DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7, 6 May 1912, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

(For Press Association j Auckland, May 5. A fire occured in a two-storied house occupied by Janies JJottl, in Beresford street', early this morning, the house being almost entirely destroyed. The occupants, Eottl and his wife and sax children and two countrymen of Eottl’s escaped with great difficulty, practically nothing was saved. There was no insurance on the furniture'. The house was owned by Mr. Qoles, of Onehunga. The insurance is not available. ■ ‘ • Wellington, May 5. Robert MacDonald employed as watchman at the Government Printing Office; died in a tram car when returning to his home. He was about 50 years of age. Dunedin, May 5. Simon Weatherall a miner, employed in Craig’s coal mine at Coal Creek, met with a bad accident on Friday. He was brought to the Dunedin hospital. His spine is injured and ( his condition is serious.

Michael O’Sullivan, aged 75 years of age, was found dead this morning in a hut in which he resided, alongside Mill and Go’s coal yard, Rattray St. Apparently he had thrown down a match which set fire to a sack on tno floor. A carter in the employ of the firm noticed smoke issuing from the hut and he broke open the door and extinguished the flames. He returned to the hut when the smoke cleared away and found O’Sullivan in a corner dead. Napier, May 6. Recently the Postal Department notified the abolition of the per cent

poundage allowed to merchants on the automatic franking machines. Mr Mj.P;,‘ : at the request: of a dc- ' putiaiion made representations to the Postmaster-General on the -subject, but Mr Ell has replied that he cannot see his way to reinstate the poundage, as the.expense of making collection and i l " 'allowing 1 credit to holders was so heavy, materially reducing the amount collected for postage. v': •; Dargavillc, May 6. An extraordinary vacancy having occurred in the Borough Council Mr P. Jones, proprietor of the Times, was returned against two other candidates. Ills' return is questioned owing to a printing and advertising contract with the Council. The manager of the Times asked for the withdrawal of the contract. A legal opinion was sought, which said Mr Jones was disqualified and was also ineligible to stand again unless the Council agreed to the cancellation of:the contract. Meanwhile Mr Jones offered to insert Borough advertisements free;if the contract was cancelled. A majority cf the Council agreed, and Mr Jor.es is now considered eligible to stand.