CABLED ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1938, Page 2

CABLED ITEMS

BOV WHO KILLED FATHER. SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR’S JAIL. LONDON, February 6. A 17-year-old youth, who is alleged to have killed his sleeping father with an axe, was sentenced to a year’s jail at Nottingham Assizes. 'He is Arthur Meakin. a telegraph operator, of Worsop Vale (Nottinghamshire). The speech in his defence; by Sir iNorman Kirkett, K.C., made women in the gallery weep. “I rejoice at this tribute' to English justice, that the accused, who has no money, should be defended in such an admirable and skilful manner,” said the judge. The evidence showed that the father, George Alfred Meakin, a schoolmaster, had been mentally cruel to his wife for many years. He had threatened the son, who was his mother’s greatest comfort. Before sentencing the youth, who was found guilty of manslaughter, tin* judge consulted both counsel in his room. GUIDED BY RADIO. PLANE FLIES BUND IN STORM. DARWIN, February 6. Flying blind for 4QO miles, from Darwin over the Timor Sea to Koepang. a 'Quantas airliner was yesterday guided by radio from Darwin. The airliner took off at dawn yesterday and flew into the tail-end of a cyclonic d isturba n ce. Blinded by black monsoonal clouds and driving rain, and buffeted by fierce winds, the airliner was forced to call noon Darwin radio direction-finding station for hearings, for 400 miles of its 500-mile journey across the Timor. The Darwin direction-finding station usually follows Koepang-hound planes out over the Timor, but not for such long distances. . At present there is no radio directionfinding station at Koepang, but one is' expected to be completed by the end of February. j ITALY'S SCORNFUL COMMENT. I ' AT R.A.F. ACCIDENTS. LONDON, February 6. A Rome broadcasting station Jias | been making scornful comment on fatal accidents in the Royal Air Force. The latest tragedy, commented upon was the death of Flying-Officer Bocquet.

killed when his machine crushed near the London suburb of Uxbridge.

The falling plane just missed a motor ear and a number ol pedestrians, and buried its nose deep in the soil. The Home broadcast said ol the tragedy :

‘•Th e usual daily British aviation accident. happened when a K.A.b. machine crashed near Uxbridge. Frequently the station prefaces comment on crashes with such observations as : —■ “Once again British aviation meets disaster.” or “For the third time this week a British plane has crashed.” The Daily Express points out that British Broadcasting Corporation annonncmonts of accidents in foreign countries invariably begin: ‘‘We regret to announce ” HUGE WHE.Vi'LING BEALL VISITS MASTER.IN HOSPITAL LON LON, Jan. 31. Bruni. a huge Siberian wrestling bear, displayed the perfect bedside manner alien it visited its sick mastei, Jimmy Chipperiiold, at Middlesex Hospital. until his master fell ill, the boai had not. separated from him tor live years. It began to pine and Let It had refused to eat lor several days. Muzzled and chained, it ambled peacefully tinouga the hospital corridors. Bearing it massive 4cm t bulk up to the bed, it gave its master a touching embrace. A dozen or more doctors who had come into the ward to witness such affection were content to remain on tue other side ot the bed. Bruni was obviously delighted with the re-union, and was quite satisfied to drive’ off again in the taxi in which it arrived. MAX RECOVERS. SYDNEY, -Jan. 31 I Mr Hoy Kendrick, who recoved his sight 18 months ago, is blind again as the result of an accident. On May 19. 193-3. Mr Kendrick suddenly found that he'could see his face in the. mirror. He had been blind for 10 years. M.r Kendrick has recently been woiliiim for a Wollongong newspaper. • On Thursday evening he was returning from the Alhion Park show when the car in which he was travelling came into collision with another ear. He was admitted to Wollongong D'striet Hospital suffering from shock, concussion, and bruises. He did not recover consciousness until Saturday evenning. It was then found that his sight was gone. Yesterday lie was brought to the

Sydney Eye Hosiptal, where-lie awaits an operation. “It’s a funny world.” he said to a representative ol the “Daily lelegraph.” “There are times when you feel like crying. While I could see I went round having a look at the places I’d been to but never seen. 1 was collecting material for a book. I " as going to call it ‘‘lnto the Light.” Now L don’t know wlmt’s going to happen. But. when 1 come out . ... blind or not. I’m not going to lean on anyone else. I’m big enough to earn niv own living.”