WHO KILLED NANA CHHIBA?

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 10

WHO KILLED NANA CHHIBA?

MYSTERY STILL SHROUDS CRIME DATE OF INQUEST NOT FIXED YET Though the Hawke’s Bay disaster has overshadowed all other occurrences of the past ten days, there is still keen interest centred round the mysterious death of Nana Chhiba, the Hindu fruiterer, at Hawera on Sunday, February 1. No arrest has been made, but the police have not relaxed their efforts on© iota in their search for a solution of the crime. Senior-Detective Quirke, Palmerston North, is still at Hawera directing investigations. One of the features of the crime has been the inaccuracy of some of the reports printed. One that gained very wide credence was that the murdeier cooked himself a meal, some hours after the actual crime, in the same room in which the dead body was lying. The foundation for this story apparently was a report, circulated on the day following the crime that a neighbour had heard°a noise like a frying pan sizzling, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The crime, however, had ben committed not later than 3 p.m., and probably much earlier. . . Actually the neighbour in question said she heard a noise like a frying pan sizzling, which came, she thought, from the gas heater. This heater was actually °burning, and making just such a noise as she had described. On the morning following the crime no dirty dishes were to be observed, nor was there any other sign that anything had; been fried. It is not certain that anybody was even in the premises at the time the neighbour called, though the remarkable incident of the door bangin<r would certainly seem to indicate that someone was there. Police investigations have not yet reached the stage when' the date of the resumption of the inquest, which was adjourned after formal evidence of identification had been taken, can be fixed. VISIT OF THE CHIEF SCOUT. ALTERATION IN ARRANGEMENTS. Owing to the location of a large number of earthquake refugees at Wellington and the consequent difficulty in arranging for the billeting of visiting country scouts, it has been decided to arrange for a concentration of scouts from lower Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki at Palmerston North instead of Wellington for the Chief Scout’s inspection. Dominion headquarters have advised District Commissioner F. W. Horner, Hawera, that the meeting will take place on the morning of Friday, February 28. The Chief Scout will arrive at Palmerston North by the Auckland express that morning and will proceed -to Wellington by the Taranaki express in the afternoon.

Further details of train arrangements and as to whether scouts should, stay overnight will be given later. It is expected that the shorter distance to travel will enable a larger, number of Taranaki scouts to make the trip.

METHODIST CHURCH WORK. ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual meeting of the Hawera Methodist Church was held on Thursday night, the Rev. E. S. Emmitt presiding. Church officers were elected as follows:—Society stewards, Messrs. S. J. Bennett, W. T. Johnson, R. J. Squire, J. Hey, J. T. Saunders, L| J. Williams, M. J. Joll and G. Tozer; benevolent fund stewards, Mesdames C. A. Bates, T. J. Burrell and Mr. G. Grindrod; congregational representatives, Afesdames L. J. Williams, C. J. Rowe, R. J. Squire, Miss Bates.

It was decided to change the weekly devotional service evening from Tuesday to Thursday and to hold a monthly social under the auspices of the church guild. Letters of condolence in recent bereavements are to 'be forwarded to the relatives of the late Mrs. Smith (Hawera), Mrs. Boyd (Auckland), and Mrs. C. Lillicrap (Hawera). Reference was also made to indispositions suffered by Mrs. J. W. Yearbury and Miss R. Beaurepaire, of Hawera, to whom messages expressing hopes for their speedy recovery are to be forwarded. Appeciation was expressed of the services rendered by retiring stewards and a vote of thanks was recorded.

REFUGEE REGISTRATIONS.

RECENT ARRIVALS AT HAWERA.

Refugees who have registered at the Hawera relief depot during the past few days, excluding the hospital cases on Tuesday and the unexpected party that arrived on Thursday night, are:—• Mr. and Airs. A. Downie and three children, 8 Miller Street, Napier. Mr, Gordon Baird, 9 Munro Street, Napier. Mrs. R. Clarebut and Miss Thelma Clare But, 189 Carlyle Street, Napier. Lola, Ted, Gordon and Kelfey Stock, 164 Marine Parade, Napier. Mr. and Mrs. Milner and four children, Taradale. Airs. Hawkins and four children, 104 Park Road, Hastings. Mr. and Airs. Halstead and one child, 178 AfcGrath Street, Napier. Air. C. Hill, 49 Shakespeare Road, Napier. Mr. and Airs. F. Watkins and one child, 11 Alain Street, Napier. Aliss Larkin, 11 Main Street, Napier.

“ALF’S BUTTON” AT HAWERA.

A REALLY FUNNY PICTURE.

The current attraction at the Opera House, Hawera, is “Alf’s Button,” which will be shown finally on Alonday night. There are probably thousands of old movie-goers, remembering the excruciatingly funny silent screen version of the famous farce, “Alf’s Button,” who since the introduction of dialogue and sound to pictures have been waiting anxiously to hear as well as see Old Bill and Alf. “Alf’s Button,” originally a comedy sketch written by W. Darlington and introduced to London in the pages of “The Passing Show,” met with such alarming success that the author elaborated on tlje original and had it published in book form for the first time in 1919. The book was received in a sensational manner by the people of England, and so great has been the demand since that it has called for 17 printings, representing some 220,000 individual copies. “Wild Company” will be shown finally at the Grand to-night.