AUCKLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 44

AUCKLAND

> Air W. H. D. Johnston, formerly connected with the Auckland Rope Works, ha 9 been appointed Government hemp grader for Auckland. The death of Mrs Caleb Robinson, of Waihi, is attributed to the swallowing of a plum stone, wheih ulcerated the lining of the stomach. The price of Auckland flour was advanced on Thursday from £8 15s to £9 10s per ton. A man named Messenger had a narrow j escape at Rotorua on Thursday. Ho entered the manhole connected with the sewage system without taking the necessary precautions, and succumbed very quickly to the sulphur fumes, which in Rotorua collect, in I addition to other obnoxious gasses common to sewerage. On seeing Messenger succumb a Maori entered the manhole and fastened 1 a rope around the unconscious man's body. ! The fumes almost overcame the Native, but ! he managed to reach the surface before he ■ fainted. Messenger was then drawn up, and i found tc be in a bad way. He was conj veyed 'to his lodgings in great agony and I attended to by Dr Kenny. The local branch -of the Educational Institute appointed to devise a workable scheme of appointments and promotions of teachers have decided -to urge on the Minister that if extra capitation be voted it should be devoted to increasing the salaries of country teaoher?. Captain Angfus Smith died at Opotiki from blood poisoning. He "was an- old resident, and had served in the Crimea and Maori wars. With reference to the statements made by oattlemen on the steamer Kumara concernthe drowning of a seaman named Plunkett, Captains Reid • and Adamson (on behalf of the Board of Trade) have taken the evidence of the crew and examined the boats and fittings, and report that everything is in perfect order, and that when Plunkett fell overboard the ship was immediately stopped, a boat lowered, and every possible search made; that «the cattlemen were not on deck until the captain had recalled the boat after I it had been away about an hour. There had j been friction between the captain and the j cattlemen on the voyage. j The Lands and Survey Department has i completed subdivision of several properties recently purchased on the Kaipara railway, close to the city, for the purpose of selection as workmen's homes, which are to be leased in perpetuity. The properties have been named Kitchener. Methuen, Cradock, | Plumer. and Helana Hamlets. I Mr Buth. .S.M., gavp judgment in the case I of Thomas Gibb v. Ernest Walters, master j of the Hikntaia School, a claim of £200 for : assault —viz., being thrashed for bathing with j his sister and other girls. The head maeter j had warned the boys and girls that he would punish them if they were found bathing I together when separate bathing places in the j river were provided. The Magistrate dej cided that the schoolmaster had no jurisdiction to administer jiunihliment for an offence i-omm'ttod out of prhool and out of bchool hour*. Judgment was given for the complainant, with £5 damages and £5 15s cost 1-. | )