SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 13, 16 January 1905, Page 2

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph,—Press Association.) FATAL FALL FROM A HORSE. HOKITEKA, this day. A young man named Walter Berdina, a flax-cutter, was thrown from his horse last Tuesday,- receiving concussion of the brain. He died late last night. ALLEGED DEFALCATIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Frederick J. Clarke, clerk of the Templeton Road Board, has been arrested on a charge of having misused the board's funds. It is alleged that the defalcations amount to £140. Clarke is a married man with a large family, and has been clerk to the board for many years. POLICE CHANGES. this day. Sergeant Siddells of Gisborne, and Acting Detective Fahey have been promoted to the rank of detectives. The former win be stationed at Palmerston North vice Detective Maddern who is to be transferred to Wanganui. Detective Bishop, of Wanganui goes to where he relieves Detective Fahey, who will be stationed in Auckland. Constable Lopdell, of Wellington, has been appointed to the charge of the Finger Print Bureau in Dunedin. DROWNING FATALITIES. TAD3APE, this day. The infant child of a man named Dairs, a settler at Koeha, was drowned last night through falling down a well. NELSON, this day. Mr William Frederick Bettany, chemist, of Motueka, and recently a resident of Takaka, was drowned in the Motueka River at Pangatotara yesterday. It is unknown how the fatality occurred- An inquest is proceeding. GREAT HEAT AT NELSON. NELSON, this day. Yesterday was the hottest day for years. There was a hot wind, and the thermometer rose to 92 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, and 112 in the sun. Several bush fires have broken out, but no especial damage is reported. A WAREHOUSE BURNT. NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. Messrs Burgess, Eraser and Co.'s warehouse, in Brougham-street, was gutted by fire at 8.30 on Saturday evening. The brigade confined the outbreak to the lower floor, where all the goods, with offices, were destroyed. The large stock on the upper floor was also considerably damaged by smoke and water. The value of the stock was between £8000 and £10,000. The insurances total £7000, in the Queensland Office, partly reinsured. The books and papers were recovered. ASCENT OF EGMONT. NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. On Sunday a party from New Plymouth ascended the mountain above Humphries Castle, and got into the snow. The wind was blowing very strong, and this, combined with the heat of the sun, loosened the snow and stones, which came down the mountain side at a terrific rate. Sanders, an employee in a clothing factory, was struck on "the temple by a stone, receiving severe injuries. Aid was got from the Mountain House, and the injured man taken to New Plymouth for medical treatment. A SHUNTER'S DEATH. DTJNEDLN, Sunday. Thomas Ward, 22 years of age, fireman on an engine, was run over at Abbotsford during shunting operations on Saturday, and died from his injuries. QUARTERLY BANKING RETURNS. WELLINGTON, Sunday. The bank returns for the December quarter show the following figures: Free deposits, £8,425.576; fixed deposits, £9,099,010; Government deposits, £1,----024,352; discounts, £2,156,011: open advances, £13,092,138; note circulation, £1.451,813; coin and bullion, £3,95b,----075. The main features of the quarter's business are the aggregate increase in advances, including discounts of £ 753,----k9O, und net decrease in deposits of £422,857. Assets amount to £21,296, and liabilities to £20,098,130. THE BLENHEIM HOSPITAL SUPEKINTENDENT. BLENHEIM, Saturday. The Hospital Board met to-day, and after receiving a letter from Dr. Anderson, the former medical officer, saying that he would not accept reappointment, appointed Dr. Freeborn Bennett, of New Plymouth, to the position. There wert two applications, but no local doctor applied. The Board also adopted new by-laws for the government of the medical staff, and these will be submitted to Dr. MacGregor, inspector of hospitals, for approval. POOR MARKMANSHIP. , DUNEDIN. Sunday. During the Dunedin Navals' gun practice at the Central battery, Ocean Beach, on Saturday, one of the guns, instead of being trained on the target, was, owing to excitement on the part of a gunner, trained on the steamer which was lowing the target. Two 1001b shots went unpleasantly near the steamer. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. DUNEDIN, this day. The Otago representatives at the Oddfollows' Grand Lodge session are Past Grands Hinton, Pattison and Kemnitz.