NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1334, 11 January 1912, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

My Teleeraph—Press Association.) ♦—; ' THE MARAROA'S MISHAP. Christchurch, January 10. Tho work of repairing the thrust-block' of tho tiniou Company s Mararoa, which was fractured on Monday evening, was completed by Messrs. Anderson, Ltd., this' morning, and the block was removed to the vessel for fitting. Subsequently Mr. A. Cameron, Inspector of Machinery, insneoted the work, and expressed himself highly pleased with tho manner in which it had been done.

Hie Mararoa will take up lier usual Tunning to-night for-Wellington, leaving Lyttclton on Ihe arrival of Iho 5.25 p.m. traau from Christchurch.

UNSOBER BUGGY PARTY, Nelson, January 10. An inquest touching tho death of Wnu Cnssidy, who died as a result of a trap nccidcut,. while driving with others from ■ inkaka to Tnrakolio on December 11, ' concluded to-day, when the jurv returned a verdict that deceased met his death ; through falling from the buggy while in- ■ toxicatcd. lira jury added a rider to ;■ ' the- effect that the- evidence was most un- i: satisfactory, as most of the witnesses < \yere under the,influence of liquor at tlio [ time of the accident. They considered there were grounds for further investiga- j tious. , .. , ) MINISTER GOES SOUTH. ■. • ChristchuCch,- January* Ik [ , The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, accompanied by Mr. L. B. Johnson (private secretary) and Mr. B. Jf. Wilson (Director of Tourist'and Health Kosorb), arrived from Wellington this morning, nnd left in the afternoon for Hannier, where he will recoive a deputation to-morrow. The Minister- returns to Christchurch on Friday, aad willbo present probably at the social which is to bo tendered to : Mr. Witty that eraaing. ' ' GENERAL: LABOURERS,*;' c " Christciuirch, January 10. At a raeoting of the General Labourers' Union, it "was reported that (ho ballot on tho question of the union joining the New Zealand Federation of Labour '(Registered) had resulted in the. : proposal being carried. Tho voting was as follows:—In favour.of joining, 217; against, 59. .■■■'■ , ' 'AU'CKLAND'S SHIPPING." '*" ' Auckland, January 10. . The number of overseas vessels to visit Auckland during the past year constitutes a record. The total was 294 vessels, with tonnago of 734,711. Of these MB were steamers, and 48 sailors. In 1910 a total of 2G7 overseas vessels visited tho port, . \ with tonnngo of 9'J,002. Included in the ■ ■" figures for tho nnst year were scvcb Scandinavian traders.

A MUCH-TRAVELLED BOTTLE," .... Auckland, January 10. A boltlo has been picked up> near ■■the • • <■. .Waikatp Heads! containing .letters' show- „""" "' ing it. was thrown overboard, oh. ber 30, 1901, from tho s.s. .' Moravian, South Indian Oceiiu. In tho letter it suyg "This bottle was thrown over on December 30," also that tho ship was making ; ~, a wide circle, being then within two days y of Australia. ' ■

THE CLOUSTON BOND AFFAIR. • Blenheim, January 10. After tho two days' sitting, of..tho Court in connection with the Clouslon bond burglary, James Haydon, William Stophonson, and William Kennedy wero committed for trial ou charges of breaking and entering tho bond. Tho charge, against John Wilson was dismissed. _ An-; other man named Brimer was committed for trial on a charge of receiving tho poods, knowing them to have been stolon.. Frank Campbell was-also committodrfor,,- . trial on a similar charge. Bail was al-';: lowed in each case.. ■':.'.*''.'

THE PERCIVAL MYSTERY. ' Auckland, January 10. . So far, no further traco lins been found of Ida Percival, who wont amissiug from the Mokoia on Friday morning." There was a rumour to the effect that the young lady had been ashore on Friday, but tins proved to bo unfounded. PORT CHARLES FATALITY, Auckland, January 10. Word has been received in Coromaudel that the oighteon-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Turner, of Port Charles, was drowned in a well on Monday afternoon, A THROWER OF EGGS. , Nelson, January Iβ, At the Magistrate's Court, a woman named Thomasou, wife of a publican, was fined ss. for throwing an egg ifu to tho dress of a No-License advocate at a streot meeting preceding the elections. Sho pleaded tiiat sho threw tho egg at: ;i ni'cklcr, but that it accidentally struck a temperance advocate. GREENM.EADOWS FIRE. Napier, .Tanunry 10. A six-roomed dwejling at Greenmendows, ownotl by Mrs. J. Iv. Martin, and occupied by J. Peters, was totally destroyed by firo early this morning. Nothing was saved. Tlie building was insured for ,CMfl, unci tho furniture for .£IOO, in the United Office. TIMARU TRADE. Timaru, January 10. The bade- rotnrns at Timaru for tho year just closed exceeded those of any previous year. Merchandise dealt wilu amounted to 185,152 tons, while. Gon.lt.!. carcasses of frozon mutton, 11,U0 bales wool, and 456,299 burials of grain were osporlod. Shipping dues ajiiouutod to •£27,814, being higher than those of any previous venr. Tho total reveuuoamouiiu. od to ' ■ ' ~.:..