DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

RAILWAY FATALITY. (By-Telegraph—Per Press Association.) HAAVEEA, September 27. A verdict that death was purely accidental, having apparently been caused by lack of care in crossing the railway yards, and no blame being attachable to the men on the moving train, was returned by Mr R. S. Sage, coroner, at the inquest this afternoon on Samuel Brown, the railway cadet, aged 18, who died within half an hour tfrom injuries received when run over by a rake of trucks that were being shunted at Hawera railway yards at six o’clock on the evening of September 19. The evidence showed that deceased, passing over the coupling of two standing railway waggons, stepped directly into the path of the moving trucks on the next line. Three passed over him . before he was thrown clear. MOTOR INSURANCE. S.I. UNION’S SUCCESS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 27. The third annual meeting of the South Island Motor Union Mutual Insurance Association was held to-day. The Chairman, Mr W..R. Carey, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, .said the ‘progress previously made had been maintained. The total assets were £20,944, and there was a surplus on the year’s working of £5,242. The sum of £4,538 had been added to the reserve for unotfpired risks. The premiums on motor car insurance generally were substantially lower throughout New Zealand than before the Association came into exitsenoe, probably 30 peivcent lower. Messrs W. R. Carey and B. Falck were unanimously re-elected directors, and Mr R. T. Toswill aduitor. The directors’ fees were fixed at £4OO. GRAFTON BRIDGE TRAGEDY. AUCKLAND, Sept. 27. At the inquest on Joseph MeDufF Otway, aged 61 years, who died at Auckland Hospital on September 11, a verdict of suicide by jumping over the Grafton 1 bridge was returned. Constable Edwards said that Otway was quite conscious after the fall and said: “I jumped over Grafton bridge but I don’tfcnow why I did it. I am sorry to have caused so much trouble.” A daughter of the deceased said that her father suffered from pains in the head, and was very depressed after having influenza. SLY GROG FINE. DUNEDIN, September 27. At a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Milton to-day, Alexandra William Robinson was convicted on a charge of keping liquor for sale; in;' the\ no-license district of Bruce, and was fined £SO and costs. FATAL INJURY. NAPIER, September 25. Mr F.~ T. Redman, ‘J.P., aged 77, on the literary staff of the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald,” was fatally injured when knocked down by a train at the Hastings Street crossing at Napier. Deceased had lost the sight off one eye and apparently he did not notice the train approaching diagonally across his path from the rear. • He came to Napier four years ago, following a newspaper enterprise in Taranaki and a long residence in Wairarapa. MEMBER’S COLLAPSE. SIR GEO. HUNTER TAKEN ILL. WELLINGTON, September 26. Sir George Hunter, Reform member for Waipawa, collapsed in Parliament Buildings this evening shortly before dinner. He was taken to his home in Dixon Street, where he received medical attention. - His doctor says that the effects o' the collapse are not likely to be seriom or permanent. OTAGO HORSE PARADE. i DUNEDIN, September 26 There were good entries to-day for the Otago A. and P. Society’s horse parade at Tahuna Park. The championship was won by Mr Andrew Grant, of Fairlie, with the imported sire Desire, who had previously won that award hero. Mr Alex Cullen, Goodwood, took the reserve championship with Ray of Hope, also a former champion. Wright Stephenson’s Challenge Cup was won by Mr John Young, Allanton, with Ilrunstane Duplicate, who was third to the‘other two in the aged sire class. Both the first and second horses had previously held the cup. The display of young stock was of excellent quality. HEAD MASTERS’ SALARIES REQUEST FOR INCREASE. ‘ WELLINGTON, September .26. Representatives of the Head Masters Association waited on Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. H. Atmore with a request that the Government should grant a retrospective increase in the salaries of head masters. While agreeing that the salaries were inadequate, Sir Joseph Ward said he could not grant the request immediately, on account of the financial position of the country, but he was considering the claims of the head masters as as the claims of other sections ’of the service. He assured them that they had the full sympathy of the Government.

’ FELL INTO BOILING WATER. WELLINGTON, September 26. Shortly after noon to-day, A. Lepper, a mechanic employed by M’Mahon Motors, Ltd., if el l into a barrel of boiling water containing caustic soda. Lepper was rushed to the hospital suffering from severe scalds to the whole of his body. His condition to-night is reported to be very serious. AN ACCIDENT. BLENHEIM, Sept. 28. Nathan Haines, aged 20, when motor cycling through Renwick yestereve. collided with a motor car driven by Howard Miller, sustaining a broken leg. He was hospitalled.