NEW ZEALAND. NEWS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1628, 20 December 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND. NEWS

(By Telograph.—l'roos AflßOOlntion.) WHO FIRED THE OFFICE? Invorcargill, Dccombor 1C In (firing his verdict at tho inquiry into Hie firo at Johnston's foundry, the Coroner (Mr. Cniickslmnks, S.M.) said Iho evidence showed the firo j-tavlcd in (m> oflice, and as •.£-(■ odd was missing, the ofl'ico was entered for tho purposo of this robbery. Tho sufo was opened by a thief with keys- It was not conclusively proved that tho thief entered by. unlocking tho door, but it is a strong presumption that ho did. The ollioo was clearly pet l on firo purposely or accidentally by someone, who had a key of tho door. Although there were- suspicious circumstances, there wus no conclusive evidence showing who was tho culprit. £10,000 HOUSE BURNT. Christchurch, December 19. A fino residence, built by tho lato Thomas Bassott, at Hornby, said to have cost £10,000, was burnt down this morning. No particulars aro available. Tho liouso was owned by Mr. J. Feaver. BODY IN THE HARBOUR. Auckland, December 19. A body found in the harbour hns been identified as that of Mrs. Eliza, Hodspn, widow, aged 74. She had boon living with a married son at Birkenkcad, and had been to Auckland on business. It is supposed that after leaving the ferry steamer in the dark she walked over/ tho edge of the wharf. Mrs. Hodson formerly resided at Napier. CANTERBURY NOR'-WESTER. Christchurch, December 19. . A heavy nor'-west gale is raging over North Canterbury. Reports are coming in of minor damage, especially to orchards. YOUNG WOMAN HANGS HERSELF. Christchurch, December 19; Eliza Jane M'Caffrey, a single young woman, wris found hanging in an. outlioiisa at her brother's residence at St. Alban-s this morning. It is stated she had a quarrel with her lover. ADDINGTON SHOPS EXPLOSION. Christchurch, December 28. An inquiry is being demanded concerning an explosion at Aldington Railway ■Workshops on Saturday. A-worn-out steam hammer was being broken, up into sizes convenient for smelting, a charge of gelignite being used. Apparently the charge was too big, for the explosion hurled chunks of iron in all directions. One, weighing Gib., damaged tho verandah of a residence near by, and other pieces struck the roofs of houses in the vicinity. . BLOWING UP OF A BRIDGE. Westport, December 18. Tho magistrate dismissed an information against Smith and Syron on a charge of. blowing up a bridge on the highway at Mokihinui. He held thnt they had somo colour of right for believing, the structure was dangerous, and for thinking it was the property of their employers. . • ■' ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY. Auckland, December 18. The inquiry into the management of St. Helen's Homo was opened and adjourned. The scope of tho Commission .is covering "Death of Mrs. Chamberlain and general administration." An adjournment wns granted to enable the parties to the inquiry to formulate charges. When Mr. Kettle, S.M., put to open the inquiry to-day, Mrs. Emily Nieol, who has made a number of charges against the institution, «sked for an adjournment in order to procure counsel. The inquiry whs adjourned until January 14. NOT ONE PARADED! Westport, December IS. . A parade called at Millerlon of those liable for military training produced no response. ' ' OPTION OVER LIMESTONE. . : Westport, December 18. The Harbour Board has granted an option to a Wellington, firm over nri area of limestone country at Cape Foulwiud, with a view to the establishment of cement works. STREET FATALITY. Christchurch, December 18. , ; At the inquest concerning the death of Alexander Pringle Campbell,, aged i, who was run over by an electric car in ,High Street yesterday, a verdict, of accidental death was returned.

GREATER AUCKLAND. Auckland, December 18. The petition of the residents of the Arch Hill Road district in favour of amalgamation with the Auckland has been forwarded to the Government; The petition contains the signatures of 53 per cent, of the electors. NAIRNSHIRE RELIEF FUND, Dunedin, December 18. The executive of the Shipwreck Relief Society,at a full meeting decided ununi.mousjy with great regret that the rules 'absolutely preclude the society from relieving tho pnssengers or crew of tho Nairnshire. The committee individually state that they will be glad to contribute to any fund raised in, Auckland in aid of those who lost their effects in the storm through which'the vessel passed: TARANAKI OIL INDUSTRY. New Plymouth, December 18. A new rotary plant, the first south of the Line, was opened to-day. It bored 30 teet in the first hour, as against 12 feet per hour with the old percussion drills. The plant represents the last thing in American oil-boring machinery. One refinery is well under way, and it is expected will bo completed by April. There is already half a million gallons of oil stored in the underground tanks, and the wells are flowing as freely as ever. After to-day's experience, the future of tho oil industry in. Taranaki seems to be assured; A LANDS CONFERENCE. Auckland, December 18. A conference of Commissioners of Crown Lands is being arranged by tho Minister for Lands, the Hon. W. I. Massey, and will be held early in February in Wellington. The question of pastoral leases will be amongst the matters to'.bs considered. SOLOMON ISLANDS' MISSION. Auckland, December 18. When Bishop Woods, of Melanesia, arrived in Auckland last week by the mission steamer Southern Cross, ho mentioned that Archdeacon Uthwatt, . of the Bunana Station, in the Solomon Islands, had been compelled to leave his mission and proceed to Sydney to convalesce after an attack of blackwater fever. Archdeacon Uthn-att, who has now thoroughly recovered, arrived- in Auckland to-day on board the Mahva. Speaking of the work of the mission in the Solomons, he said it was going ahead very well, though just now it was being elightly hampered through the want of funds and men. The Islands wore all quiet and prosperous. Aichdeacon Utlv.yatt will remain in New Zealand till April, when he will leave on the Southern Cross for tho Solomons. In the meantime he will lecturo and preach throughout Now Zealand with the object of stimulating fresh interest in the work of the mission.

At a meeting of the Mnsterton Fire. Eoard to-day, tho tenders for the motor firo engino were opened, and discussed, but acceptance was held over for a future meeting. Tho Marquise do Guerry has left ,£IOOO to the city of Paris to be devoted to tho ransom oi' articles pawned by Hie very poor wlio are subsequently unable to redeem thorn. The Marquise was moved to this by once seeing an old couple stnring throiigh a pawnshop window nt the christening gift of their dead child, for which they had been paying during many years. s v Owing to the increased cost Qf living, Judges are granting higher Alimony than formerly. There are indications that it may soon bo cheaper to remain married. Counsel at the London Sessions objected to his client being sent to an inebriates' home on the ground that there all tho "spirit" would be knocked out of him. Motor-cars registered in London, have increased so much that the Local Government Board has assigned the letters "LH" ns a nititb Lades mark fov registrar tioii purposß4)