LATE NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1399, 9 March 1905, Page 2

LATE NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press ~ Association.) Wanganui, last night.

A man named Alex Hughes, aged 60 years, died at the hospital yesterday,as the result of,injuries sustained by falling off a platform while working on a bridge contract near Mengaweka An inquest was held here to-day. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone, but expressed an opinion that the platform on whioh the man was working was too small. Deceased was a widower. He has married daughters in the South Island, but the police so far have been,unable to looate them. , '•<

At a meeting of the newly formed Employers’ Association to night, it was re ported that over 100 membors, representing the principal employers, have been enrolled.

Dunedin, Inst night. The Fire Brigades’ Conference was resumed this evening; An additional £lO was voted to the secretary for bis assistance. After the votes of thanks, the annual meeting of the insurance society was held. The report stated that notwithstanding the unusually large number of claims, there was a credit balance of £BBO 10s 7d. The report was adopted. The eleotion of office-bearers resulted : President, Captain Strude (Devonport) ; vicepresidents, Lieutenant Baker (Gore), Scanclebury (Roefton) ; treasurer, Captain Smith (Christchurch); trustee, Robbins (Haworo); secretary, J. G. Gilberd. I

Westport, last night. Mr Bishop, manager of the State coal

mine, proceeded to Seddonvillo to-day and effected an amioable settlement of the dispute with ths State coal minors. Work will bo resumed to morrow morning, Auckland, last night.

A youth named Slatzkin, a native of I Jerusalem, who was admitted to the hospital about a week ago, died to-day. He I was to be tried on a charge of attempted suicide by taking rough on rats. I Invercargill, last night. I At the Supremo Court Raymond and Co. sued Freelander Bros., of Ashburton, I for £421 damages, for alleged breach of I contract re purohaso of oats. Plaintiff’s j case was in effect that in 1903 plaintiff contracted with defendants to supply 5000 sacks of C grade oats in two lots, and on I specified dates. The first consignment of I 300 was taken delivery of, but defendants I could not take the balance, and plaintiffs sold them at market price, in meantime, I having considerably dropped. Plaintiffs I also sued for storage, interest and special I damages. Mr Justice Williams expressed an opinion that the case should have been I ! heard by an expert jury. The -matter I turned on ths question of whether or not I plaintiff? were in a position-in July, 1903, I to deliver sound oats. Was it a bad year I in Southland ? The jury’s answer was I “Yes.” A question of law was raised, I and amount of damage will be heard in J : Dunedin. 1

J Agnes Watt was granted a decree nisi J in divorce &gaioßt !l6rl)Oßbaßd,'AlflS Watt, I on the grounds of desertion. I Railway workshops, costing £50,000 I were opened here to-day by Sir J. G. I Ward, who gave statist’es showing the I increase of the railway traffic of the disI trict during the last decade. Repairs hitherto sent to Dunedin can now be done here. The works and sidings covey six * aoree.