TELEGRAPHIC.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7629, 22 January 1903, Page 4

TELEGRAPHIC.

(Per Press Association.) I CIIRISTC'H'JRCH, Wednesday, j At 11.30 a.m. yesterday a fireball • lell on a farm at Ohoka and for a ! time it caused consternation. There ' was a distinct smell of hair or wool! singeing, with a trace of sulphur tunics, but any attempts to discover the track or effect of the ball were fruitless, it was accompanied by a loud sound as of great rushing wind Those who saw it say the light was as dazzling as that of the sun BLENHEIM, Wednesday. The fireball, which fell at Ohaka yesterday, was seen by a settler at Onamalutu. He describes it as a body equal in brightness to the sun and falling across The sky in a westerly direction. It was pear-shaped except that a small end tapered to a point. It was travelling at an-enor-mous rate and seemed to reach the horizon in two or three .seconds G-ISBORNE, Wednesday. rlne Borough Council has decided to raise £8000 of its authorised £70,000 loan to enable land to be secured and a start made with the waterworks. A difficulty has been found in securing money at the rate of interest specified, viz., four per cent. WELLINGTON, This Day. For the past two or three years a movement towards "Greater Wellington" by the amalgamation of the borough of Mclrose with the city, has been in progress. The negotiations have been very slow, bt't now it seems that the ideal of the i.-romo-i.ters of the scheme are on the eve of ,:being successfully carried into effect. !it was announced, at a meeting of the Melrose Borough Council "last night, than an agreement had been arrived at as to the basis of the amalgamation of the two districts. The Melrose Council has obtained the consent of the city—(l), to tax each ward of the former borough for the extension of t,ramways into such wards, instead of taxing the whole borough as was proposed ; (2), concession to levy city rates for water and drainage a£ against a tax for the actual cost ; and (3), concession to expend £30,000 for street improvement in the borough. Arrangements will be made next week to take a poll of ratepayers on the proposal. TIMARU, Wednesday. Colonel Bayley, who has been in command of the South Canterbury Volunteer sub-di(strict for yearly 18 years, now retires on account of the abolition of the sub-districts. He bade farewell to the Timaru infantry companies at parade last evening. In a short speech he expressed deep regret ac severing so long a connection, and thanked them for the good spirit they had shown as Volunteers. Colonel Moore replied. Colonel Bayley was much affected at parting. TIMARU, Wednesday. In consequence of the fever wards at the hospital being dismantled and undergoing alterations, the Hospital Board have sought to hire cottages to serve as a scarlet fever hospital, but had great difficulty, t.ie owners declining to let their houses for such a purpose. One small cottage was obtained for two patients. The Mayor suggested that the Timaru Gaol, which was not much used, could be utilised as a fever hospital, hut the idea was not entertained. The chairman of the Board disclaimed any responsibility for the treatment of epidemics which must in every case overtax the ordinary accommodation or staff arrangements of the hospital, and said they were acting generously towards the Borough Council in doing what they were. The Board acknowledged the difficulties, but agreed to continue to do their best. TIMARU, Wednesday. I At the inquest on I-I. L. Edie, found dead in bed in the Ship Hotel, deceased was identified as a woolclasser and widower, but no family known. He was about 60 years of age and died from failure of the heart. A peculiarity about the case is that the man was not known to be in the hotel. He had been in town a fortnight, but was not stopping there. The police could not find out where he had been stopping. The porter swears he looked into the room where deceased was found on Saturday night and the room was empty, while Dr. Reid, who made the post-mortem examination to-day, says the man must have been dead three or four days. NAPIER Wednesday. Recently the Harbour Board decided to extend the breakwater fifty I feet. The result has been so beneficial that the Board yesterday resolved on a further extension of i'fly feet. The statement of last yar's operation of the Board is considered highly satisfactory, showing a reduction of the debit "balance by £f>sot). MASTERTON, Wedni'sdny. A letter was received at t^ie Borough Council meeting trom the Wellington Fire Underwriters' Association in connection with waier ruing at half pressure quite half an hour at Daniell's fire on Christmas Day. The Association pointed out that they had lowered the rates in October on the understanding that the Council had a high pressure system installed, and they desired to know if an inquiry would be held. It wa,s decided to reply that an erquiry is to be held. At the Borough Council meeting last night it was decided to retain Thursday as the half-holiday. In connection with the lighting of the town clock the Government have notified the Council that they -will not recognise liability in connection with lighting the same. Unless a meter is put in probably the lighting will be discontinued. The Council agreed to put in a separate mete,r and the Public Works Department is to be asked to make arrangements for the maintenance of the clock as being Government property. Wednesday. There is perfect weather for the opening of the waterworks Coronation Swimming Baths in the Recreation Grounds. As the Premier is unable to be present, the Government is represented by the Hon. J. Carroll. All the prominent men from the surrounding boroughs will be present. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The Nautical Inquiry into the loss of the Gairloch opens at the Auckland Magistrate's Court on Friday, January 30th, before Mr Haselden, S.M., and Captains L. Clarke and T. Fernandez, nautical assessors. INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. The delegates fixed on Wednesday for the weekly half holiday in Invercargill, and amendment in favour of Saturday being rejected. INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. Mr M. Gilfedder, late member for Wallace, was entertained at a banquet and presented with a purse of one hundred and fifty six sovereigns by his old constituents. INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. At an inquest regarding the Fortrose boating fatality, by which two men were drowned, the evidence showed that the men were crossing the river when a strong current took posses.-ion of the boat, carrying them over the bar and swamping the craft in the breakers. INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. Perfect summer weather is now being experienced and the crops aie benefitting immensely. WOODVILLE, Wednesday. A large number of entries were received for the A. and P. Show last ; night, but the exact number will not j be known for two days yet.