NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1432, 6 May 1912, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telezrapb-Preis Aaaoclatlon.) ACCIDENT TO A MINER. Dunedin, May 5. Simon Weather-all, a miner employed in Craig's conlmino at Coal Creek, met with n bad accident ou h'riday, and was brought to the Dunedin Hospital. His spine is injured, 'and his condition is serious. ' FOUND DEAD IN A HUT. Dunedin, May 5. A man named Michael O'Sullivau, about Fo years of ago, wits found dead this morning in a hut"; in which he resided, and situated alongside of Messrs. Mill and Co.'s coalyard, .Rattray Street. Apparently he had thrown down a match, which set fira to » sack on the iloor. A carter in the employ of the firm noticed thut Emoke was issuing from the hut, and ho broke open the door and extinguished the flames. He returned to the hut when the smoko cleared away, and found O'Sullivan in a corner dead. BOROUGH VALUATION. Gisborne, May 5. The revaluation of the borough has (list boon completed by the Valuation Department. The total rateable valuation of tho borough, subject to revision by the Assessment Court, shows an increase- of over a quarter of a million, and is set down as follows :-1912, .fi1.337.3a1; Mil. increase .£207,351. GIG PRICES FOR DAIRY FARMS. Pahiatua, May 5. An important sale by auction of small dairy farms was held hero yesterday, when eight sections in the Mangatamoka lilock, near Hamua, ranging from 88 to 80 acres, were offered, and were nil sold at prioes ranging from .£ls 15s. up to £p 10s. per acre. The purchase money paid for the eight sections totals J210,71G 10s. DWELLING-HOUSE DESTROYED. Dunedin, May' 5. A fire occurred in a two-storied house occupied by Mr. James Bottl, in Beresford Street, early this morning, tho houso being almost entirely destroyed. The occupants, Mr. Bottl, his wife, six children, and two countrymen of Bottl's, escaped with great difficulty, practically nothing being saved. There was no. insurance on the furniture. The house was owned by Mr. Coles, of Onehunga, The insurances are not available. UNPROTECTED STEAMER HOLDS.Auckland, May 4. Henry Morris Anderson, a _ waterside worker, married, aged forty-six, died at the hospital from injuries received through falling down the hold of the steamer Mokoia on April 2G. - At the inquest a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone, was returned. The jury added a recommending that all steamship companies should allow sufficient rimo to replace parts of hatches, and that somo person Ehould be responsible for carrying out this work. A DISASTROUS WHIRLWIND. Eketahuna, May i. A new residonce in course of erection for Mr. Frank Robinson, at Haunui,- was struck by a whirlwind and pmctically demolished. The roof was torn off and portions of it carried a considerable distance away, while tho chimney was almost razed to the ground. The building was nearly completed. ALLEGED STEAMER THEFTS. . - Auckland, May i. John Norman Rigg, aged 21, and Robert Poraory, aged 17, were arrested yesterday, charged with the theft of a steward's portmanteau containing articles worth .£6O, aboard the Aorangi, in Wellington yesterday, week. Pomery was employed on tho boat, while Rigg was hotel porter. Both disappeared after tho theft, and were traced to Auckland. They were remanded to appear at Wellington. STEAMER IN HEAVY WEATHER. Napier, May i. Tho Maoriland Company's steamer Holmdale, which left Gisborne a week ago for Greymouth, put into port this morning short of coal. She experienced a severe buffeting, especially in the vicinity of Cape Palliser, where she was hove to for some time. Being unable to make Wellington, she was obliged to run back to Napier. Her propeller worked loose, and the steamer was slipped here' to remedy the defect. ' She resumes her voyage tomorrow.

TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD DROWNED. New Plymouth, May 4. The two-year-old son of Mr. Norman Sliogren, manager of the Timarn Creamery, near Okato, fell into a water-race yesterday and was drowned. A FRUITLESS INQUIRY. Christchurch, May 4. An inquiry concerning , the fire which destroyed Lloyd's store, the Oddfellows' Hall, and another building at Woodeud on March 25, was concluded to-day. The coroner found thore was no evidence to 6how how the, fire had originated. HOKITIKA HARBOUR. Hokitika, May 3. Mr. H. L. Mitchell was re-elected chairman of the Hokitika Harbour Board tonight. In the course of a short address ho stated that the works tit present being carried out by Mr. H. 1 , . Toogood, the board's engineer, and which wore only half completed, already promised to bring about a great improvement in the entrance to tho harbour. Ho said he did not son any reason why in the near.future the whole of their largo production of eawn timber should not be exported from Hokilika direct. The anticipated revenue of the board would amply cover the charges for interest and sinlriiig fund without thfi striking of any rato in connection with tho harbour improvement loan.