WEST COAST NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16940, 15 January 1923, Page 9

WEST COAST NEWS.

(Special to the "Star.”) GREYMOT7TH, January 14. FUNERAL. The remains of the late Mr Patrick .Moran. who was accidentally drowned at Orongaoronga, arrived by express last evening and were taken to the residence of the Misses Moran. Cowper Street. The interment took place this afternoon. ASSAULT. Disappointed because he could not eooure leave to- visit his home in Hamilton, Joseph Leaf, a full-blooded Maori employed on the s.s. TVaipon as u fireman, sought solace in the flowing bowl. Apparently, however, he founu more than solace, tor on Friday afternoon he mauled two of the ship’s officers and to-day he was arraigned before Messrs Jesse Steer, J.P., and G. E. Perkins, J.P. on charges of assaulting Thomas Dee and Oscar Rixon, third and second officers respectively of the TVaipon. “The charge is most serious,” said Senior-Sergeant M’Carthy in outlining facts. He stated that the third officer of the vessel went yesterday to tell accused something about his mail. Leaf was most uncivil and used very obscene language and finally assaulted the officer. He had. been before the Court three times o.i assault charges. The seriousness of the offence lay not so much in the actual assault, said the senior-sergeant, as in the fact that accused had struck an officer on duty. Asked if he had anything to say for himself, accused said ho was so drunk lie did not know what he was doing. He had been upset by family troubles and asked the captain for leave but the captain would not listen to him. Captain Reid, master of tho TVaipon, said that he had slammed the door in accused’s face when Leaf asked for leave. The captain explained that accused came aboard in a semi-tlAmken state at 12.30 a m. and he refused to listen, to him in that condition. Accused wanted to get away to Hamilton. He said ho would be back before the ship sailed for Melbourne on Monday, which was an impossibility. He had nothing to say against his work but accused was impudent to the officers and had stated that lie could do as he liked on. tho ship. Tlint was very serious, as discipline had to be maintained in the interests of the ship’s safety. After a brief consultation with Mr Perkins, Mr Steer announced a sentence of seven days’ imprisonment without the option of a fine, on each charge, ilie sentences to he- concurrent. Tli? offence was most serious, ho said, and as Loaf was a man young enough to learn, he hoped the sentence would be a lesson to him to curb his temper and not give way to his pugnacious inclinations. PERSONAL. The Rev Father Gilbert, of St .Patrick’s College. ’Wellington, who lias been the guest of Mr and Mrs TV. I). Gilbert, Greymouth. loft on his return by to-day’s express. Bishop Brodie left on his return to Christchurch to-day. Owing to the death of Monsignor Coffey, the bishop’s visit to the West Coast had to be curtailed. He will return next- month and remain on the Coast for a few weeks. Mr TV. Anderson, who has been secretary to the State Minors* Union for the past eighteen months, has relinquished his position in order tt> return to Newcastle. New South Wales. He was farewellcd yesterday by members of the union, and left this morning by the Otira express Accompanying Air Anderson was his brother. Air R. Andersen. who is also returning to AusAdjutant and Airs W. Sawyer, who have been transferred to Waimate. will leave on Tuesday morning. They were forcwelled to-day, and further valedictory functions will be held to-mor-DEATH. The death took place on Thursday at Ross of an old resident, Mr Martin T. Frvor, 60 years of age and unmarried, lor a. l'ong period he carried on business in Ross township. His three sisters (Airs Alf Brown. Reefton : Airs TV. Dell off, Ross; and Airs S. Mitchell, Mikonui). and thro-* brothers (Sampson and Thomas. Russ: and Joseph, iu the North Island) survive him. FALL OVER EMBANKMENTAn unfortunate accident occurred to a party travelling to Barry town to-dav. The car, driven by Mr H. Leacli. over turned at. an embankment owing to tho steering gear locking. The driver and two passengers. Air- P. Fraser and Miss Deere, were carried down the gully a distance of thirty feet. Miss Deere escaped unhurt. Mr Leach was cut 1 adlv on the face, and Mrs Fraser sprained her anki’e. Alisa Freda Mun<lay. who was among the passengers, was thrown clear at the top of the embankment. She sprained her wrist, hurt her back and dislocated her shoulder. Other members of the party escaped with bruises and slight shock, but all’ had a narrow escape from a serious accident Or even a fatality.