NEW ZEALAND NEWS*

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1357, 7 February 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS*

<By I'clcgrnph-l'rcßs Association.)

:SUPS WHILE HANGING PICTURE. GISEORNE MAN BURNT OUT. '. Gisborne, February 0, Firo dcstroyed'afivVroomed dwelling in Stout Street, owned by Mrs. Jeuniugsnnd. occupied bv Mr. 11. Stevenson, this evening Mr. Stevenson was hanging pictures, and knocked over a lamp owing to the step ladder falling. This caused tho blaze. Nothing was saved, lhe furniture was insured for JCI7S in a Wellington office, the name of which is not available. The insurance on the house was not ascortainable. ." ' ; , ' Two hours previously firo destroyed a washhouse at the rear of premises in Wellington Street; doing damage to the pxtent of JC2O. The house was saved by tlie prompt action-of Constable Johnstop iu getting a hand reel to work. PALMERSTON COURT CASES. Palmcrston North, February C. In the Supreme Court to-day, before the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, John, Cairns was acquitted on a charge of impersonation at Taihape, and of making a falso statement to the deputy-returning officer of tho Wniniarino electoral district, W. T. Bowater was charged with a breach of the Bankruptcy Act, in that h<3 obtained property, valued at JSM 15s. Gd. from Abraham and Williams by a false statement of his affairs. Tlie evidence was concluded to-night, and tho.legal argument will 1)0 heard to-morrow morning. Eni'iy Jane Chow was granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in throe months, from her husband, Robert Chow, on the ground of dotortion. COLLAPSED SUDDENLY. Auckland, February 6. A man, who had given his name aa Flood when inquiring for a room at the Agency, died suddenly in the city to-day. Deceased was apparently about from 50 to 55 years of «ge. DIVORCE CASES. Auckland, February 6. In the Supremo Court decrees nisi were granted in the following cases, on 'tin ground of misconduct:—Against Henry Elliott (wife's petition); Edith Evelyn Barrett v. Ernest Norton Barrett ■ and Rose Darnley; Winifred Griggs -,v. Alfred John Griggs! John Louis Hansen v. Mar garet Jauo Hansen. ■ TIMARU SESSIONS. Timaru, February 6. At tho Supreme Court, only one criminal case was completed to-day. W. Evans, a youiig .man with one leg, was convicted of house-breaking and thefts at Rakaia and Washdyke. A list of previous convictions i'or like offences was produced, and Judge Denniston sentenced him to five years' imprisonment and declared him a habitual criminal. A. charge of theft of a bicycle against W. N. Clausen, over which the jury disagreed last session, was begun, but not completed. FIREMAN FOUND DEAD. Chrtstchurch, February 6. A man named Thomas Hoeligan; who had'been living for the past two or three ilays in a fireman's batch near Gladstone Pier, at 'Lytteltop, was fbund dead in his bed this morning. Hecligan, who had had a somewhat chequered career, had boon employed as a trimmer on the ferry steamer Maori, but on Saturday night he complained- of feeling unwell, and did not go away in the vessel. Hβ took un his. quarters at the batch, and just'betore retiring last night ho told ono of his mates that he was bad, and was given a nip. of gin. Ho'went to bed, and evidently died in. his sleep. 'His mate Went to call him this morning, but getting no answer, found Hecligan dead. THE GRANITY TRAGEDY. Westport, February 6. The fire at Granity Creek, near Westport, by which a two-storied hotel contaiiung thirt.y-nvo rooms was destroyed, and James Hopkins, labourer, burnt to death, was • responsible for a second death. James Martin, the licensee (who was burnt in endeavouring to rescue his papers), died in the Westport Hospital this morning. The inquest showed, that when Hopkins was put fo' bed ho was not quite sober. Most of the inmates of tho hotel lost nearly nil their personal belongings. The following were the insurances on tho building (Sirs. Watson's):—£looo in tho State office, and ,£SOO in the Standard. On the stock-in-trade, furniture, and effects (J. H. Martin's), .£350 ui the Commercial Union oflice. Private furniture, including a piano (Mrs. Martin's), JE2OO in tho Commercial Union oflice. On the hall, damaged (Mrs. Watson's), .£250 ir the Commercial Union office. BURNT BOARDINGHOUSE. Rotorua, February 6, At 3 o'clock this morning the Rocky Nook boardinghouse, containing about twenty rooms, was partially gutted by firo. There was very" little furniture in tho main building. The portion affected was saved. The house was owned by Mr. James Vaughan and occupied by Mr. J. Coleman. It was insured in tho Sun office for .£l9O, aud the furniture in the Phoenix for £i'2O. The building was an old one. Only two boarders occupied tht portion burnt. ASYLUM SITE CHANGED. Auckland, February 6. Word was this afternoon received to the effect that. the Minister in charge-■ of Hospitals has decided to abandon the idea of erecting the new mental hospital on the site at Point Chevalier to which so much objection had been taken. Tho building will bo erected somewhere on the 20(1 acres surrounding tho existirif hospital at Avondale.