NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

IBj Telecraph-Press Association.) NAPIER-WELLINGTON EXPRESS. . . , ~ Napier, Hay 28. A special meeting of tho CJiambcr of Commerce was held yesterday to protest against tho movement to divert the Ni>-pier-Wellingioii express from the Manav.atu roiito back to the Wairarapa. In the course of discussion it; was pointed out I hat while tl-,0 Napier people have been agitating for "speeding up" of the trains with a view to culling down Ihe time occupied on Iho journey between Napier and Wellington, tho proposed diversion would mean extending the timo from !) hours 32 minutes to 1U hours 50 minutes. A deputation was appointed to interview Mr. .Myers to-morrow and emphatically protest against the proposal. TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. Palmerston North, May 28. A terrifying experience befel a' Longhum settler and his wife yesterday afternoon. Potato-picking was in progress in a field, and they were preparing to return homo with a pony and c<irf, owing to tho approach of a thunderstorm* Tho pony had just been ha.riios.sed, and the woman had taken tho reins, when a vivid (lash of lightning occurred. Tho pony reared up and foil dead, while both the man and his wife were temporarily blinded. On recovering their sight, a'fter tho j lapse of about iifteen minutes, they found tho pony had received tho shock in his eyes, which were destroyed. MANAGER'S BOOKS AWRY, Christchurch, May 28. Alexander Marshall, late manager oi the Christchurch branch of Stewart Dawson and Company's business, pleaded guilty to-day to the theft of .£IOO, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The evidence showed a shortage of .£790 had been discovered, which ae cusod's friends refunded. Subsequently si further shortage was discovered, wh'iet was the basis of tho present charge. DRINK AND DRUGS. Wannanui, May 28. Evidence at tho inquest on the bodj of Thomas O'Neill, wlioso death on tin Parapara llond, 35 miles inland of Wa nganui, was reported yesterday, was U the eilc-ct that the deceased had indictee serious injuries, to his stomach with ; pocket knife whilst in a stale of tern porary insanity. He had not been drink, ing heavily, but had ioken chiorodyne No causa was assigned for tho deed. MAORI WAR MONUMENT. Hawera, May 29. An interesting function took place at Normanby to-day, when the Premier (the Hon. T. Mackenzie), in the presence o! a large gathering of veterans and militar; settlers, unveiled a cairn in the Waip Cemetery and a monument in Victor!: Park, erected to commemorate the mem ory of the soldiers who fell in the Maor War. Addresses appropriate to the occa sion were made bv Mr. Mackenzie, tin promoters of the movement, am ministers of religion, the keynote o! which was the desirableness of tho stil further cementing together of the t\v< races. Mr. Mackenzie- assured those pre sent that nothing would 1)6 lacking oi his part to bring about so desirable < consummation. BUSH FATALITY. Auckland, May 30. A man named Ernest Slares lias been killed while working in the bush at Manttnui. INQUEST AT DUNEDIN. Dunedin, May 29. At Ihe inquest on the bodv of Charles Downie, who was found dead on Monday night, the evidence showed that deceased had been drinking a good deal since he | came into town on Thursday. Medical oviI denco was to the effect that death was due "to sudden heart failure,' tho result of alcoholism and exhaustion. A verdict was returned in accordance, with the medical evidence. KICKED BY A HORSE. Auckland, May 29. A boy named Bertio Phillips, H years of age," residing at Komuera, died to-day at a private hospital. He was admitted on Friday last suffering from a fractured skull, caused by a lack from a horse. CLAIM ON AUCKLAND CAR CO. Auckland, May 28. While on her way to Grey Lynn on Oc tober 30 last, .Mrs. A. M. Brown had tli< misfortune to fall from a tramcar, i -and. as a result of her mishap, laid an information against the Auckland Tramway; Co., Ltd., claiming a sum of J350 damages. The hearing of tiie case was combefore Mr. Justice Edwards al the Supreme Court to-day. The noint tc be decided was whether the accident occurred through the negligence of the niotorman in starting the car before Mrs Brown had alighted, or whether Mrs Brown's own carelessness, in quitting tin car'before it had come to a standstill was the cause. After a quantity of evi denes, had been heard Iho jury considered that no further evidence was necessary also that defendants were not liablo foi ihe accident. His Honour thereupon gav< judgment for the defendant company with costs according to scale, HIKURANGiCOAL STRIKE, Whangarei,' May 28. Employees of tho Northern Coal Compaiiv's mine at Hikurangi struck to-day, as an outcome of a difl'ercnco with the management, respecting weighing. Indications are that the difficulty will bo adjusted in a day or two. I