TELEGRAPHIC HEWS.

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 44

TELEGRAPHIC HEWS.

'AUCKLAND, January 15. Hoad works arranged by the Hon. J. JkloGowan. during his visit to Thames and Ohinemuri and Coromandel necessitate an expenditure of upwards of £9OOO. This will give help to a large number of temporarily unemployed. At the inquest on the body of the boy Harry Bates, who died yesterday week, evidence was given that deceased drank the contents of a bottle containing chloride of zinc, which he found under a neighbour’s house. A verdict of death from accidental poisoning was returned. Some forty Auckland bowlers will take part in the bowling tournament at Wellington. AUCKLAND, January 16. The adjourned inquest on John Burke, labourer, aged 45, who died in the hospital on Monday under chloroform, was held this morning before Mr Gresham, Coroner. The medical evidence showed that the case was urgent. A verdict was returned that Burke died during the administration of chloroform, and the jury was of opinion that the medical staff took all necessary precautions and acted with perfect skill. AUCKLAND. January 19. By a fire at Wliangarei Mr Tippet's house, occupied by James Hill, was totally destroyed. The building was insured in the New Zealand Company for £l5O. A large portion of the furniture was saved. GISBORNE, January 19. Captain A. Thomson, harbourmaster, died this morning as the result of an accident yesterday. He was out in the country driving, in company with Captain Thorgeson, master of the barque 'Armenia, now in port. About seven miles from town the horse swerved, and brought the buggy into violent collision with a telegraph post. The occupants were thrown into a ditch. NAPIER, January 15. In proof of the popularity of the sea bathing facilities provided by the Borough Council, it was stated to-night that since December, 2460 tickets had been issued to bathers. During the present hot weather the beach is daily lined with bathers, especially children. Extra tent accommodation is to be provided. PATEA, January 15. At the local rifle range Fitzgerald, an hon. member, put on the possible in seven shots at 600yds. Corporal Hulbert 90 out of a possible 100 at 600yds, and Private Carey the possible in seven shots at 200yds, kneeling. HAWERA, January 15. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day John Savage pleaded guilty to charges of arson. At midnight on the 12th he set fire to a portion of the Empire Hotel, and on the 13th lie entered a sittingroom in the same hotel and started a fire. In a confession he made to the police accused stated that he had no motive in acting as he did. He was remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence. NAPIER. January 18. Two men named Thompson and Lourdon were badly injured by a collision between a railway engine and a trap in which they were driving over a crossing near Tomoana. CHRISTCHURCH. January 18. The trial of Kei-ry. Freke and Mumford on the charge of wrecking the yacht Ariadne will conxe on at the Supreme Court on Monday. It will probably last at least two days. The line of defence is not yet known. January 19. At an inquest on the body of an infant found in a gutter in Linwood the evidence showed that the child had lived, and had been dead a week. The body was too much decomposed to give any indication of the cause of death. The police so far have no clue as to the identity of the parents. The inquest was adjourned till Saturdav next. CHRIST CHURCH, January 15. A motion at the meeting of the general committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association that a winter show be held led to a great deal of discussion, but was negatived. Some members expressed the opinion that the association could not face the financial loss, though a winter show was very desirable.

WANGANUI, January 18. 4 At the Police Court this morning Deoimus Rowe, manager of the Adams Star Cycle Company’s branch at Wanganui, was remanded till Friday next on a charge of embezzling £l3 belonging to the company. -

TIMARU, January 19. The South Canterbury Farmers’ Union has resolved to request the local Woolbrokers’ Association to reduce the commission of 2} per cent, for selling wool • to ask the colonial executive tcTendeavour to get freight and insurance on frozen meat reduced; also the rates of insurance for fanners on fire risks. Next meeting will discuss the means of obtaining reliable quotations of local grain sales and of dealing with the small birds pest, which is worse than ever.

HOKITIKA, January 18. The Borough Council has determined to take a poll on the question of providing a water supply for tlie town, estimated to cost £16,000. DUNEDIN, January 16. Mr James Rodger, building contrac-

tor, was taken ill in the Port Chalmers train yesterday, and on reaching Burke, a station four miles from the city, medical assistance was procured, but he died before the doctor arrived. Death is believed to be due to heart failure. Deceased was 65 years of age. The two-year-old daughter of Mr S. M. Park, chief clerk of the Education Board, died yesterday from phosphorus poisoning. The child crept out of bed and secured a box of nxatches on Friday night. By a fire at Naseby at half-past 5 this morning the house of John Burns, waggoner, was destroyed. His daughter, five years old, was unable to escape and perished in the flames. The house was owned by the occupiers. There was no insurance on either house or furniture.

DUNEDIN, January 17. By a fire in Mornington at one o’clock this morning an eight-roomed house was completely destroyed, the family barely escaping in time. The furniture was insured in the New Zealand office for £TSO, hut the loss is much greater. The house was insured in the South British for £SOO, but is valued at £6OO. The present owner has been in possession only twelve months. The cause is sxxpposed to be the upsetting of a kerosene lamp in the children’s room. DUNEDIN, January 15.

At Balclutha to-day Henry Rox was charged with selling liquor without a license. Beer, said to be manufactured by himself, but containing 3 per cent, proof spirit, was sold openly on the show ground. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 17. Air J. J. Elwin’s ten-roomed house at Warea was totally destroyed by fire last night. Very little of the contents was saved. The origin of the fire is unknown. The insurances amount to £355 in the New Zealand and Norwich Union Offices. INVERCARGILL, Januai’y 16. At the Wairio races yesterday a jockey named L. Lloyd was seriously injured internally by his horse falling in the Flying Handicap. He is now in the hospital in a critical state. IN\ ERCARGILL. January 15. A "man named Scott was sent to gaol for three months for assaulting a constable. Scott’s daughter called i'.p the constable and told him that her father was murdering her mother. The constable accompanied the child, who was in a nightdress, to the house, and there found Mrs Scott outside in her night clothing. She said she had been knocked about, and while the policeman was examining her face Scott came up and stnick her twice. Returning to the house ho brought out a heavy iron bar and attacked the constable. This occurred at Orepuke. PALMERSTON. January 15. A young man named Thomas Mayo, son of Mr Joseph Mayo, late Government Pomologist. was "drowned whilst bathing in the Manawatu river. Three youths bathing with him made ineffectual attempts to rescue him. The body was recovered this morning. J.By Telegraph.—Own correspondent.) NAPIER., January 15. Mr G. D. Hamilton, who owned the Mangatoro estate before the Bank of New Zealand stepped in, appeared before the Hawke’s Bay Land Board today relative to an application that he had made for two sections comprising about 955 acres in the Alangatoro Settlement to be ceded to him without competition. At a previous meeting. a resolution was carried that his application be granted. This was opposed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who pointed out that the granting of such a request was contrary to the Lands for Settlement Act. Air Hamilton to-day intimated that as he could not get command of the stream running through the sections, which he desired to secure for purposes of fish hatchery, lie would not proceed further with his application.

The I nder-Secretary for Lands has communicated with the Hawke’s" Bay Land Board with reference to the request of the Hatuma settlers for a rebate or reduction of rent owing to the bad season and the high price they had paid for the land. The department suggested that the Board should recommend what the Government ought to do in the way of relieving any°of the Crown tenants. The Board has decided that the settlers be asked to send in a detailed statement of their losses and the causes of such losses.

The total number of co-operative workmen now employed in the Hawke’s Bay land district is 117. There has been a great diminution in the number of co-operatives as compared with previous returns, many men having been put off public works in Hawke’s 'Bay in accordance with the decision of the Minister to curtail expenditure. Captain James Wallace, of Sydney, will meet the Napier Harbour Board at a special meeting on Friday, relative to certain proposals he wishes to place before the Board touching a deep water harbour for Napier.