NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 17 January 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Teleeraph—Presß Association.) ♦ CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. Auckland, January IG. A charge- of manslaughter 'against a inotor-ear driver named Rhodes Battye was heard in the Police Court to-day. The case arose out of the death ot' John Alexander M'Connell on December 19. M'Connell died utter receiving injuries resulting from a collision with a tram]>olc by the motor-cur, in which he was a passenger, and whirh Battye _wns- driving. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. Bail in one surety of .EIOO was allowed. CHILD FATALLY BURNED. Dunedin, January 10. A five-year-old girl named Marjory Campbell was the victim of a fatal accident at Mosgiel to-day. While she was lighting matches her Nothing caught fire, and she was so severely burned that death ensued shortly afterwards. METHODIST UNION. Christchurch, January IG. At the Primitive Methodist Couierence the arrangements for talcing a vote on tiio question of union with the .Methodist Church wis discussed. It was agreed that all church members of 18 years and upwards should be entitled to vote. It was decided to recommend that both Churches should appoint district committees to consider and report on the adjustment of boundaries and so forth. It was agreed that the conference of 10!2 bo recommended to make provision for the examination of candidates for the Ministry in 1913 by a committee repres.'uting both Churches. FIRE AT BURNETT'S FACE. Westport, January IG. The Alpine Hotel (twelve rooms), at Burnett's Face, with its contents, was burnt to the ground last night. There is no clue as to the origin of tho fire. The insurances on the building (owned by Mrs. Ryan) are .£HOO in the Standard office, and the stock, furniture, etc., for .£IOO in the Alliance office. 'James Leal'- 1 mouth was the licensee of the hotel. OVERPROOF HOP BEER. Thames, January 16. In three cases of failing to notify the Clerk of the Court of consignments of liquor for a No-License district, a defendant was fined from 10s. up to ,£!. Mary Ryan and William Johnson were fined illO each for brewing overproof hop beer. THE TOTALISATOR, Palmerston North. January 16. The New South Wales T'otalisator Commission concluded its sittings to-day in Palmerston, the evidence given being on tho lines of that previously tendered in other parts. The commissioners proceed to Wellington to-morrow. Pour witnesses were examined here to-<lay, including a member of the Sports Protection Association. One of the commissioners expressed regret that people who were'supposed to safeguard tho morals of the community had not come forward to give evidence. The proceedings were not open to the press, but it is undrestood that tho evidence was almost entirely favourable to the totalisator. AUCKLAND PORT SOUNDINGS. Auckland, January IG. Tho harbourmaster reported to the Harbour Board to-day that, up to date, just on three square miles of tlie eastern extension of harbour survey had been sounded over. No new rocks had been found. Tho average depth of water found was slightly less than that shown oil tho Admiralty Chart.