DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1942, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

MOTOR CYCLIST KILLED CHRISTCHURCH, July 20. A member of the 3rd Provost Corps, John Wright, died in the Christchurch Public Hospital this evening. He was admitted at 1.40 p.m. with injuries received when he fell from a motor-cycle on the Styx road, near Spencer Park. YOUTH DROWNED ' AUCKLAND, July 20. Advice has been received that Rodger Herbert Whitefield, aged 17, son of Captain and Mrs. W. Whitefield, has been drowned, after being washed overboard from a vessel, in New Zealand waters. His father is captain of the New Zealand Hospital ship “Maunganui.” MAN’S CONVICTION. DUNEDIN, July 21. Mr. Justice Kennedy reserved decision, when application was made for him to state a case for the Court of Appeal, relating to the trial of Henri Hirt, who was last week found guilty on a charge of unlawful use of an instrument to procure miscarriage. The defence raised the question of whether full facilities were provided for the cross-examination of the young woman concerned, when she gave evidence from her bed in the hospital.

MAREO CASE WELLINGTON, July 20. In answer to an inquiry to-night, the Minister of Justice £Mr Mason) stated that he had received a. copy of Sir William Willcox’s report about the death of Mrs Mareo. An application in respect of it was expected from Mareo’s solicitor, and in view of that consideration of the matter was in abeyance. “Certain steps are being taken, but I am not at liberty for the present to disclose what they are,” said Mr H. F. O’Leary, K.C., commenting on the Auckland message that Sir William Willcox considered that Mrs Mareo died of veronal pneumonia, the drug being self-administered. Mr O’Leary represented Mareo at his trials. MISSING "STRYCHNINE. DUNEDIN, July 20. In the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Kennedy, Sidney Harris, a waterside worker, was charged with stealing one or more, but not more than four, loz bottles of strychnine, each valued at 4/4. He was alternatively charged with attempting to steal the bottles. The evidence showed that the accused was seen tampering with a case which had arrived by a coastal ship, and later it was discovered that four bottles of strychnine were missing. At no stage were the goods found in the possession of the accused. The jury found the accused not guilty on the first count, but guilty on the second, and he was remanded for sentence until to-morrow morning.

DUNEDIN, July 21

Sidney Harris was sentenced to four months’ hard labour by Mr. Justice Kennedy for attempted theft of bottles of strychnine. WIND AT CARTERTON.

CARTERTON, July 20

Several premises damaged in the earthquake were, still further battered by a strong wind which swept Carterton on Saturday. Part of the front of the W.F.C.A. building was blown in. Only the fact that the dislodged section happened to catch on a cross member in the roof saved the piece from crashing on to the stock and employees. The Wairarapa Brick Works, the walls of which were badly damaged by the quake, are now roofless. The wind tore through the holes in the walls and lifted the roof in large sections, leaving the building a complete wreck. Chimney stacks and kilns were left. Minor damage was done in various parts of the town. The work of repairing the earthquake damage is proceeding slowly, and nothing has yet been done concerning renovating or rebuilding damaged business premises. FARM LABOUR. WELLINGTON, July 20. Farmers or farm employees who are called up for military service and passed medically fit are to stay in their occupation pending complete examination of their positions before the local Appeal Board, according to a statement made by the Minister of National Service (Mr. Broadfoot). The local Appeal Board will take steps to arrange postponement of service in the meantime.

“Arrangements have also been made for primary production councils to lodge appeals on the ground of the public interest with the appropriate appeal board,” said the Minister. “It is quite possible that some of the men concerned have insufficient experience to justify their retention on the farm, or the production of the particular farm on which they are employed may be insufficient to warrant the retention of an experienced man. In such a case it is proposed that the man shall be transferred to another farm.” ______