AUCKLAND ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 678, 1 December 1909, Page 9

AUCKLAND ITEMS.

; A LABOURER'S DEATH. -\ ': ; . " THE CLERKS' UNION. IBy TolccraDh-Biiecinl. CorrosDonaentJ .'..■■-..■. Auckland, No%-emb€r 30. At the inquest, oil Win. Henry Miller, a labourer found dead, in tho Newmarket police cells, tho widow deposed that decqased had taken to drink during the past two \ tars;'On Wednesday last he was drinking, and was sent homo as unfit for work. Hβ complained of being ill during the night, and on Thursday appeared to suffer from tho effects, of what he had taken on the Wednesday. On Thursday evening Henry. Buttenvorth, one of his fellow employees' on a contract, warned him that ho had better get away; as £3 12s. iid. had .been taken from the job at Remuera, and he was accused (-f taking it. Her husband indignantly repudiated, the charge, declaring that ho had never seen the money. On Friday morning ho went out and saw Butterworth, and returned about "nn hour later. Hβ again told hef that ho did not take tho money. Ho . appeared to; worry considerably ■ over the allegation, ■ and that evening when her husband waa in bed Butterworth again called and accused her husband of taking a ring, but he denied this also. Butterworth said it was not so iriuch tho money they wanted'as.the retnrn of the ring. Her husband protested his innocence, and'said they wero worrying him to'death.'On'Saturday morning ho went out to Reinuera and get his money, 275., which, he: gave to her. He appeared to be still worrying considerably, and said he had never been in gaol hotur?, and that before ho would go to Mount Kd.-n ho would take his life. He did not. appear-to bo in-his right mind. He was arrested"on Saturday afternoon. He was a prohibited pi rson. If Butterworth. said that her husband had stated that he (Buttorwbrth) know enough, to hang him he was not tolling the truth. Deceased had no dog. The coroner explained] with roference to the latter statement that it was understoqd thu deceased went, to a I:chemist's on Saturday and inquired for poison for his dog. -Tho inquest stands adjourned for an analysis, of the contents of deceased's, stomach. '. ■A r • meeting, of the Auckland ■' Clerks' ■ Union was 1 held last evening when a great deal of discussion took place on a motion to admit'lady clerks', which was eventually carried. /A special committee was set up to invite all members of the i; clerical profession to join tho union with tho .'object of getting ;a strong tiyobody.. Important ; matters .are now.awaiting consideration. Several new members were onrolled. : v.; ■;.'■■■'■■'-.:■'■ ■■ . ' ■.-. -":"■. . ■.

The Government is a holder of building sites' to the value of within the area, of the Elle'.rslio Town Board, according to astatomciit niado by; the chairman of the latter body (Mr. Geo. Wilkinson) at; a public; meeting concerning, the railway' time-table last night. :Tho land was purchased for tho purpose of,;erecting:workers homes. The Government also holds about 30 acres in the Oho Tree Hill district, about'half a. mile from the Ellerslie railway station. "If this land was either built on or put on tho'market," Mr.": Wilkinson remorkedi."the iinmediato population would bo doubled in a very, short while."; ■' .'-' "\ . ;A special meeting of the Auckland University College; Council discussed at some .length 1 the proposal.that, instead of the whole of Govern-, ment House grounds being:nsed for tho purposes of tho,University Colicßo; a portion should be set apart as a playground for the Grammar School... A resolution was. passed urging the. Government to devote the whole of :tho around to a nijiversity college, and playing fields connected therewith," although Mr.. C. J. Parr expressed himself as ' being' strongly .of opinion that there, was sufficient space for both .playground and college.; Members. of tho council generally, while strongly opposed to parting with tho; feq simple;..of.- any portion of the ground, expressed their willingness that at certain times tho ground should bo ; op'en to grammar school boys for playing purposes. ■' , : '.