NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 789, 12 April 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

iEj TeleeraDh.—Press Association.) * THE RICHMOND FATALITY.

INQUEST AM) VERDICT. ' Christchurch, April 11. 'At the inquest on, Daniel Bnckett, burned to death in the fire at Richmond on Sunday morning, a verdict was recorded of accidentally burned to death. Deceased's sons, in evidence, stated that their father was given to drink. One son was sleeping in a tent in the garden about sixty, yards from the house, but was unaware of the fire until wakened by a policeman. Another son stated that he last saw Ms father alive at 10.15 p.m. on Saturday. He was perfectly sober, and was talking to a man in the road. This witnoss left shortly afterwards on a shooting expedition. A married woman, who saw deceased about a quarter of an hour later, stated that by the way he was speaking to the man in the road she thought he was intoxicated.

RELIEVING MAGISTRATE WANTED. STATEMENT BY MR. WAKE. ■ Eltham, April 11. Interviewed this morning, Mr. G. P. Wake said the resolution of solicitors telegraphed from Hawera on Saturday inferred that an attack was made here last Wednesday on Mr. Greenfield, S.M. This, he says, i 3 not correct; what ho objected to was the system of the Government reappointing aged and long-retired magistrates to the Bench. The retiring age for magistrates is 65. Mr. Greenfield is over 80. Mr: Wake made no attack on Mr. Greenfield, nor on any magistrate, that he was not of the highest integrity and honour, and disclaims ' any intention of doing so. To prevent a recurrence of the reappointment of aged aud retired magistrates, he has forwarded to |,the Minister a requisition asking for the' appointment of a permanent relieving magistrate for the North Island. This requisition has been signed by nineteen solicitors in Eltham, Hawera, and Stratford. THE CATERPILLAR PEST. INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. Christchurch, April 11. A local scientist has 'made some interesting observations on the caterpillar pest that did such extensive damage to the crops in Canterbury lately.' He collected fifty, placed them in a box with two inches of earth at the bottom, and covered it with glass to facilitate observation. In 2i hours every caterpillar had sunk into the soil, in seven days every one was a chrysalis, in 28 days the batch had been converted into moths of a slatygrey colour, having four wings. With the moths appeared several blue flies, not unlike blow-flies, but smaller and more active. About one-third of the chrysalides had been destroyed by ■ a maggot, and the scientist concluded that the blue fly was the natural enemy of the pest, laid its egg on the caterpillar's back, and the egg was hatched out underground.

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. Auckland, April 11. In reply to a cablegram inquiring the prospects of the United States Shipping Subsidy Bill and the reinstatement of the San Francisco mail service, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce received a reply stating that there would be no favourable legislation this Congress. • .■■■'■■ ' .

TWO BOYS ARRESTED. : Wanganui, April 11. Two Email boys were arrested this morning on a charge of breaking and entering local, business premises yesterday morning. It is alleged that they effected an entrance' through windows from, a bookseller's store, and took small, articles and lollies' and cigarettes, froin, a'.wholesale store. . '' ' ; .' ,-,

. "RINGING THE CHANGES."/ ' : Greymoirth, April li. Owen Kelly, charged with "ringing the changes" in two hotels, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. His mate, Connelly, was discharged. Another charge is pending. .

THE TUAHINE LIGHT. .; i Gisborne, April 11. The Marine Department, having received an engineer's report that the position of the Tuahine light is unsafe owing to the slips in the cliff, ordered its dismantlement, which was commenced today. The Harbour Board to-day decided to leave it to the Department to select' a new site. •.'■■-. THE WEATHER. ' .•:'■ . ■ Christchurch, April 11. Following on yesterday's southerly Wow, there was a sharp fall in the temperature last night, and frost played havoc with tender plants, in the open. SEQUEL TO RECENT FLOODS. Gisborne, April 11. At a meeting of the Land Board to-day a number of Crown tenants applied for a rebate of. rent on account of damage sustained by the recent flood. The board has deferred its reply pending an inspection of the holdings. A SWAGGEB'S DEATH. Gore, April 11. The body of a swagger has teen found in the Poinahaka Biver, near Kelso. It has been identified as that of Alex. Minto, of South Dunedin, aged apparently about iO. ' - ; ■