TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 816, 1 March 1909, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

W. ' \VSSL PKEBB ASSOCIATION^ FATAL SKYLARKING. . Ohristohurch, February 28. b James Moran, 23 years of age, sm- ■ gle, a painter, died at the hospital ■ this morning as the result of injuries % sustained by falling, off the Little River train on Saturday evening. . Deceased attended the Kaiapoi Woollen Company's picnio, and, during the return journey, was skylarking in a carriage, annoying some jgirle by blackening their faces. The guard put him out of the carriage, and locked both, doors. Deceased then clambered on to the roof of the carriage, walked along to the other end, then back again, and, when attempting to sit down, his foot slipped and he was thrown violently to the ground clear of the train. He arrived at the hospital semiconscious, having two large wounds on the scalp and a depressed fracture of the skull. It was also found that his lungs were injured. THE GREY RIVER DRED~GE. Greymouth, February 28. The dredge Mawhera, built at Penfrew, Scotland, for the Grey Harbour Board, arrived on Saturday. A VALUABLE CARGO. Auckland, February 28. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamer Pakeha, which left for Lor don yesterday, took away a large and valuable cargo from the dominion. The" amount of freight offering at Auckland was more than the steamer could accommodate, and, in consequence, a large quantity of cargo was shut out. Included in her freight from this port were seven boxes of gold valued at £27,100 (ship- / pod by the WaM G.-ld Mining Company-), and 10 bars of bullion, valued at £7800 (shipped by the National Bank of New Zealand . A DECLINE IN LAND PRICES. Ashburton, February 28. The remaining portion of the farfamed Springfield estate at Methven, comprising 5148 acres of the agricultural land was auctioned at Ashburton yesterday in the presence from all over the dominion. Competition was' not so keen as anticipated, and the prices bid did not come up by several per acre to those at the subdivision sale twelve months ago ,although the greater area of the land is of equal fertility and productiveness. This may be taken as a fair indication of how the stringency of the money market is affecting country interests. Of 16 blocks offered, only 7 were sold at auction,- at prices ranging from £10 per acre for medium to £26 for first-class. Passed in- Tots represented biddings from £8 to £17 per acre, the latter price being bid for the homestead block. The total value of land sold yesterday represents the mm of £36,587 10s. Four sections were purchased by farmers outside the county. SAD CASE OF DROWNING. Auckland, February 28. James Butler, a single man, aged 23, was drowned at Devonpprt shortly before 1 o'clock yesterday. Butler, who was employed by the Devonport Borough Council, arrived home shortly after mid-day, and went out immediately for a bathe off the beach. At about five minutes to 1 o'clock two men, Clifford Carryer and H. E. Cooper who were bathing near, saw deceased coming ashore, calling out as he did so. They swam out towards him, but he sank before they could reach him, and some ten minutes elapsed before the body was recovered. . Dr Atkinson endeavoured to induce artificial respiration tor about forty minutes, but without success. Deceased was a son of the manager o. the Central Mine at Broken Hill. DUTY-PAID ESTATES. Wellington, March 1. The largest estate on which probate duty was paid last month was that of Wm. Saunders, of Otago, £128,559. The following is the list of the Wellington estates: Alex. Higgie, £12,953; Francis Geo. Tully., £7718; John Twomey, £6479'; Mary A. S. Wilkinson, £5956: Samuel N. Bartlett, £4770; Rachel Bloustera, £2588; John Verry, £2314; Francis S. Lutz, £1805; Euphemia Limbnck, £1760; John Hillier, £1702; Kezia Morton, £1570; Ebenezer Gray, £1330; Donald Mcßean, £1124; Georgina N. KennaUgh £}103j Henry A. Trrant, £1069; Isabella P. Johnson, £904; Jas. Nairn, £588. THROWN FROM HIS HORSE. Eltham, March 1. John Jones, about 45 years of age, a labourer employed at Matapu, was returning home from Eltham on oaburday night when he was thrown 'from his horse and kiWed. An inquest will be held to-day. A STRONG SWIMMER DROWNED. 'Auckland, March 1. Percy Bennett, 17 years of age, was swimming off Uhelsea on Saturday, when he was seen by his companions to throw up his arms and sink. His dead body wa subsequently recovered. Bennett was a strong swimmer, and it is supposed that he was seized with cramp. INSURANCE BUSIIfESS. Dunedin, March 1. The Hon. Thos. Fergus, President, speaking at tha annual meeting of the Standard Insurance Co., said that the income for the year was £113,022 and the expenses £97,456, leaving a balance or £15,565, from which the usual hallf-yearly dividend would be paid. The directors recommended the payment of a further halfyearly dividen of 7J per cent., with a bonus of 2£ per cent. They regretted that they were unable to set aside anything this year to the reserve found, but they were able to carry forward £8065. AN EXPLOSION AT SEA. •Auckland, March. 1. Mr Sinclair, chief officer of the barque Empreaa, which arrived at Kaipara Heads from Sydney on Sunday, reports that on February 22 an ! explosion occurred in the ships magazine-, containing blue lights, detonators, and other combustibles. Captain John Busheld was badly burned and otherwise injured. He was confined to his berth, and the chief officer brought the vessel into port. CONCILIATION FAILS. Christchuroh, February 28. : The Canterbury Council of Conciliation, at the conclusion of ita public sittings on Tbuirsday proceeded w> go through the various clauses in the demands of the New Zealand Federated Bootmakers' Association of Workers, in order if possible to arrive at a basis for the settlement f f the dispute. This business was continued on Friday,, but it was found impossible to arrive at any settlement, and it was decided to refer the dispute to the Arbitration Court. The Council' unanimously agreed to the following motion: "That this Council, whilst regretting its inability to effect a settlement in the present dispute, desires to place on record its high appreciation of the effort of the Commissioner (Mr J. R. Trigg) to bring about a settlement. His tactrulness Tn conducting the business of the Council has had the effect of maintaining the best feeling between the parties, and during no time was there any sign of irritation. We, the representatives of the respective federations, desire to impress on the Court of Arbitration tne necessity for fixing the hearing at the earfliest possible date. We undertake to ap- . (pear before the Court in any of the chief Centres the Court may direct. 3 ' _ [The ■ Council consisted of Mr Tnggs (Commissioner), fhree bootmaunfawturers, and three operative bootmakers.]