NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By TclcErapb-Prc6s Association,) * ; SAWMILL IN FLAMES. Christchurch, January 15. A liltlo before 7,30 this morning th« Kniapoi Firo lirigado turned out to a fire in the lvaiapoi Shipping and Trading Company's sawmill, at tho back of Hon. sen's buildings, in Charles Street. . The mill—a largo corrugated iron struo. lure, conlviiniiiff n good ileal of timber— mas a mass of (lames, and tho brigade centred its attention on the adjoining buildings. These were mostly «s»»Js and were considerably damaged. 'l ! ho mill was gutted, and the boiler and engine were rendered useless. Tho other machinery was also destroyed. HISTORIC HALL BURNT. Auckland, January 15. Holy Trinity Parish Hall, at Otubulin, was destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon.' The hall and furniture, including a piano,, lrcre insured for .£l9O. The hull was a very old land, mark, having been built at the timo that the Imperial troops wore camped at Otahuhu. - BETTING.MEN FINED; Auckland, January 15. At the Police Court this morning, b» foro Mr. E, C. G'utten,. S.M., Robert Powell was charged that, at Alexandra Park on January 6, be made bets with persona on the Telegraph Handicap, the payments of Which depended on" tlio. workill;; of the tctalisiitor. After hearing tho evidence, his Worship held : that there must be a conviction; . Lauehlan Gcorgo Dunn pleaded guilty to making I tots lit Alexandra Park rate- 1 course, and Humphrey.. Herring pleaded guilty to piaking bsts at Ellerslie. racecourse on December 29. Tho, accused were fined JL'2O and 7s. costs cnch. NEW TOURIST SERVICE. Timaru, January 15; The Mount Cook motor servicc; which' last season ran .to I'einb'roko oil Lak« Wanaka, is to bo extended to Quteiistown. Tho first ear goes through on January 22. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie will prob--ably lilakc U6e of. the return car to visit Mount Cook. The trip from Faiflio or Mount Cook to Queeusbfru will .'occupy two days, and the route is shid to bo varied and picturesque, and well worth doing. The service will be. a 'weekly ohe. Mount Cook has attracted niaiiy visitors' this season, and four and- fivo cars at* sometimes ' required' from l'aii'lie. SPORTS PROTECTION, Palmerst6n,\Jaiiuary 15. A largely-attended meeting, representative of all the local, sporting bodies, was hold last night to form a local branch of tho Sports Protection League. Mr. 11. Cooper presided. After Mr. A. A. Paape, organising secretary, had'outlined the aims and objects of the league, it was decided to form a branch in Palmerston. Mr. D. Biiick', M.P., was clected patron, 1 Dr. O'Brien president, and twenty-one vice-presidents wero also elected, these comprising prominent local residents. A committee of fivo was appointed, with Mr. E. W. Watson' as secretary. It was decided to bnter upon a vigorous membership campaign. UNITARIANISM. Timaru, January 15. Tho Rev. Mr. Chappie and Mr. G, Wells (secretary of the Timaru Unitarian Conference) have' b&n ■ appointed to attend tho'Unitarian Conference at Auckland next month. ■ ;- REFORMATIVE TREATMENT.. .Auckland, January 15. At'tlio Police. Court to-day, a lad, \vho admil.tod the theft of some money from the clothes of a man who was in for a swiiii, was sentenced to reformative treatment for a period riot exceeding two years. ... . ' AN AUCKLAND RECORD. Auckland, January 15. , Official figures show that during the past year the erection of 113 business premises aaid 1106 dwellings was entered upon necessitating a record expenditure oi -£1,047,304. . CHILD DROWNED. Auckland, January 15. While playing on the river bank at Huiitly to-day Gavin M'V.ie, aged two years and eight months, fell over tho bank and was drowned. Deceased's father is an engine-driver at Ralphs. BURGLARS BUSY. . Auckland, January 15. Burglars have busy in Auckland of late and several successful and unsuccessful attempts to deprive citizens of property have been nladb. lii one instanea a 'tailor's shop was broken into and suits valued at between .£3O and XlO taken. - SUNDAY SALES, Duncdin, January 15. • At the Police. Court this morning. Charles Biilwer, a shopkeeper, filled ss. and costs on a . charge of. Sunday trading, ho having sold soft'.drinks in view of a public place. Defendant, who was. a fish and supper-room, proprietor, had also sold, other articles which were supplied to be taken away.'. CHEMISTS' OPIUM. Dunedin, January 15. Alfred T. Price, C. W. Hawkins, and Alfred Ondaille, chemists, were fined,, the first-named two £o, alid the' last-named .£lO, on charges of failing to enter in their book particulars relating to the purchase of opium. ... RUSSIAN COLONISTS. , Invcrcargill, January 15. Among the passengers. who arrived at tho Bluff by tho Manuka to-day is a familv of Russians possessed of capital, who intend settling in Southland. THE WORK OF A "WESTERLY." Gore, January 15. ' A strong westerly,gale was in ovidencv this morning. Minor damages to many properties is reported. henccs : \\ere blown down, and old outbuildings demolished. A plate-glass window, valued at otlS, in Christie Bros.' shop was destroyed. .Tho roof of a building once used as a foundry was-lifted up. bodily, and deposited a chain away, ..Gardens gonorally, and fruit trees especially, suffered heavily. WAIRAU SEAT. Blenheim, January 15. A petition was lodged torday against Mr. K. M'Callum's, election for tho Wairau seat in tho House' of Representatives, . RAILWAY CbTTAGE BURNT. Eketahuna, January 15. ' .A ifive-roomed .railway cottage .in the railway yards, occupied , by G. Southby, was destroyed,.by fire at .3' o'clock oh Sunday nioniiug, with its contents. Tin occupants were away. Tho.causo of. thi fire is unknown. The furniture was in. surcd for £50 in tho Yorkshire Ofiico. BRIEF MENTION. Timaru, January 15. Four seamen who absconded from tho steamer Clan MacLarcn (now on her way to Auckland) wore arrested in the eountry, and have been remanded to Wellington. ' Timaru, January 15. . There has been'a long spell of dull showery weather; 1.73 inches of rain fell thin month. It lias now given place to a hot drying nor'-wester..