NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 612, 15 September 1909, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

(Djr Telcirapb.-Puu AuodsOeaJ FIRE ON THE TOMOANA. EXTINGUISHED JtTST IN TIME. Dunedin, September! U. When tho hatches were removed from the 6-6. Tomoana this morning for the continuation of the discharge of hert cargo, a.considerable volume of smoke issued from her No. 5 'tween decks holds. ' Investigation showed'.that & fir'» had started near some cases of agricultural machinery, tho woodwork of two of those having been burnt off. The fire was extinguished before any material damage had been done, but had it not boon for the: tinioly discovery of the outbreak, the- result might have, boon disastrous, as the vessel hod on board 8075 cases of kerosene, 500 cases, of turpentine, 1375 cases' of benzine, and 1700 cases of gas oil; besides • lot of lurabeT. •■•-'•'■'..'.•■ . ." an ancient forest; -/ interesting discoveey. in canter'" ■ : ; ■.■;.-.. .'boot. ; ..-. ... •>• . . Christchurohj SeptemberC. Mr. E. Speight,- assistant curator of Cantor* bury Museum, and.Dr. Cockayne^aro.investigating an interesting discovery which has been mode.by tho men engaged on tho excavating, operations. at tho. now Children's Ward at Christchurch.Hospital. About sixteen feet,from tho surface, a fairly largo number of stamps and roots were met with,, and some difficulty was experienced in getting through, them/on to the gravel. beneath. Two logs abont nine inches in diameter, had to be sawjj. .through, and some.i.of,.the roote had to bo removod. Thoy. have., been identified as manuka and. white, pine. ..It is: believed that the. pieces -wu expcctedly. encountered by .the..workmen repre-V 6ent an ancient forest'which, thrived on land! in and around Christclinrch in past canturieSj. A theory in that direction has' boon advaacca before, and the'discovery made in tho hospital grounds last week is regarded as good evidence' in "support of it. . Somewhat' sinrilar: discoveries have been made;in the city's bomW. daries by workmen employed ; by the - CStr Council:.in making' excavations' anbV-'digginif , trenches. i;; . ; ;. ■■■:■.';■:'y-. : ., '■■ ..; '••;...; -.' ' : - . ■ . •■ ■ ■; ■' ■ . """■ ChrtstchurcK, September It . The' three-year-old" son .of Mr.' Charles 'Luneji died atviiyttelton yesterday morning from the effects of eating eom'e tbnio pills which ho had got out of a drawer in , his', mother's bedroom'.' At the inquest; the ; mother stated.that the littlo : boy was'playing iulier.bed'yesterday morning and, noticing the pill-box: in' : hie hand, she* asked what he had done with the pills. Heeaid he had eaten them, and shortly afterwards he' began to complain of-pains in- his tomach. Becoming alarmed she-went to "the 'chemist from-whom she had got the pills abont two years ago. ; The chemist looked up the prescription and findißg that they contained strychnine gave the mother an emetic for the child, and telephoned for a doctor, who attended the child, who was 'in convulsions when they 'arrived.. • .Chloroform. ■ was administered and the stomach was pumped out, but the child never rallied, and-died shortly afterwards. Dr.' l Guthrio said-helhad prescribed the pills about two years ago. They contained strychnine, and one would be dangerous for a young child,.and four would tie fatal to it. The mother stated', that the pills had been'lying; in tho drawer for nearly two years,, and the , child; had.to get on a chair to.reach them>\ A verdict ■ was. , re* torned to . the, effect that, death ; was.;due": t?' heart .failure caased by etrycliiiine,poison,, ao , cidentally taken. '-■■■[> ;.'•':.':,./--..i ;

.' FERRY BUItbiNGS AT AUCKLAND. ; .:' : ',-.: : . '■:. •■ -'i;; . v ■ Atickland,.Septemberl*.- ; ■. An ;item'amqng, tho' recommendations: of >thl.' * boird in committee .that came up for tion at the Hnibour Botol,this; uftsrnoon was . a resplntion of September; 8\ last, ■• relating.to the new, ferry".buildings, "that the architect's; 'report dated.Septeinber 8, ISOS/be adopted,,and that the tender r ijf Messrs. W;' Philcox and Srina' for the,stun pf,i^s3.6Bs'for propoeal A, pins It was'; a formality after a prottr full iDqniryby the , . boardlVb'O.t.'.MFr -WPW raieed, the questioa ofSe aeswabfenSHr saving 'jfflOO odd .bjusing..Oamaru stono in to:Pynnont, that■,\■■■ all 'ithe etidenco,. of i'experts , .'.tended"to fti«j' eon« clnydi tha't' Jrnhlint , 'stiile was:bettrf, fer'thh'- ■ ■work thanOam'am' , stone. .'The coinmittoe'erecommendation: was adopted. ". '";'■ '.', ' ECHO OF THE'dENERAL EtECTIONSi . ■'f ■.Wanganui,'Soptember'li r " ■ A eeqnal to : the general election was a caseheard iii Conrt this afternoon, when ft member of Mr. Hutchison's committee was sned by • a fol J638,; alleged' to be duo for the hire of vehicles on election day. Defendant denied hariag ordered the rehiclev and plflintiff : was-,non-suited. _ . .- ; ;■ . : ■RESEARCH ';, BY ! DR. COtKAyNe. -i- • ...■■'; : ,'christchurch, September IS.! Dr. Cockayne has completed his ■ reports 6i(. sand dunes and shifting 'Band,- and the.botaiii^ cal survey of Stewart Island; and the report* mil be presented, when Parliament meets. . : '/ GIRL ARRESTED^: v : ; .'■.-. .; '. ••:.■■. . Atickiand, September it • In connection,with. the. findifig of, the dead body-of an infant in.a garden"at, Epsom, the police arrested a.girl namod Isabella Siuclair at Mount' Albert.' She was charged 'with- con- , cealtnait of tirth to-day;, and remanded. ' ■'•■■'