AROUND THE DOMINION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 219, 12 April 1933, Page 8

AROUND THE DOMINION

A Welcome Bishop The Bishop of Nelson, Dr. Sadlier, was informed at the diamond jubilee celebrations in Kaikoura on Saturday night that ho was doubly welcome to the district at the present time. Rain was badly needed, and it was generally accepted that there was always vain when the bishop visited ihe district. “My reputation is at slake on ibis occasion,” said the bishop, “lull wo shall see, as 1 have 3(5 hours to go v<'inis reputation was saved, says (lie Star, for there was a fall of seven [mints on Sunday night. Only To Be Expected Potato plots cultivated by industrious residents away from (heir homes with a view to easing Urn household economic situation have h’en receiving attention at the hands of people who not so industrious ns the owners of the plot's, have wad d till the tubers came to maturity-, and ar' making raids on the plots, states the Timaru Herald. One Hempstead resident found that his plot had been robbed of at least a sackful of table potatoes, Ihe seed and inferior potatoes being left on the surface of the ground. Several other residents have reported similar experiences.

Shot in Eacs( A shooting fatality resulting in the death of Mr. John Morley Fitness, of Matamata, occurred near Mathieson’s bush. Backhand Road, about 1 p.m. on Sunday. Air. Fitness was one of a shooting party of four, the others being his wife, his sister-in-law, Miss Zeita Groves, and Mr. B. Albert, all of Matamata. The party was returning through a rough swamp. Mr. Fitness was carrying a .303 rifle and his wife had a shot gun. Mrs. Fitness had just handed the gun to Miss Groves and turned to speak to her husband when Miss Groves slipped and fell, the mishap causing the gun to discharge and the shot'to enter Mr. Fitness’ back. Death was instantaneous. The late Mr. Fitness was very well known in Matamata and surrounding districts as

for the Fanners’ Auctioneering Company lor 13 years, having been with the firm about 20 years. He was 38 years of age and was born at PoIrono, being <i son of the Into Mr. find Mrs. W. Fitness. He leaves a widow, but mi children. Two brothers arc Mr. W .Fitness, of Matahura, and Mr. .1. Fitness, of’ Patotonga. Mrs. Hill, of Patetonga, is a sister.

Smartly Carried Out A particularly good piece of work on the part of Constables Beck and Chalmers on Saturday evening resulted in the arrest of a labourer, who will he charged in the Napier Magistrate’s Court with wrongfully converting a car taken from King Street, Hastings. At 9.5 o’clock on Saturday M-ght the Napier police were advised hv Cm Hastings police that a new belonging to Leonard Moore, an

r.' iuir list, who lives at- 507 France Street Hastings, had been taken from where'its owner left it in King Street. Five minutes after the warning was received at Napier Constables Beck and Chalmers observed the car turning from Hastings Street into Dickens Street. They procured a taxi and proceeded to give chase, hut in the meantime the car had vanished from sight. They made a careful search of the neighbouring streets, and three or four minutes later saw the ear outside the County Hotel in Emerson Street. They waited and a man came out, got into the car, and was about to start the engine when the two constables came over and arrested him. This was at 9.15 o’clock, just ten minutes after receiving word from Hastings.

Journalist’s Death ' The death occurred at; Hamilton on Sunday of Mr. E.-'C. Prendergast, one of Ihe best, known and' most popular sporting writers in the Auckland Province, and also chief of staff of the Waikato Times. Mr. Prendergast, who was 41 years of age. was horn at Invercargill, and was the second son of Mrs. and the late Edmund 1 Prendergast. He was educated at the Maris) Brothers’ school there and on leaving joined the Southland Times as a reader and later became a member ol ihe reporting staff. Mr. Prendergast later accepted an appointment on the literary staff of the Waikato Times. He went to the war in 1915, and after two years was invalided home, eventually rejoining the Waikato Times, becoming chief of staff and sports editor, positions which he held till his retirement through illness about three months ago. He was a prominent Rugby Union player,..representing Southland for six seasons, and he also played at Hamilton and in army teams during the war. Mr. Prendergast was !t member of the committee of the church Lady of the Rosary, at Hamilton and also of the Society of St. Ymcen’s de Paul. He leaves a widow and four small daughters, and much sympathy will he extended to them in their bereavement.