SUPPOSED STRYCHNINE POISONING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6, 7 January 1908, Page 5

SUPPOSED STRYCHNINE POISONING.

DEATH AT -THE HOSPITAL. A man named Henry Thomas Lowes Griffin, of Whangarei, and formerly of Dunedin, died at the Hospital this morning. The deceased had been staying at a boarding-house at the corner of Wyn-yard-street and Grafton-road, but last evening he was taken seriously ill. Drs. Goldstein and Hardie Neill were called in and treated Griffin for strychnine poisoning, of which he showed symptoms, afterwards ordering his removal to the hospital. An inquest will be held before the Coroner (Mr. T. Greshamj. Mr. W. E. Cazley Alexander,- chairman of directors of the Kennddec Fish, Oil and Trading Company, Limited, accompanied by the company's secretary, Mr. Vieary Gibfas Bureher, who visited this islands in the steamer Hinemoa, has returned convinced that with efficient management the company has a profitable field of operation. In a communication ma,de to .one of onr representatives, Mr. Alexander saKl:: : — "The mutton birds in thousands on Sunday Island. One can. walk up to them and lift them off their nests. The mutton bird season at Sunday Island lasts from August to April. As to the fish, they consist principally of kingfish, known locally a-3 yellow-tail, babukti, rock cod, and the •blue fish, mold, tarakihi, and vast quantities of shaks and whales. The fish exist all found the rocks, and are frequently there is such quantities and available all the year round that they actually force one another out of ttte water. The fish attain a great size, the kingfish frequently attaining Cft. in length, though, the average school" flsi is about 4ft. long. The blue fish is pecuilar to the Kermadecs; it is the shape of a bream and of a dark bine colour, and averages lOlbs. weight. It cures remarkably well, and should fetch a high price among epicures. The fish and mutton birds also form in great quantities on Meyer Island, although there are more of the latter afc Suriday Island than here. Strange to say there are numbers of paroquets on this island, whilst there are none on Sunday Isliind, half mile away, and whilst the mutton bird season on Sunday Island is from August tb April, on Meyer Island it is from April to August, and the bird is of a somewhat different type;" The " Taffiape Times" of January 3 published the following:—■ We understand that, commencing on Monday next, passengers will be able to leave Taihape by the 5.30 a.m. train to the North, and. reach Taumarunui the same evening. This is slightly different to the time-table foreshadowed by Sir Joseph Ward on his recent visit here, but we understand that further arrangements have been arrived at by the Railway Department with the Public Works Department, which have obviated the necessity for the northern train from Taihape leaving at an earlier hour than half-past eight. The change is one, although delayed how about a, week, which will be much appreciated by the travelling public, who are now proceeding over the Main Trunk line route in nipidly increasing numbers. It dispenses with the dreary stay at Waiouru, and enables the through journey from Taihape to Taumarunui to be completed in one day, as stated above. The trip from Taumaranui to Auckland is completed the next day. So there are three stages on the route from Wellington to Auckland; Wellington to Taihape i (first day), Taihape to Taumarunui (second day), and Taumarunui to Auck- | land (third day)." A Christmas tree will be held to-mor-row (Wednesday), at St. Mary's Orphanage, Ponseuby, when Santa Claus is expected to bring his annual presents to the little ones, and in addition a number of prizes will he presented. Mr J. H. Watts, secretary to the Aucki vnd Cricket Association, was married yesterday to Miss Faulkner. Mr and Mrs Watts left afterwards for Okoroire. The Ferry Company's time-table of excursions to the various resorts appears in our advertising columns. ~ i