LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 2 October 1914, Page 7

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

WHITE ISLAND DISASTER. TWO .MORE VICTIMS. FEB CNITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. Two more names ihiive been added to the victims of the While Wand caption. It is now regarded as certain that Arthur B'rennaii. -married, aged -10 years, formerly residing in York Street, Auckland, and a man named McMutrie, who went to the island with him. met a similar fate to the other 10 whose fate has previously been chronicled. THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY. AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. In regard, to the Nelson Street murder, viewing the circumstances from every point, the authorities are agreed'in believing that the deed was the act of a madman, temporarily or otherwise. The perplexing point is that no trace of the murderer's movements can be discovered. His bandfj and clothing must have been drenched in blood and he must.have carried away some evidence of his crime.

A medical man who is a recognised authority on mental rases lias expressed the opinion that tlie man who perpetrated the crime is a maniac, not a nin-i. who became temporarily insane and attacked the woman* wit';, demoniacal ferocity during a moment's madness, but a man ndio is completely and obviously insane. He does not think that it is a ease in which tlie perpetrator would immeoTatcly calm down quietly, leave his victim and return to liis ordinary haunts in a normal state of mind. Tho deed seemed clearly that of n criminal lunatic who was ' mad at the time and is still at large. THE HUNTLY EXPLOSION. .. CONCLUSION' OF INQUEST. . HUNTLY. Oct. 1. the inquest into the Huntiy nine explosion was resumed this morning. Additional evidence wag beard and liter a retirement of 40 minutes the jurv returned the following verd : ct. "That the victims met tlie : r "deaths in No. .5 section of Ralph's mine as the result of the ignition of gas. which "aused an explosion of coardust." 'Hie foreman stated that the jurv d'd not bring; in am- rider, consider:m>- Uai f he Comm'ssion would go fully into the matter. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. WELLINGTON, October 1. Tiio death sentence on Daniel Ham-. motid, convicted of murdering his wife at Wbangarei has been commuted by the Governor to imprisonnnnt for life. DAIRY PRODUCE EXPOPT. WELLINGTON. October 1. Regarding shirs avaibthle lor the carnage of produce to Britain during tho coming .season the National Daivv Association to-day issued n circular giving; the 'approximate dates of departure of vessels to rnrrv dairy produce a* follows: Coi'iiithie, October 8; Ruahine. October 24; Pakehsi. end of October; Tainui, November o; Roto-! rua, November 10; Rnkahi, end of November; Zealandia, December •'!; Turakiua. December 17; Tongtiriro, end of tho year. Tho ass'ocrat : on believes that arrangements on hand will obviate, nnv chance of congestion this year, but in January and February some little del'av may anVe. though it; is hoped that this also may bo avoided. THE MODERATE LEAGUE. WELLINGTON, 'octobei- 1. The Wellington North Electoral Branch of the New Zealand Moderate League was formed to-night, Mr A. Do Is. Brandon presiding over a wellattended meeting of electors., among whom were a large proportion of ladies. The chairman <;a:d'" that the League was badly needed to advocate the moderate viewpoint in nil social problems. The remedy lay in example and precept, and not in restrictive legislation. If the sentiments expressed in the constitution of the Moderate League were universally advocated Indie leaders of ytiUlic life, and if into:*. : cnt ion were* treated as n matter of bad form, muov of the causes for obiction would be overcome. A strong Home Committee was elected.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. WELLINGTON, October 1. During tln> month ol' Aiifnist the arrivals in New Zealand from, oversea 'olnlhvl 272". .is compared lvith 27U> in August, 1.913. The departures last August numbered !."?■?.'!, as ajrainst 1884 in tlio corresponding month just vear.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. COXSIDEKS MANY SUBJECTSWELLINGTON, October 1. The Hoard of AirrJcnlture sat for two days this week, 'all the members being present, mid dealt with a largo amount of ■ correspondence, in connection with agricultural matters and «, mimb-r of i subjects which were referral to it- bv! the Minister for Agriculture and others. | Among other Questions the Hoard considered were the matter of the appointment of an assistant plant breeder for the Moiimah-aki Experimental Farm, the date of the collection of sheep returns, Government grading of grain, limestone on Crown lands, and further search for rock phosphate deposits, the Fencing Act (in connection with rabbitproof fences, and assistance to small fanners desirous of netting thefr pro-pe.rt-iw), noxious weeds. y.chol'arshir's for New Zeabiud youths to attend the" Mellvourne Veterinary University, preva.lanco of lien and ticks in tile flocks of the Dominion, development of the poultry industry, the question of subsidies for stallions, the packing, inspection, and shipping of fruit for export, reports of the scientists upon rural education, and the organisation of the Department, of Agriculture. TV- question of agricultural hanks was deferred until the receipt of further particulars which were being obtained by the Hoard. The collection of further information in connection with the planting of the central plateau of the North Island with suitable trees was also arranged for. WAIMATE'S RAINFALL. WAIMATE, Oct. 1. The rainfall for tho fire months cod ed yesterday was 36/5 points or at the rate of ;> little over c'ghl 'riches a vear. whereas the history of the last rniarier of a century shows an annual rainfall of 23 inches.