DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 29 December 1911, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

A THUNDERSTORM

(Per Press Association.)

Ekotaimna, Deceamor 29

Heavy ram last nigjic bxockect all the culverts. A violent fmuiuerstoi m ioilowed, and vivid lightning. Several Windows were broken oy tue concussion, and a number of telephones were rased.

NEGLIGENT MOTOR DRIVING

Auckland, December 2b

At the conclusion of tne enquiry into the deatn of ooim Alexander ivtc wdnuell, killed m a motor car accident a few days ago, tne jury returned a verdict muling that tne driver or tnc motor, Rhodes liaitye, had, uy negligent driving, caused tne deatn of deceased. At tne conclusion of tne inquest Battye was arrested and charged witii manslaughter.

A SERIOUS EIRE

Gisborne, December 28,

A destructive lire occured on the Gladstone road this afternoon. Tiie outorealc started in the rear of U. Taylor's furniture factory in a siied used as a storeroom for mix and a buggy siied and stable. Tiie flames quiesuy spread to a stack of seasoned timber, uaence to the machinery room of the factory. The building, which was of one storey, was gutteu. 'ine valuable macninery was not destroyed, but may be damaged by the extreme heat from the burning building. A large supply of seasoned timber the best stocK in Gisborne was destroyed, and a horse in the stables was badly burnt before it could be removed and had to be shot. Mr. Taylor was absent in Auckland. The building was owned by Mr. W. H. Clayton. The total insurances are believed to amount to 1800. A JOURNALIST’S DEATH. Wesport, December 28. Mr. Walter Aitken, proprietor of the Westport News, died at 6.30 tonight, after an illness extending over six months. Deceased was a native cf Cork, Ireland, and went to Melbourne in 1868 and subsequently came over to New Zealand, working on the West Coast Times, Hokitika and later with others establishing the defunct Grey Valley Times. Later' ho worked in lice ['ton as manager of flip Inaiigahua Herald, and then took over-the Lyell Times, which he conducted until 1898. Then he purchased the Westport News. Deceased was twice married, his second wife predeceasing him by five weeks. He leaves by bis first marriage, a grown-up family of two sons and three daughters. BEQUESTS TO A CHURCH. Ashburton, December 28. The late David. Wilson who died on Xmas Eve at the advanced-age of 85 and who was a very old colofiist, having arrived in the Dominjpp in the barque Victory in' 1875 -and Settled in Ashburton district 38 years ago, left an estate which it is expected will lie sworn at just under£Bo,ooo. The religious and charitable bequests total £3,300, and of this all but £2OO is left to the funds and institutions in connection with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The sum of £3,100 is divided amongst fourteen objects, the biggest amounts being £4OO each to the aged and infirm minister’s fund and to assisting weak congregations also £350 each to the Knox College endowment fund and church extension for new work and assisting present home mission stations, while £250 is left towards scholarships for Divinity students, and £2OO each towards foreign missions and widows and orphans’ fund. WANGANUI POLICE COURT. Wanganui, December 29. Albert Thomas Skallie was charged at the Police Court this morning with breaking into a store at Makirikiri. The charge was reduced to wilfully damaging property. Accused, pleading guilty, was fined £lO, in default two months’ imprisonment. A young man named E. R. Floyd was sentenced to thirty days for theft of a watch which he snatched from another man in a hotel.