SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL.

A well-known Maori woman named Heni Nohoaka died at Gisborne on the 29th ult., aged 75. In 1865 her husband, Henare Nihoniho, was killed at. Waiapu by Hauhaiis. In revenge Ileni personally led a fighting party against the Hauhaus, and defeated them. Her hanu was Te-ao-Wora, a great fighting section of the Ngatinorou tribe. H. 11. H. Williams, of the Temperance and Guarantee Mutual Life Society at Xapier has been appointed by (he Australian Mutual Provident Society superintendent of the industrial branch of its business in Dunedin. Messrs John Jl'Kenzie (Bushey Park, Palmeraton) and J. Tough (Milton) have been appointed to (ill the two vacancies on the Otago Land Board.

It is understood (says the Greymouth Star) that tho late Robert Davidson, of Kumara, died intestate, and that his estate is to be divided between his two nieces and •nephew, the only surviving relatives. It is stated the estate will run well above £20,000.

At a meeting of the Jlataura Tresbytery Oil Thursday a call from the Wyndham Presbyterian congregation-to the Rev. A. Sangster was sustained, and, as Mr Sangster signified his acceptance of it, the induction was fixed for Tuesday, 21st inst. The Wyndham Herald states that the Rev. Mr Sangster also received n, unanimous call to the Cromwell Church.

■Mr H. AY. Dyer, S.M., at Kaiapoi, is to take lip the duties of second magistrate at AuckMr H. A.. Acbcsoii, of Carterton, who has just been appointed a stipendiary magistrate, will probably te stationed in West'and. Mr Day, S.M. at Hokitika, has been notified of his transfer to North Canterbury, and to assist in the Christchurch district.

Out of 90 applicants for the position of mechanical engineer at the Drainage Board's pumping station, William Jacobsen, of llowo street, was selected by the board on the 31st. The successful . applicant's testimonials included one from Booth, Macdonald, and Co., of Christclmrch, one flou] the Union Company, and several from engineering firms in Scotland. Atr W. 11. Hunter, who for a long time occupied the position of clerk in the Supreme Court office here, lias entered into partnership with Mr Armstead, at present in practice at Invercargill and Itiverton ns solicitor. We learn that Mr J. 11. E. Garrow has sent in his resignation as registrar of the Otago University, and intends to coinnicnce practice in Dmiedin as a barrister and solicitor after his formal admission. CASUALTIES AND OFFENCES. Mrs Julia Wasley, an elderly Mount Eden resident, died on the 23rd wit. as the result, of injuries received on the 21st through her clothes catching fire while she was cooking" at a kerosene stove. The police at Onniaru received information on the 24th of the death at Tokarahi, in consequent* of an accident, of .John Gibson, aged 70. On January 20 the deceased anil three others \vor*> returning from Bremner's clearing sale, when the horse which they were driving was startled by another passing it. Swerving sharply, the horse broke the sw'ingletree of tlio trap and then capsiwd tlio vehicle, throwing the occupants out. The deceased was severely injured, and, though given every attention, be did not rally, and died on January 22. A very sad death occurred at Greymouth on January 22, when Flora Merrick, 14 years of age, passed away. About a fortnight ago she injured her foot with a. hay fork, but it was not anticipated that there was any danger, and the wound appeared to heal woll. A few days ago, however, symptoms of lookjaw set in, and the patient was -removed to the hospital, where everything possible was done for her, but without- avail. Nellie Johnson, aged 27 yeare, was drowned in the Kauacranjja Kiver, Auckland. Some boys saw the body in the water, and endeavoured to effect a rescue, but failed, and when assistance was available life was found to be extinct. The deceased had been in ill-health for some time, and was left in bed at her home, but had dressed and walked into the river. James Percy Morgan, a lad of eight years, imet with a shocking death at Christchurch. He was playing at Kcdpat-h's siding, on the South Belt, and as two trucks were being moved to conncct. bo got between them. His ncad was qruslied hatween the bilffors, death being almost instantaneous. None of tlio men working in the yard' saw how the accident happened. An old-age pensioner named William Hall was found drowned in a creek at Kakanui on the 30th ult. Ho was last seen alive on Friday afternoon. At the inquest the evidence showed that, the deceased had evidently strayed from the path while on his way ■ \o a footbridge across the creek. The body was found in abort 6ft of water. The jury returned a verdict of found drowned, and added a rider that tlio County Council should fence the dangerous spot, inasmuch as a few years ago a drowning fatality "occurred at* the same place. _ Walter Gordon, boatswain of tlio brigantine Carin, fell from a loft, striking his head on Auckland wharf and breaking his neck. Death was instantaneous. The deceased belonged to Hobart. An unfortunate accident, attended wi'li fatal results, happened at M'Pherson's coalpit.. Coal Creek, at- 4- o'clock on February 1, a man named Win. Pi. Williams losing his life. Deceased had been working at a -face of coal, when it suddenly gave way. and lie was knocked on tJio head by several pieces, death being instantaneous. Deceased was a married man, and leaves a wife and four children. An inquest was held when the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." An elderly man named James Muirhead, an under-driver at the Puponga coal mine; Nelson, was killed on January 26. The couplings between the trucks on the haulage, machine broke, and deceased was crushed about the lower part of the body, and died in an -hour and a-half, after terrible agony. No blame is attached to anyone. John-Mitchell, flaxmill hand at Mason's Bay, Stewart .Island, was drowned through the capsizing of a boat in which lie was out fishing. The deceased was a native of Aberdeen, 32 years of age, and arrived in the colony six months ago.

. The six-year-old son of Mr Thos. Mitchell, sawmill-owner, was. drowned m tho Patea River on. January 27 by/falling into the dam.' The was recovered in a few minutes, but lifo was-extinet. .'. • Informatio i was given to tho police at an early hour on the 30th ult. that a married woman named Jessie Smeal, wife of William Smeal, a. carpenter, residing in Clyde street, Dunedin,; had' committed suicide. From inquiries made it appears that Mrs Sineal, who has beeivin ill-health for some months, and has been attended-occasionally by Dr Riley, retired to rest with her husband at about 10. o'clock the previous evening, and at about 5. o'clock next 'morning Mr Smeal discovered that deceased had left her room. He immediately rose to ascertain the cause of her absence, and failing to find her in the house, he proceeded'to an outhouse in the yard, where he discovered her hanging by a towel from tho outhouse door. He immediately cut her down and sent for mcdical aid, .but when Dr Riley arrived life was pronounced to bo extinct. A verdict of " Suicide while.-suffering fronil 5 temporary insanity" was returned.',. Elizabeth Hannah Seed, aged 64, committed suicide at Christchurch oil February 3by taking "Rough on Rats." Slio resided with her husband; Henry Seed, in Linwood, and had been melancholy and despondent for some months. William Bowon, labourer, 74. years of age,and a widower, was found lying dead on the floor of the one-roomed, hut in which lived in Albany street' on February o. He was last seen alive going into his hut on Wednesday afternoon under the influence of liquor, but tho door of his hut was open next day. As nothing was seen of defeased on Friday, a neighbour looked into the lint, and saw him lying, undressed, on his face on tho floor. He wa6 found to bo lifeless. Deceased was an old-age pensioner. Death is supposed to have been due to natural causes, there being no suspicious circumstances attaohed. An inquiry was held at Albany street on tile 4tli before Mr C. C. Graham (coroner), and a jury of six, when a verdict was returned that death "Was due to heart failure and senile decay. A fatal acoident occurred at tho Kaitangata mine at 8.30 p.m. on February 2, a miner named Allan M'Kinna, 26 years of age, and a native of Scotland, being killed by a fall of stone. What looks like a. determined case of suicide occurred at Wanganui on February 4, when Mrs King, a widow, about 35 years of age, was drowned in tlio river. Deceased, whose body has not ■ yet been recovered, went, to the further side of the river (opposite tlio town), divested herself of part of her clothing, and, after wading for some time, walked out to a sandspit near tho middle of the river and disappeared. Her actions were observed by some boys on the town side of the river, and l.hey subsequently gave information to the policc. The woman was employed as a domestic with a family at Aramoho, and in t.liq morning, after telling' one of her employer's children she was

going away, was seen to go across a paddock towards a crock in which there is a deep watorhole. The gate, however, was locked, and she returned to the house, saying '"she was going to New Plyinoutu by the afternoon train, hut would have to go to town afterwards.

A boat containing six people capsized in tho ltnssoll Harbour, Auckland, on February 5. Three were drowned, and three rescued by a Maori who was'passing in a boat. .Those drowned were Mrs Marshal! and Mr Ouflcy and his daughter. The rescucd arc Messrs .Goodhue (2) and Doel. Tliev all belong to Kawakawa. I'artioulars of the fatality are meagre. A boat containing Mrs Borllia Marshall (wife of Mr George Marshall, publican), Mi- John Culley (of Hay of Island; Coal Mine), his daughter (Mies Cissy Cnlley), all of Enwaknwa, and Messrs Frederick and Gilbert (loodhue and Enoch Doel, of Tauniere, capsized in a squall in the bay at a point between the Brampton buoy and Tapeka Point. Mrs Marshall and Mr and Miss Ciillov were drowned before assistance could reach them. The three other occupants of the boat were, rescued by a party of Maoris who happened ,to he in tho vicinity in another boat. Mrs Marshall's body is the only one recovered so far. Tlio survivors were three hours in the wafer before they were rescucd. A man named Edward Masters, a rabbiter, shot his wife on February 6 at Hastings, and then attempted to commit suicide. Tho man and his wife had gone to Hastings by the 11.20 train from Napier, and shortly after arrival at Hastings, while passing down Avenue road, the limn drew out a revolver aud fired twice at his wife, one bullet striking her on'the ■ right side near the shoulder and the other in the hack. The man then turned tile revolver on himself, the bullet grazing his temple. The woman lies in a precarious condition in the Napier Hospital. So far there has been remarkable immunitv from serious accident in connection with the Wellington electric trams. On tho 7th, however, a terrible accident occurred, a small boy named John Ward, sou of a hairdresser, being terribly mangled. Tho boy, who was only nine years of age, was running alcngsido a car, when he foil and turned over, with his .face upwards. This brought his right arm under the wheel. He appeared to fall about tho middle of the car. The motorman stopped the car instantly, and the child was extricated in an unconscious condition. It was" then found that he had sustained a very bad scalp wound and a fractured skull, wliilc his uppor jaw was broken and tho lower jaw apparently dislocated. His right arm was terribly mangled, 'lie wrist and hand being almost severed, and hanging merely by shreds J of flesh and sinews. Tho boy was at onco ' conveyed in a cab to the hospital. The j placo at which the accident occurred is one at which the cars are accustomed to travel slowly, bare!" reaching luilf-specd. At. the hospital Dr Ewart pronounced the boy's chanco of recovery to be of the slightest, ! and _ described tile injuries to his head as consisting of a compound fracture of tho j skull and of the. uppor and lower jaws. ' The right arm was amputated. F<ve- j witnesses attribute no blamo to those, in • charge of the cor. Another car ran into an ] express driven by a man named Jnffares, who was thrown out and injured about the head. After having a clean up ho was able to resume work, and when asked how the accident happened ho refused to givo particulars, merely remarking: "T crossed in front of the tram, atid the tram got the the best of it. The boy Ward died in the hospital at 9.30. on Wednesday morning. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict I hat death was accidental, the motorman of the car being absolved from blaine. In his evidence.; the motorman stated that just before the accident a gust of wind blew a cloud of dust up, aud ho was forced to momentarily bow his head and close his oyes. On looking up he saw the boy two feet, from the front of the car. Ho was unable to pull up in that distance, and.the car struck llm lad down. The car was going about four miles an hour. Just before the accident he had shut off the power and put the brake on in onVr to npootiat" the curve.

The one-year-old daughter of Thomas Pratt, of Coromandcl. died from the effects of swallowing a half-inch screw. (teorgo Rogers, u grocer's assistant, was killed at Hawora, N. 1., on Thursday. Deceased was driving a trap load of groceries to tho hospital, und when crossing the railway lino a.-tram struck the conveyance fairly in the middle. The man was thrown 10 yards away. His skull was badly fractured, death being practically instantaneous. Tho horse was badly injured on tlio hip. Tt struggled 200 yards away.- bleeding profusely, and dropped dead. Tho cart was smashed to splinters, the framework being carried on tho cowcatcher for 150 yards. There arc two very danscrotis crossings near the town, tlio _ train being hidden from view in a nutting until it emerges at the crossing. Tho Borough Council has repeatedly petitioned the Railway Department to make an improvement, but without avail.

An inqiuvt Has hold at Wcllincrion on tho death of Thomas Holland, afod 50. a. wharf labourer, who died at tlio hospital on Wednesday. It appears that tlm man suffered from-vanccr in the throat. Ho had been operated in some months ago, but there was a recurrence of the trouble.. Ho agrml to undergo an operation on Wednosdav." and while taking chloroform expired. The medical evidence fliowwl that death was caused, tliroingh .pressure of the growth on the nir passages, interrupting respiration. Deceased!* internal organs were in the .primary stages of alcoholic degeneration. A verdict was returned in accordance witlf tho medical evidence, the staff being absolved. . MISCELLANEOUS. The number "of births registered at the Dunedin office during the.month of .Tamtary was 120, as against 122 for. the corresponding mouth of last year; deaths totalled 50, as against 63; and marriages 40, as against 10. The number of deaths'was the lowest for January..for the last six years. People, who have become .alarmed over tho birth rate should derive a measure of reassurance- from certain figures in last Thursday's -Gazette (siys .the Wellington Post). The estimated bjrth rate per. 1000 of the population 'during 1904 is stated at 26.94. (This, however, is snMcct fo vision.) The birth rates per 1000 in recent years have been: —25.12 in 1899, 25.60 in

' 1900, 26.34 in 1901, 25.89, in 1902, and 2661 in 1903. Tho death rate sceins to have token n turn in the proper direction, being 9.57 per 1000 (subject, to revision) lust year, compared with 10.4 per 1000 in 1903 and 10.5 per 1000 in .1902. The marriage rate shows a regular and steady inorease year by, year. • Last year the marriages were 8.37 - per 1000 of tho population. '

I During tho last quarter of last j-ear the total postal revenue of tile colony amounted to £82,023, as compared with £72,216 in the 1903 quarter. The telegraph revenue shows an increase from £77.445 in tho 1903 quarter to £31,222. The Wellington postal district contributed the greatest revenue, both postal and leiegrapmc, the figures being £18,838 and £17,751 respectively. The stamps sold amounted to £75,960* for tho whole colony, and the telephones yielded £36,262. The total number of telegrams I issued in the colony in the quarter under notice was 1,280,432, as against 1,215.959 in tho last quarter, of 1903. There wcro also 62,117 Government telegrams, The Auckland University Council have agreed to establish Schools of Mines and Commerce on the spccial Government grant of £1500. Tho suggestion is to proceed without an increase in tho staff for two years and to then appoint professors when the practical part is readied. During the quarter ended December 31 the revenue collected by tho Postal Department was £163,245, £82,023 . being postal revemio and £81,222 telegraphic. Tho revenue for tho quarter is £15,584 in excess of that for the corresponding period of the previous year. The savings banks deposits amounted to £1,361,253, and tho withdrawals to £1,310,373. The following is a statement of accounts in connection with the Dunedin Savings Bank for the 12 months ended 31st- December, 1904:—The total amount at credit of depositors is' £100,856 19s 3d, being a decrease of £588 4s 8d oil tho balance at end of 1903. The deposits received during the year amounted to £39,613 4s, while for 1903 they were £40,165 10s 2d, being a. decrease of £552 6s 2d. The withdrawals were £43,037 18s Id, as against, for 1903, £41,187 2s lOd. Interest credited to depositors' accounts amounted to £2844 12s 9d, or about £100 moro than in tho preceding year, the bank is at present paying 3 per cont., but as the Post Oflico' Savings Bank is now allowing 3i per cent., tlio manager suggests the advisablenoss of increasing the rate by another i per cent. Only a few loans on mortgage were granted during the year, but the total of £47,651 shows an increase of about £5000. The amount invested on debentures stands at the same figure as fn 1903—viz., £25,240. The business for. the year has been very steady, and shows a satisfactory profit of £793 13s 9d, while tho total balance at credit of profit- and loss account amounts to tho substantial sum of £11,156 19s 10d. Details of the Savings Hanks' transactions during tho last quarter of 1904 show that, the amount deposited was £1.361,254, and the amount withdrawn £1,310,373, leaving an excess of £50,880 in. favour of depositors —a considerable improvement on tho last quarter of 1903, when tho withdrawals, amounting to £1 ; 346,973, shd\vod an cxecss over the deposits, which amounted to £1,341,127. The most thrifty district was Wellington, where the deposits amounted to £285,643, Christchurch, Auckland, and Dunedin being next in that order, with £237,874, £210,729, and £190,285 respectively. Tho rumours that the Seddon-Taylor slander action has been settled or that plaintiff will not continue it arc without foundation, also that plaintiff will at the new trial call twice as many witnesses as he called at Christchurch. It. is not yet settled when tho application for change of venue will bo heard. It is .stated that Mr T. Cotter, of Auckland, has been consulted by the Kjng of Tonga with regard to tho deportation of Sateki, the ex-Premier. The New Zealand Herald understands that further action will bo taken in the matter.