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New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25050, 14 November 1944, Page 4

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THE MIDLAND RAILWAY WASHOUTS AFTER RAIN (0.C.) G.REYMOUTH. Monday Heavy rain was experienced throughout the West Coast at the week-end and washouts occurred on the Midland line and between Ross and Hokitika. Trains were• unable to proceed over the damaged portions of the tracks today. ,• The washout on the Midland line occurred between Cora Lynn and Cass, apparently as a result of erosion by the Waimakariri River. A work train was despatched from Greymouth last night to convey stone to the scene and was still at work today. Because 110 steam engine was available at Arthur's Pass to work the train once it arrived on the Canterbury side of the Alps, the engine which had hauled it to Otira was kept attached and was hauled through with the train by two electric locomotives. It was still in steam, but to prevent the sootiug of the overhead electric circuits it was not "operated." This was only the third time in recent years that a steam locomotive had travelled through the tunnel. The washout was extensive and today there was no certainty that the track would be cleared by tomorrow. Railcar passengers from Christchurch this morning were transferred at the scene to a car which was sent out from Greymouth. Similar transhipments were made tonight. Goods from Greymouth were railed as far as Otira today. Preparations were made by the Railway Department this afternoon for tho transhipment of express passengers and mails tomorrow. There was a series of washouts on the Hokitika-Ross line, about a mile from Ross, where trouble has been encountered previously. Altogether, 13 chains of line was left suspended, about one chain being_ affected in one instance. The service was restored late this afternoon. ATTACK IN STREET MAN ROBBED 01? JEI7O VICTIM LEFT UNCONSCIOUS After being knocked unconscious, a Chinese interpreter, Mr Albert Duk, aged 45, was robbed of £370 in banknotes by two men and left lying in a lane off Hobson Street early yesterday morning. Mr Duk had stopped his motor-car outside Carlton House in Hobson Street, where he lives, intending to park it on the roadside overnight. He was bending over the motor removing a portion of the distributor when he was attacked from behind. He stated yesterday that he did not see his assailants. He heard a rushing sound and one of the men placed his arm around his throat from behind. He held Mr Duk so tightly that he was almost strangled and he could not call for help Both men then punched him about the face and dragged him along Hobson Street into the entrance to a coal yard, where they again attacked him, breaking his teeth. Mr Duk said he lost consciousness and when he revived he was lying in a pool of blood. There was no sign of the two men. He got up and when into Hobson Street, where he stopped an American patrol car. He told the Americans what had _ happened and they notified the police. The money stolen included 71 £5 notes. His gold watch and chain were also taken. ARSON ADMITTED IYOUNG MAN'S OFFENCE SET FIRE TO PAPER IN CAR (0.C.) WANGANUI, Monday One charge of arson and another of committing mischief by night by wilfully destroying a motor-car valued at £'225 and other property of a total value of £SOO were admitted by Frederick Raymond Blackmore, aged 26, when he "appeared before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., in Wanganui today. The case was a sequel to a fire which destroyed a shea and its contents at Putlki, near Wanganui. early on the morning on November 5. The owner of the shed, Charles Edward Turner, said ho was awakened at 4.30 a.m. and found that the shed, which was 20 yards away from the dwelling, was on fire. When it was realised that the shed could not be saved witness concentrated on preventing the house from burning. One corner caught alight, but the fire was suppressed. In a statement to the police, made when he was arrested on the day of the fire, accused said lie had served overseas and was invalided home. He came to Wanganui on November 3 to see Turner's daughter, but the fact that she would have nothing: to do with him played on his mind. On the night of November 4 ho went to a party and consumed much liquor. Leaving there at 2.40 a.m. he subsequently obtained a cycle and rodo to Putlki, having made up his mind to destroy the car in which he had seen the girl riding. Accused stated that lie put bundles of waste paper in the_ back seat of the car and set them alight, but did not wait to see the shed bursty into flames. He had not intended causing harm to the girl or her people or destroying anything apart from the car. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

TIMELY RAIN_AT TAUPO SCRUB FIRES EXTINGUISHED (0.c.) TAUPO, Monday Light rain set in late last night and effectively extinguished the three scrub fires which had sprung up during the day. One fire was making rapid progress toward the Perpetual Forestry plantations. The warm rain will have a beneficial effect on fishing. MISHAP TO VISITOR AUCKLANDER AT TAUPO (0.C.) t TAUPO, Monday When viewing the thermal sights at the Spa Hotel yesterday without a guide a guest, Mr H. Posseniskie, chemist, of Otahuhu, was badly scalded up to the right knee, as a result of the ground giving way suddenly under him. He was admitted to the Rotorua Hospital. RETURN TO DOMINION AIRMEN FROM PROVINCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON", Monday Airmen who have returned to New Zealand in drafts which have arrived recently from the United Kingdom, Canada, India and Australia include the following men from the Auckland Province:— Flying-Officer J. A. Fowler, FlyingOfficer H. E. Mark (Auckland), FlyingOfficer D. A. Sanders (Hamilton), Fly-ing-Officer O. J. Morgan (Waihi), Sergeant J. E. Roper, Corporal N. C. Bicheno (Auckland), Flying-Officer S. L. Brydon (Whakapara), Sergeant A. B. Orr, Sergeant E. L. Perkinson, Sergeant J. L. Sherwood, Flight-Lieuten-ant D. A. Hamblyn, Flying-Officer E. A. Mortimer, Flight-Lieutenant C. P. Towsey (Auckland), Flying-Officer K. E; Forsyth (Taumarunui), Flight-Ser-geant V. H. Simmons' (Auckland), Leading-Aircraftman _P. S. Newell (Opotiki), Leading-Aircraftman R. L. "Tait (Tauranga). DOCTOR'S APPEAL FAILS The decision in an appeal by Dr P. Curwen Service, assistant medical officer at tlio Avondale Mental Hospital, which was heard before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee Inst Friday, was delivered yesterday. Dr Service appealed against not being permitted to terminate his employment in order to take up an appointment ns house surgeon with the Mangonui Hospital Board, The appeal was dismissed.