HEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 21 December 1901, Page 3

HEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

(per press association.) Wilful Incendiarism. Wellington, Dec 20.

At the inquiry into the fire at Mrs Brown’s shop at Newtown the jury returned a verdict that the premises were wilfully set on fire by some person or persons unknown, and added a rider expressing the opinion that the method adopted by the Insurance Company in valuing Mrs Brown’s stock for insurance deserved severe censure and was a direct incentive to incendiarism. Narrow escape of a Scow. During a heavy thunderstorm on Thursday, Captain Sellars of the scow Banger was struck by lightning and one arm paralysed. For a day the vessel was caught in a storm off Whangarei, and had an exciting experience for some hours but got through safely. The Prohibitive Tariff. The amount of cargo taken from New Zealand to Sydney by boats leaving Wellington direct is dimishing each week. The Talune sailed to-day with only 34 tons in her holds. The average cargo carried when Sydney was a tree port was 900 tons. A Pesistent Thief, Leonard Nation to-day was sentenced to two months har labour by the Chief Justice for the theft of a graphaphone. This man is at present undergoing two years for stealing a bicycle. Wellington Operating Theatre. The operating theatre at Weliing'oa Hospital which cost £4,600 and which is said to be the most complete in the Southern Hemisphere, was opened to-day by the Governor. The theatre was erected to commemorate the record reign of the Queen. Dental Examination. The following passed the examination of the Dental Board :—C. B. Breton, H. D. Cramp, R, G. Crawford, G 1 Dixon, and P, Morris. Peculiar Atmospheric Effects. Ashburton, December 20. The zodiacal light presented striking effects in the western sky last evening. There was also a peculiar electric light which played over the roof of several buildings during the day. The weather was fine but close and the barometer recorded 23 35 at the time.