SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 71, 23 March 1908, Page 3

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NAPIER-GISBORNE RAILWAY.

NAPIER, Saturday.

A .deputation representing the Napier Chamber : of Commerce waited on the Hon. J. A. Millar, to urge the necessity of 'extending the railway system from Napier to Gisborne. The speakers pointed to the large area of valuable country only awaiting reasonable lines of communication to become closely settled. The deputation urged that some money should be placed on the Estimates next session for a survey, as a> preliminary to carrying out the work. Mr. Millar promised to urge on his colleagues that a sum. for a survey would be granted. The Minister also stated' that he would advise the straightening of the Napier-Port Ahuriri line. •'- — • . ■ ■ . GISBORNE PETROLEUM AREA. <By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, this day. Dr. Bell, director of the Geological Survey Department, who has been conducting a survey in the oil-bearing portions of this district, left last" night for Wellington. . The: survey is not yet completed, and Dr. Bell -will return in a week's time. He expects to have his report ready- for presentation to Parliament. Questioned as to .indications of petroleum, Dr. Bell said the surface indications were promising, but he could not say more until.he had reported on the work. FATAL: ACCIDENTS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. A fatal quarry accident occurred t* Ralph Baird, a Sydenham, resident, at Mr. Andrew's quarry, Heathcote, on Friday morning. Baird was working on Borne scaffolding when he fell, receiving severe injuries. He was removed to the Christchurch Hospital, where he died in the afternoon. , DDNEDIN, Sunday. At the inquest on Mrs. Hubbard, aged 57 years, who was found- dead on Tomahawk Beach, the jury was of opinion that there were no suicidal signs, and that deceased must have been walking round the cliff, and, taking a fit,-fell into the water. A verdict was returned that deceased was found drowned, but there was not sufficient evidence to show how she got into the water. The deceased's husband said she was an inmate of the Mental Hospital 12 months ago, but since her discharge had shown no signs of suicidal tendency. , . , At the inquest on the boy James Brady, who died on Friday as a result of injuries sustained in the railway accident on Wednesday week, the medical evidence showed that the deceased received a lacerated scalp Wound on the back of the head, and an extensive fracture, part of the skull being broken off. The jury returned a verdict that death was caused through deceased having been accidentally struck by a railway train in motion. SUPREME COURT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.} PALMERSTON NORTH, Saturday. At the Supreme Court yesterday Mr. Justice Cooper gave judgment in th case of Henry James Argyle and another v. Nathaniel Malcolm. The case was on in which the plaintiff claimed £400 damages for alleged breaches of a deed of apprenticeship by wrongful dismissal and failure to instruct. The defence was that the apprentice was subject; to epileptic fits, and was therefore unfit to learn the trade. Judgment was given for the defendant, without costs. I

Annie Gore applied for a dissolution of her marriage with John Gore, on the ground of miscondirct, and a decree nisi ■was granted, to be made absolute at the expiry of sis jmouths. " '