TELEGRAMS

Southland Times, Issue 11655, 9 February 1891, Page 2

TELEGRAMS

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 7. Sir Wm. Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., late Speaker of the Legislative Council, died at j his residence at Lower Hutt this afternoon. The deceased gentleman, who was in his 83rd year, succumbed to Bright's disease. Sir George Grey telegraphed to the Government to-day consenting to act on behalf of New Zealand at the Federal Convention. An inquest was held to-day as to the cause of the death of Malcolm Fraser, an expressman, who it was stated succumbed to the bite of a katipo spider. Dr Bwart, medical superintendent at the hospital said that in | his opinion death was due to the bite of a ; spider, the man being in a bad state of health >at the time. The active cause of death was I erysipelas, but that in his opinion was I brought about by the bite. In answer to the jury Dr Ewart said there was blood poisoning aud if the man's blood had been j pure the bite would not have been fatal. I The jury returned a verdict accordingly, t Mr R. Staples, a bootmaker resident at Kilbirnie, was thrown out of his trap last night and died of concussion of the brain this morning. His wife was also injured. Mr Fitzgerald, Auditor-General, haa been elected president of the Public Service Association ; also Dr Giles (Auckland), aDd Mr Cooper, Colonial Under Secretary, as vice-presidents for the North Island. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 7. Archdeacon Govett was thrown from his carriage yesterday afternoon and seriously hurt. His right arm is broken in two places. The petroleum experts have now sunk 320 feet and consider the indications very satisI factory. WESTPORT, Feb. 7. The coal export for the week was 4375 tone. On Friday 1473 tons were lowered from the mine, HOKITIKA, Feb. 8. A little boy named Hannawill was drowned in the river on Saturday afternoon. He was sitting on a pile fishing when he fell into 16 feet of water. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 8. A meeting of the N.Z. Brass and Military Band Association was held lost night, and representatives attended from ChrUtchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and Oamaru. Several other bands in both islands were represented by proxy. It was decided to hold a contest in Dunedin in the last week of November ; also that a contest piece be secured through Wright and Round, to be specially arranged for brass bands and to contain solos for all the leading instruments. I A general meeting will be held during the Easter encampment at Oamaru for election of officers and consideration of the contest rules. 4 tnption that Mr Dan Godfrey (lyonclon) be appointed tq select the contest piece was lost. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the Oamaru bands re holding a contest during the Easter encamp.nent in aid of the funds of the Association. It was unanimously resolved that the rule fixing the entrance fee of bands joining the Association after September 30th, 1890, at L 3 3s be rescinded. Three bands applied for affiliation, making ■ix (?) now in the Association.