LIFT FATALITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1909, Page 8

LIFT FATALITY.

A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. [IIT TELEGHAPH — I'ItESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, This Day. At an inquest regarding the death of Arnold Gilmore; who died at ths hospital as the result of injuries sustained in a lift accident, the jury found that death was caused by injuries sustained through the neglect of Edgar Barker, who (according to lh« evidence) was alleged to have given the \sord to Gilmore that all was safe as deceased started the cage. Tho coroner said this amounted to a verdict of manslaughter against Barker.

A boy who used obscene language in Adelaide- road was before Mr. "W. O. Riddell, S.M., to-day The magistrate ordered that the juvenile offender should receive six strokes of tse birch, four othor juveniles appeared before the court on a charge of theft of an J oil lamp, valued at 7& 6d, the property of Messrs. ' Campbell and Bourke. Three of the accused -were ordered to be thrashed, and also to repay Is each. The othor accused was ordered to reiund 4s 6d, representing part of. the value of the stolen property. Iv Banco to-day Mr. Justice Chapman was occupied in heading an application by Elizabeth Allardice and her children for an originating summons claiming an order from Agnes Allardice and Thos. Henry Gordon (executors and trustees of the will of the late James Allardico), under the Family Protection Act, 1900, making provision for them, or some of them, as the court may sec fit, out of tho estate of tho testator, upon the ground that testator died leaving a will without making adequate provision for tho proper maintenance of them. The testator is reputed to have left estate valued at over £20,000. Mr. C. P. Skerrett,- K.C., with him Mr. Atkinson, appeared for the plaintiffs, aud Mr. D. M. Findlay and Mr. F. B. Sharp for tho trustees. Discussion of the city's balance-sheet was one of the subjects set down for debate on last night's order paper of the City Council, but there was so much talk concerning ordinary reports that it was 11.15 p.m. before* tho special meeting, called for the 'purpose of discussion, comd be started. Councillor Shirtcliffe expressed his regret that the balance-sheet was so long delayed b&f ore tho audit was completed ; it seemed to him it was small use in discussing items at so late a time of the year as the present. Councillor Devina wanted to know what was meant by the "tags" attached to the balance-sheet by the Audit Department. The Mayor answered that they had nothing to do with him ; if there were any on next year's balance-sheet he would take tho responsibility. Regarding some objections by Councillor Devine. on the methods of investing depreciation funds, Councillor Shirtclitfe said it was not uncommon for corporations to invest sinking funds in their own undertakings. It was done in Glasgow, for instance, with highly satisfactory results. Just before 1i.30 p.m. it was discovered that there was no quorum present, but Councillor Trevor returned to the chamber and saved the situation. Councillor Fitzgerald, after debating the question of depreciation, made way for Councillor Builinger, who' explained that £22,811 7s lid of depreciation funds had ueen spent by the council 'on new plant and land, which he considered a good way of investing the funds. The balance- | sheet was finally approved, but not before the last trams for the suburbs had left the city. "In estimating the area required as a University site," begins a statement by the Professorial Board of Auckland University College, "it must be remembered that a university differs essentially from a secondary school, in that the limit to its expansion is practically indefinite. In the case of a secondary school, ihe view held by the best educational authorities is that - when the number of pupils has reached 360, further growth is at the cost of efficiency. On the other hand the larger a university is the more efficient it becomes, because highly specialised and professional teaching can then best be provided. As thers will continue to be but one university for the whole of the provincial district it will continue to increase in size, and therefore in efficiency. The Government, therefore, in placing tho Government House site at the disposal of the University is merely making provision for the necessary future developments of professional and other higher education." Mr. Alexander Henry Fox Thomson, who had been manager of the Wellington branch of Messrs. Macky, Logan and Caldwell's business for some years, died at his residence at Berhampore last night. The deceased gentleman, who was about sixty years of age, was a native of Scotland, and had long been identified with the soft goods ti'ade in New Zealand. He had been ailing for a considerable time, but did not become seriously ill until Monday last. Mr. Thomson was a very popular man, and his death will be generally regretted, lie has left a widow and family. As a mark of respect the flags on local soft goods warehouses were at half-mast today. The Newtown Bowling Club will play a friendly match with the Karori Club to-morrow on the latter's green. The following have intimated their • intention to play :— Flyger, Richards, Duff. Warwick. M'Whanncll. M'Dougall, Leahy, Webb, Parkinson, Powell, Cant, untl Salmon. A sharp earthquake shock was felt at the Cape Cainr-',?ll lighthouse ni 11. 07 last night. "BrighL sunny dor. v. ill s-oon pass away,'' temporarily i-, ii.c sung toduy by the Meteu-lj^iv.il Oitice. Tho Rev. D. C. Bates states that a tempest is raging on the Tasinan Sea. The storm ii.. w hilling- toward*, "New Zealand, and ' is expected to arrive in about thirty-six I hour;: (from noon to-day). The South Island in to ba smitten fivet, and then the Isorth v to recsivo ungentl* " treatmeat,