SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 16, 19 January 1905, Page 5

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Prifas Association.) A SEAMAN'S DEATH. INVERCARGILL, this day. The body of J. Abley. the seaman who left the Tokomaru at the Bluff, has been found in the harbour. He was last seen walking down the wharf on the evening of the 7th, and it is supposed accidentally fell inN.Z. ASSOCIATION BOWLING TOURNAMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The New Zealand bowling tournament was continued to-day in very' fine weather, good progress being made with- the doubles and singles. The doubles have reached the fifth round. only : eight pairs being left in, and the singles are in the third- round. They will be continued in the morning, and the North v. South Island, rinks match will be played in the afternoon. THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. .The Primitive Methodist Conference received a letter from the Baptist Union, referring to Tatter.alls sweeps in the colony, and decided to co-operate heart.ily. Members urg»d the need, for free and subscription libraries, and assisting in purifying the people from the gambling evil by having all racing and betting news cMpped from the papers. The Revs. J. Featherston and T. R. B. Woolloxall passed as ministers on the approved list, Messrs. J. Harris and B. Wetson were accepted as ministers on probation, and Messrs. Daniels and Armstrong as candidates for the ministry. KELBURNIE TRAMWAY COMPANY. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Kelburnie Tramway Company had a representative gathering this afternoon at the opening of their kiosk at the tram terminus, adjoining the Botanical Gardens, from which a magnificent view of Wellington and surroundings is obtained. The Mayor performed the opening ceremony, and among those present were the Hohs. C. H. Mills and Colonel Pitt _(representing the Government), and the Hon. T. K. MacDouald and Mr Aitken (Parliamentary representatives). Mr Martin Kennedy, in an opening address, referred to the boon the tram had been for the city in opening a new avenue for residence, and said up to the present about a million and a half passengers had been carried. The total cost of the tram and buildings, he said, was something approaching £50,000. DIED IN THE BATH. ~ DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Mrs Robert Collier, wife of n wellknown business man, was found dead in a bath of water at her residence, in Filleur-streei, this morning.- ;Her son left home at about eight o'clock, and on returning at "half-past eleven found nis mother dead in the bath. " ' " DUNEDIN, this dayT At the inquest this, morning the jury found. that defeased met her death by drowning through being seized with a fainting fit, the result of heart disease. INVERCARGILL FLOODED. l-STV'ERCARGILL, Wednesday. Following on a two days' drizzle, which saturated the. country, a steady fall of rain during the night, amounting to 2in, brought about a flood in the small Creek which flows through the town, that has not been equalled for 24 years. The public gardens were submerged, -the flower beds', which were in full bloom, disappearing in the lake which obliterated the creek. No damage of. any moment was done. The,, fall seems to have been the heaviest, around the town. Some express passengers walked into the town from Mill-road, where the creek washed out" £rte ballasti The heavy rain has now ceased, and all indications point to fine weather.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

NAPIEK, this dayv An exceptionally hot spell of -weather has been experienced during the past few days. The thermometer to-day registered close on 90 in the shade.' DUNEDIN. Wednesday. The election of three members of the Drainage Board took place to-day, when Messrs. Christie, Small, and Arkle (nominee of the Ratepayers' Association) .were returned. Two of the retiring members who stood were defeated. DUNEDIN, this day. Wednesday has been again fixed as the statutory half-holiday for Duhedin and district. BLENHEIM, Wednesday. The first bankruptcy case that has occurred in Marlborough district for two years was dealt with by the creditors to-day. It was that of a Blenheim grocer, who had been in business 16 i months, the deficiency amounting to £ 583. _!_______