NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Teleeraph—Press Association.)

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1389, 15 March 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Teleeraph—Press Association.)

RELIABILITY TRIAL. Christchurch, March 14, Tho Canterbury Automobile Associm tiou's annual-reliability trial for touring cara starts to-morrow morning. Tho routa is from Christchurch to Haumer, via Ox. ford, returning on Saturday, via Cheviot. Twenty-eight cars will compete.

SUPREME COURT. Gisborne, March 14. At the Supremo Court, James Patterson was found guilty of cattlo stealing and remanded till to-morrow for sentence Mabel Mercditb <les Barrcs petitioned for divorco from Frederick Stuart des Banes, on tho grounds of desertion and misconduct. A decree nisi, to be mado absolute in threo mouths, was granted, petitioner to have custody of tho children.

FATAL ACCIDENT. Christchurch, March H. William Gifford, tho young man who fell off a train at Lyltolton on Tuesday week and received severe injuries, died all tho Hospital this morning.

DRUIDS. Dunedin, March 11. The fifteenth annual meeting of tho Dis« trict Grand Lodgo of Otago and Southland of tho United Ancient Order of Druids was held to-day. Dro. Jas. Mitchell (District Grand President) was in tho chair, and 48 delegates were present. The chairman announced that a charter raising tho District Grand Lodge to tho status of a. Grand Lodge had been granted by tho Grand Lodgo of Australia. The charter was then presented by the grand oflioers of tho Canterbury district. In an address, the president slated that the membership had increased by 119 during the year, making, with tho threo new lodges opened in Southland, an increase of 237 members, bringing the total up to 2917. He expressed regret ut tho increase iu the number of uufinancial members. Accumulated funds amounted to JC3G.338, as compared with .£33,291 a year ago. Death claims absorbed .£ll4O, as against tho previouj year.

AUCKLAND MAYORALTY. Auckland, March 14. More than ordinary interest is likely to centre in the Mayoral elections tin's year. In the city those unions which support the Federation of Labour aro casting about for a candidate (o opposo the present Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr), but so far no pronouncement has been made, though several names have been suggested. This morning tho Hon. Geo. Fowlds stated that lie had informed his friends who had been urging him to accept nomination for tho Mayoralty that he would bo unable to comply with their request.

MISSING SEAMAN. Wcstport, March 14. There are no tidings of John Grauvillo, a seaman on tho steamer' Petone, who lias been missing since Monday, night. It is feared bo has been drowned in th» Bullcr River. Ho was an Englishman, about twenty-six years of age, and single. Ho was formerly on tho steamer Breeze, and joined tho Petone at Lytlolton on tho 6th inst.

BENZINE EXPLOSION-DAMAGEB AWARDED. Dunedin, March 14. Mr. Widdowson, R.M., to-day gave deferred judgment for the plaintiffs for injuries received by an explosion in tho hold of s.s. Brcezo while lying in dock at Port Chalmers on September 18 last. Plaintiffs were employees in the firm of Stevenson and Cook, .ships' engineers, but tho magistrate held that tho Canterbury Steamship Company, owners of th< Breeze, woro liable, owing to their •neglect, hereby tho benzino explosion was cansed by ignition from a candle necessary for tho 'men to work by. Judgment wan given for Cottle for .£SO, and costs, Healey and Holdcn .£3O each. Notice of appeal was given.

OPOSSUMS-AND PARADISE DUCKS. Timaru, March 14. Tho South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society desire leave to kill opossums (limited in number by license) in one or two bush localities where they aro mischicvous in gardens; and also Parodist ducks, which aro said to bo too numcrouo in the Mackenzie, Country.

THE HON. T. MACKENZIE. Timaru, March 14. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie arrived thi» afternoon from Ouecnstown by the Mount Cook Motor Service, which now maintain! a rcgulnr servico between Fairlie and Quesnstown, with a branch from Piikakl to Mount Cook. About half the visitors to Mount Cook this season have taken (hi inland trip ono way or tho other. 11l Minister attended the opening of tha Coronation Band Rotunda in the gardens, and then went on to Christchurcli, and ■Wellington. The Minister spoke highly of the inland trip for variety of scenery.

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

Auckland, March 14. An area in the Domain has been adopted as the' site for the Industrial Exhibition to bo held in Auckland next year. The selection is conditional upon tho con'sent of the City Council, and upon tho enactment of special legislation.