CASUALTIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11200, 24 August 1898, Page 2

CASUALTIES.

(Per United Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 23,

Joseph Dinsdale, 53 years of age, clerk of the Devonport Borough Council, was found dead in bed this morning, from, it is believed, heart disease. He was, at the meeting of the council last evening, and complained of feeling • unwell, so members excused him. Deceased had a sister in the south, she being the wife of Mr Hall, exmember .of the House of Representatives. His father lives at Mai ton, Yorkshire. Dinsdale apparently died in his sleep. He had been clerk of the Devonport Borough Council since it was formed.

GISBORNE, Augtfst 23. .Charles Tidswell, five years of age, was kicked by a horse and killed.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 23. Thomas Walles, who met with an accident on the Midland railway works through a truck running over him, breaking his thigh • and inflicting other injuries, was brought into the hospital, where he died yesterday. The death (suddenly) is announced of Mrs Robert Duncan, of South Loburn.

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(Peb'United Pkess Association.) Wki^iNGTON, August 23. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-night a paper compiled by the secretary on " The Trade Returns of New Zealand for . the Year Ended 50th June last" was read. ■ In it he says the returns exhibit considerable expansion in both' exports and imports, and concurrently with the latter a substantial increase in the amounts collected from the community through the customs. For the last three years the export figures showed a substantial increase from year to year. An examination below the surface, however, brought to light the. fact that the increase was practically the outcome of the expansion of but one branch of industry—namely, that of the pastoralist with allied trades, —and that there was an absence of expansion in minor or new industries. Wellington showed ate increase in three years of over 40 per cent, in exports, nearly 40 per cent, in imports, and over 27 per cent, in customs revenue. The sheep returns afforded a subject for satisfaction, as they revealed the fact.that for the first time the number of sheep .in the North Island exceeded the num- : bcr in the South Island. Mr Duthie, • M.H.B;, said the very large export of pastoral produce meant that a very large amount of development had taken place in the coun- J try. Mr Coleman Phillips brought up a series of resolutions with regard to the advisability of opening up new markets for New Zealand products in other parts of the ; world, and they were referred to the council for further consideration.. The president, said that since the.previous meeting in con- j sequence of representations made by the j chamber steps had been taken to improve the ', telegraphic communication between the colo- j nies and the old country. Complaints were ; made as to the delays which took place in j South Australia. The result had been that j the South Australian Government were im- j proving the service of the overland line, and , merchants,-'if not now, would soon be beyond j the harassing delays to which they had been subjectedin the .past.