LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16836, 27 December 1928, Page 4

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS

(P.A, Messages,)

Twelve hampers of South Island mail, consigned to Wanganui and Taranaki, and consisting of. parcels and papers, were destroyed bv fire in a railway wagon at Koputaroa railway station on Monday afternoon. The fire 'broke out as a mixed train was pulling into the station. A large portion of the contents were parcel receptacles, which were damaged by tire or water.

The weather for the holiday at Dunedin yesterday was beautifully fine, and large crowds travelled to the various beaches adjacent to the city. The Maeandrew Bay regatta attracted a big gathering and a sports gathering at Karitane also proved a big attraction. Racegoers of course, made the Dunedin Jockey Club’s races at Wingatui their goal, and the city, therefore, bore a rather deserted appearance.

A fire in Wairnea road, Nelson, early on Christmas morning destroyed fruit and fancy goods shops and barber's saloon owned by William Capes, spreading to and demolishing a private dwelling owned by T. Crowe on the other side. H. Hopkins’ gramophone and grocery store was severely damaged, whilst another private dwelling ■ owned by C. N. Wilkinson had a narrow escape, catching fire several times.

The Samoan chief Tamasese, who was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment for failure to pay taxes, and six months’ for resisting arrest, arrived by the Tofua at Auckland yesterday in charge of Mr. 0. A. Berendsen, secretary of the External Affairs Department. The police took him to Mount Eden gaol, where be will serve the sentence. Tamasese smiled broadly as ho walked down the ship’s gangway and raised his hat when he saw the Hon. 0. F. Nelson, who was on the wharf.

William O’Halloran, a Imshmnn, went into Wanganui on December 21 with about £SO. He booked a room at a boardinghouse and went- drinking. Coming back, be went to sleep in bis room, and, on Making in the morning, found bis money gone. It bad been taken by George Brock Aaron Forgeson, 34, who shared Hie room and was subsequently arrested at Wellington with £4O in his possession. Forgeson, in court yesterdav, pleaded guilty to the theft of a- roll of notes amounting to £39, and Mas given six months’ gaol.

The Boxing Dav holiday in Auckland was greatly spoiled by rain which commenced in the early morning and cont’nued more or less steadily throughout the day. The Auckland Racing Club was a heavy sufferer, the smallness of the attendance resulting in a drop of over £35.700 in the totalisator investments, compared with Boxing Day last year. The opening of the New Zealand lawn tennis championship tournament had to be postponed, also the Auckland bowling tournament and various cricket matches. The weather last night had cleared somewhat arid it is hoped to make a start with the,, tennis tourney and other fixtures to-day.

The police have been keeping a watch in Island Bay in the mornings owing to complaints of the theft of milk and cream tokens and, on Christmas morning, a violent struggle took place when a constable arrested Walter Richard Williams, laboier, aged 60, other help having to he obtained. Yesterday, Williams was sentenced to a fortnight in gaol for the theft of five bottles of cream found in his possession, and to a month, concurrent with the other sentence for assaulting the constable with a beer bottle. He was convicted and discharged on a charge of resisting. At the police station be complained of injuries, and it was found be bad two ribs broken. Ho was ordered to pay £1 Is doctor’s fee. in .default a week’s gaol, cumulative to the previous sentences. The sub-inspector said that the injuries might have been caused in the struggle, which was a very severe one.