NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 31 December 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Teleeraph.—Press Aojooi&tton.) PLAYING WITH FIREARMS. A CADET INJURED. Ashburton, December 23. A painful accident befell one of tho senior' cadets, named Mustard, of the Kaikorai (Roslyn) squad of senior cadets, nho were on a special train returning from the Christchurch military tournament this morning. .It appears that the cadets had in their possession a number of blank cartridges, which they were "fooling" with, in the carriage, and that when • near Rakaia one of the boys, failing to get reply to a quostion from Mustard, thrust his rifle near the latter's legs, and fired off the blank, cartridge with which tho weapon was loaded. At the shook, Mustard immediately fainted, but soon recovered. His clothes were badly ;burned,. but the extent of his personal .injuries aro not known, as the services, of a'doctor were not asked for.' • SALVATION ARMY FUNDS. Nelson, December 80. Mr. Percy Adams has donated <£150 to the Salvation Army building fund. THE DUNEDIN FIRE. Dunedin, December 30. Messrs. Butler's stock building were insured for £500 in tne Atlas office. The stock was damaged to the extent of .£250. FRACTURE OF THE SKULL. Thames, December 30. An inquest regarding the death of Richard Douglas disclosed the fact that tho deceased had split his head open by a fall over an embankment at the racecourse. Tho skull was fractured and the brain lacerated. A verdict was returned accordingly. HURT ON THE RACECOURSE. Thames, December SO. Frederick Arns, an elderly man, injured through being struck by a racehorse doing a preliminary gallop on the Thames course, is still unconscious. His condition is critical. DUNEDIN ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL. • Dunedin, December 30. The "Star" has raised the £2000 necessary to obtain the grant of £2000 by a' donor for the Anglican Cathedral' Building Fund, i Tho anonymous donor, it is to-day announced, is Mr. William Dawson, the well-known brewer. , • WATER FAMINE FEARED. Reef ton, December 29. ' The heat here is the.worst, known for. many years, and fears of a water famine are entertained unless rain soon comes. A shower a week ago slightly relieved the country. ' - CORINNA & FIREMEN. Dunedin, December.SO. The Corinna having got the necessary complement of firemen, left this afternoon for New Plymouth and Onehunga.' The vessel has been obliged to leave Wellington out as, a port of call. ■ RESIDENCE DESTROYED, , Gisborne, December 30. . f The residence of J. D. Bell, Mangapapa, was destroyed by fire on Saturday night. It was insured for £300 in the Government- Office and the furniture for £100 in the Queensland Office. STUDENTS' CHRISTIAN UNION, Christchurch, December 30. The annual conference of the Students' .Christian Union is being held at Rangiora this week. There are about 150 delegates, in oamp. • THE WEATHER IN THE SOUTH. Ashburton, December 28. The dying year to-day gave most annoy-.' ing evidence of its virility. After, a fortnight of fine, arid sometimes rather, hot weather,' a furious nor'-west gale sprang' up this morning, and continued'all day, while tlie mercury rose steadily, till at 2 p.m. it stood at 89 degrees in the shade, tho highest this year. As a result several,

countryside plantations and grass fires are reported. The wind died away in . the evening, and the farming community are. hoping fo'r rain, a couple of days fall being needed prior to the commencement of harvesting, in the middle of January. BIBLE-CLASS TEACHERS, Timaru, December 28.. A Presbyterian- Bible Classes Conference opened at Temuka yesterday, over 300; delegates being' present. The .total number expected is 470. The ladies are accommodated in the public schools, and the men in a large grain store. '' At the first meeting Coloney Hayhurst (Mayor of Temuka), Mr; Buxton,. M.P.,'and the local - minister,- welcomed : the delegates, and the president, the Bev. S. H. Balfour, gave an address on the value of the Bible and the importance of the work of the classes engaged m its instruction, .and of the influence they might exert upon'society. 1 1 GISBORNE'S BOAST! Gisborne, December 30. Gisborne claims that more children were born here, this year than in any other borough in, the Dominion. TJp to date, 631 children liavo-been presented to proud fathers, as compared with 527 last year, and Gisborne held the' record number of births for the boroughs eacli month so consistently; that the claim for the yearly record will almost certainly be found to be well sustained. The number of deaths during the year was 179, leaving' a natural increase in births over deaths of 452. No fewer than 203. marriages were solemnised during the year. AXE AND SAW CARNIVAL. Wanganui, December 80. The Wanganui Axemen's Association held their first annual carnival to-day. D. Pretty won the single-handed sawing handicap, O'Sullivnn the underhand chop, Newstroski the Wanganui handicap chop, and Leahy the district handicap chop: L. T. Smith and his mate won the doublehanded sawing handicap., and J. Palmer the maiden chop. Johnson, world's champion, had bad luck in striking a knotty Sanile-son, Jamieson, and Hoffman were principal winners in the .cycling events, which also figured on the carnival programme. ' FATAL END TO HOLIDAY. Dunedin, December SO. News has been received that a boy named- John Gordon Mitchell, a son of Mr. W. Mitchell, of North-East Valley, was the victim of a fatal accident at Clydevale on Friday. The lad, who tfas 8J years of age, went to Clydevale on Friday for the holidays, and while out with Mr. Bunn he was,-thrown from a horse, fracturing his skull. He died on Saturday. DEVONPORT MYSTERY. Auckland, December 30. Information so far resulting from the police inquiries touching the remarkable fetter received at the Devonport police station on Saturday shows that a man named J. J. Burrows has been missing for some time. The letter was signed "J. J. Burrows," and stated that the writer was starving on Christmas Day because he could get no work. It has been ascertained that a man named J. J. Burrows, who. is a clerk by occupation, has been missing from his boardinghouse in Picton Street, Ponsonby, for about six weeks.. He is about 60 years of age.