NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1446, 22 May 1912, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

{By Telocraph—Press Association.) _$ CRIMINAL SESSIONS. Auckland, May 21. At tho Supremo Court to-day, a youii» jforeigner named Paul Halley 'pleaded ■ pot guilty to a charge of assaulting (Arthur Thomas, and causing liim bodily • parni. His Honour thought tho prisoner's fict was an impulsive one, and imposed a fine of .£2O. Richard Wilson, for indecent Jissault, was sent to gaol for five years, : ARBITRATION SITTINGS. Ounedin,' May 21. .. The Arbitration Court will sit m Gisjborne on June 17, and in Wellington on fluno 2i. Sittings will bo held in Christchurch and Punedin immediately afterwards, but tho dates art* not yet ar« , tanged. HOCKEYISTS AND BADEN-POWELL. , ~ Ounsdin, May 21. ! At a meeting of tho Otago Hockey Association to-night, a motion was carried acceding to tho request of the. Defence Department that the association forego its matches on Juno 1 to enable a review of Junior Cadets and P°y, Scouts by Sir B. Baden-Powell to j)9 held. AUCKLAND HARBOUR. Auckland, May 21. A review of tho operations of the Auckland Harbour Board during the past financial year was giveu by the chairman (Mr. J. H. Gunson) at tho adjourned annual meeting of tho board to-day. Tho chairman said the year's operations had been marked by both sound finance and a distinct advance in the rapid development of tho facilities of the port. Die net revenue was. .£125,294, this being double tho amount for tho year 1902. The increase in the jic.t revenue over the year 1910 amounted to ,£5257. The neli profit realised was .£10.821, although tinlargo amount of d£26,606 was written off for depreciation. The board assets, >vhich to-day aro valued at over .£2,000,000, wero valued nt December 31, 5911, at *C 1,960,076, which provides a surplus of .£675,839 over liabilities. KILLED BY A TRAM. i . Auckland, May 21. ' A fatal accident occurred in Beach ?load to-night, when Mr. Hy. Alexander, fi retired sea captain, aged 74 years, met (his death through being knocked down py a tramear. Somo little timo ago Mr. {Alexander fell off a tramear, receiving such injuries as necessitated his detention in tho hospital, and this was his first time out. Ho was very short-sighted, especially at dusk, and as he was crossing tho road lie failed to notice an apprcaching caT, and was knocked down. jHe was taken to a chemist's shop, where Is doctor pronounced life extinct.

j GUN CHAMPIONSHIPS. ? ' Wanganui, May 21. ) The New Zealand Gun Club's championship meeting commenced to-day in fine weather. The <£100 handicap was decided to-day, resulting in 11. Douglas and J. A. Casey dividing the first 'fourteen kills each. Tiio New Zealand championship will bo fired to-morrow, inhere aro a record number of entries.

} DUNEDIN FATALITY. Dunedin, May 21. /"The circumstances surrounding tho death of Mr. James W. Gumming, who died on Saturday, and whose funeral had to bo postponed yesterday, were the Subject of an inquiry by Mr. Graham (coroner) this afternoon. Dr. Roberts and Dr. W. Marshall ■Macdonald gave evidence that death was due to a tumour on the brain.

Dr. de Lautour .expressed the opinion that death was due to of the brain, but he contended that this Vas caused by sewer gas poison, and that death was not duo to tho existence of •the tumour. .. .. ... ■ j Tho coroner returned a verdict: that (Tenth was due to haemorrhage of the Jjraiit, caused by the tumour, and that fee«er gas was not tho cause of death, DELIRIUM TREMENS CASES. Timaru, May .21. Much inconvenience has been experienced from time to tirao through parents suffering from delirium tremens being sent to the hospital, where no spec ; al suitable provision is made for violent Cases. The Inspector-General now writes that the Department is willing to assist boards to provide such accommodation, imd also to contribute to tho expenses of Special attention. Tho Timaru Board will apply for a grant to erect a padded ceil. INVERCARGILL BOROUGH. Invercargill, May 21. The election to fill tho vacancy on the council caused by the resignation of Mr. Scandrett (now Mayor) resulted in Mr. T. D'Bryne (Labour), winning by a majority of 221 votes over the nearest competitor, Mr. 11. Mair. There were four candidates. Only 1039 votes out of ever 7000 .were cast, ' THE REFORM LEAGUE. Auckland, May 21. A branch of tho Reform League has been formed in tho Waitomata olectorate, to be affiliated to tho Auckland Provincial ißeform League. DYNAMITING FISH. . Auckland, May; 21. The killing of by setting oil' explosives in the water was admitted this morning at tho Police Court by James 11. Speedy of Chelsea, who was charged with perpetrating tho offence on January 29 and February 2. Accused was' fined £!> and 28s. costs on the first charge, and ordered to pay 28s. cost on tho second one. THE BENZINE SHORTAGE. Auckland, May 21. Prices for benzine continue to rule high, tho average retail prico being from 16s. to ,£1 per case, as against tho usual lis. lid. Practically all tho stores which make a practice of selling benzine have got rid of their last drop, and car and garage proprietors aro selling only to their regular customers. Tho Hansa liner Ilohcnfels is duo from New York on Thursday with 51)00 cases for Auckland,- but it is doubtful whether this is sufficient to relievo tho shortage until a further supply arrives by the Anglo-Saxon in July. ' FAINTING FIT AND SEQUEL. Greymouth, May 21. Margaret Cassidy, it young married woman residing near I'aroa, was found dead last night, having fallen into a fireplace on Sunday night in a laintiug fit., ±ler husband, Patrick Cassidy, has been away since February. Two children, aged six and two years, wave found in bed.! Deceased was tho daughter of Mr. Spiers, of Foxton, and was well respected here. There are no suspicious circumstances. 'An inquest will bo held this afternoon. Greyrnouth, May 21. An inquest was held to-day touching the death of Mrs. Cassidv, who was found dead'at Paroa last night. Tho evidence showed that tho deceased had evidently fainted and fell into a lire. A verdict at /loath from suffocation was returned, WORKERS'HOME SITES. Hamilton, May 21. General satisfaction is expressed locally at tho Uovoniment.'s acquisition of ten acres of Forest. Lake ICslal.c ior subdivision into quart-iT-acro sections for workers' homes. The estate lies in close proximity lo Hamilton and PrankNu.