown returned immediately to the rescue] When they reached McCarthy, he was conscious and spoke, but they could not hear what was said. They had difficulty in handling him. In the meantime the girls’ surf team got the reel and line out. Betty Moore (aged 16) took the belt, and Davison and Brown were then bringing McCarthy in. A territorial went out mu! helped io carry the patient to the shore. SOLDIER'S AFFAIRS CHRISTCHURCH, January 29. Requiring £5O to assist a girl, a Battery Point gunner absented himself without leave, came to Christchurch, and according to his statement, he won over £5B playing darts. There facts were contained in a statement on oath, made by the accused, Gunner Henry Allen Palmer, who pleaded guilty before a District Court Martial this morning to a charge of being absent without leave. A non-commissioned officer of the Provost Section stated Palmer was found behind the door in the girl’s bedroom. Witness added that the family at the house had been warned lor harbouring absentees and deserters. Evidence was given that Palmer had, at the age of nineteen, enlisted in the N.Z.E.F., then served in the Territorial infantry, had applied for the Air Force and finally served with the coast artilery. Before enlisting he had an order made against him, and since serving he had become the father of 2 illegitimate children. He had absented himself on December 25, as the girl had told him that she required £5O to meet adoption charges, and he went to the Fun Fair, urgently, and made £5B, of which he paid the girl the £5O on the day of the quest. The Court’s finding will be announced by Brigadier Mead.