VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

f lIY TELEGHARH—I*KR PRESS ASSOCIATION]

SWIMMING. AUCKLAND, January 8. At tlu! Tepid Baths, Miss Bleibtroy was beaten by Miss Edna Walrond in a diving competition. L. Kronfield won the 220 yards 'Auckland championship in 2.35 3-5. which is 2 2-5 faster than the New Zealand record. A YOUTHFUL CHAMPION. AUCKLAND, Jan :> At the swimming carnival, "Jiss Theida Mleibtrcy, the American Olympia champion, won the 300 metres and 50 yards invitation races, Miss V. Walrond being second in the former, and P. Holft second in latter. IC. C'unnold, a lad of 15 years, won the 880 yards Auckland championship in 12 minutes 2 seconds, lowering the Dominion record by 15 1-5 secs. He also won the 100 yards inteimediate local championship in (54 seconds. Another New Zealand record.

BANKING RETURNS.

WELLINGTON. Jan. 8

The hanking returns so far received are remarkable for great expansion of combined overdrafts and discounts as compared with advances, which are about the same as at December 31, of last year. Free and fixed deposits of tin 1 Hank-of Australasia, Bank of New South Wales first returns amount to 1*11,058,105, this, 1020, quarter, as compared with C 10,385,595 on December 31, 1919. But combined advances and discounts of the two for 1920, final quarter, ti 1,157,712 or C 1,000,000 in excess of deposits, and C2,387,,731 more than continued advances and discounts of December, 1919.

GOVERNOR HOES YACHTING

AUCKLAND, Jan. 7

The Governor-General took part in the harbour race on Saturday in his yacht the Iron Duke, and was beaten for first place by one second after a sensational finish. HON J. G. COATES. NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 9. Hon J. 0. Coates, Minister for Public Works was in New Plymouth on Saturday and left for Moknu to-day, cn route to Te Kuiti and Auckland. He received deputations and was taken round the town and to the mountain. The Chamber oi Commerce made a strong plea for resumption of work at the Taranaki end of tlu* St ration! Main Trunk railway, hut the Minister definitely stood to his previous decision to concentrate on the must important train lines, which in his view are the northern lines. He denied Auckland was favoured, instancing the disconti nun nee of railways in Ins own and Mr Mantler’s electorates. <

DROWNING AT GHAXITY

WESTPORT, Jan. 9

At G rani tv yesterday afternoon Marjory MeNcight, 15 years of ago. the (laughter of Mr and Mrs T. McNeight was drowned while surf bathing, through being carried out. on the ebb t ide.

'Fhe body was found lit 5 o clock this morning on the beach at Xgakauau. McNeights are particularly unfortunate in respect to drowning accidents as a son, some years ago, lost his life in a watt# race at Addisons and Mr McNeight’s mother was also drowned whilst attempting to cross Totara river.

BODY FOUND FN HIV EH

TAUMAHUNUI, Jan. 8

'Fhe body of a man, seen in the Manganui river on Wednesday by tourists, on the river boat, was recovered yesterday by the police, it was very decomposed, the features being unrecognisable. The body is so far unidentified.

A letter was found in his pocket.from a ladv addressed, dear Ken, arranging to meet the deceased at Waimnrino railway station, Dee. ‘2lst and if lie was not at the station she would take it he had gone to Tokanu and she would follow. A letter dated Dec. 13th, had no heading and no signature. It wax reported that a man, John (iaidiner, of Mangaorutu, was missing, but friends had so far been unable to identify the body as his.

MOTORING fatalities.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 8

On Saturday afternoon, John Barns, of New Plymouth, was arrested on a charge of manslaughter, arising out ol the death of Miss Ruby Coates, as a result- of a motor collision here on New Year’s eve. -Miss C’oales was in « motor cycle side ear and Harris was driver of the motor car which struck the cycle. At the inquest the verdict was that the collision was due to Harris being on Ids wrong side of the rone. He appeared before a justice of peace ~ud was remanded on bail.

AN INQUEST. DUNEDTN, Jan. 10. An inquest was opened yesterday regarding the death of James McDonald Dales, an artilleryman who died on Saturday evening as the resnlt of a shot from a revolver. It is stated that deceased when on active service was a ship torpedoed in the English Channel and since his return he was a little nervous. A medical man who was called in said apparently it was a self - dieted wound. The inquest was adjourned For further inquiricH Deceased was aged JO, married, with two child veil.