SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 63, 13 March 1912, Page 5

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) THE HASTINGS LIBEL SUIT. XAPIER, this day. Plaintiff in the libel suit, Simson v. the "Tribune," in which a farthing damages was awarded, is moving for a new trial on the ground: (1) That the verdict is defective, the jury having found for plaintiff on the main issue and inconsistently on others; (2) that defendants proved only half their plea of justification; 1.3) that the verdict of the jury was not unanimous.

FATAL TRAP ACCIDENT.

BLENHEIM, this day. Yesterday Tnorning a market gardener named Robert Allen, aged 69, was getting into a trap when the horse started off suddenly, throwing tic man out. He fell on his head and sustained hemorrhage and concussion of the brain, from which he cJied in the hospital this morning. Allen had been 50 years in the Dominion, and served through the Maori war in the Regulars.

A MYSTERY SOLVED.

EKETAHTJNiA, this day. The body irf K. J. McLean, who has been missing since Friday, was discovered this morning by a daver named Peterson in a deep hole in the river about one hundred yards below where McLean's overcoat was previously found.

A BOY KILLED.

NELSON, Tuesday. A lad named William Makison, aged 12 years, was killed at Motueka on Sunday by being thrown from a horse. The deceased : was a visitor from Westport.

LAW-ABIDING GISBORNE,

GISBORNE, this day. The Supreme Conrt criminal sessions opened to-day. The Chief Justice congratulated the district on its freedom from crime, there having beeD only two cases ai commrttai for trial since last sessions, thwe being two charges ol theft.

IMPROVING CITY RESERVES.

DUNEDIN, this day. A garden fete held yesterday to raise funds for the improvement of city reserves was a marked financial success In aditkrn to the sale of £800 worth ol tickets, £400 in cash was taken at the gatee, and it is estimated the surplus will be over £1000. The proceeds go to the immediate improvement of city reserves.

COAL MINERS , WAGES.

WESTPORT, this day. The Granity and Stockton Miners Unions agreed to adopt the industrial agreements come to at the conferences with the mine owners, but the Dennison Union, by a majority, Tefused to agTee, and resolved to hand over the matter to tie Federation of Labour. The difference is over one penny per ton on pillar workin?. The Federation executive is likely to"settle the question on the 'basis of the agreements, which will give the men some advances.