TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2041, 28 March 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. AUCIv LAN D, yesterday. Alfred Parker, a married man, aged 48, committed suicide at his residence, Nelson street, about midday. Ho went under tho verandah ol**lho house and cut his throat with a razor, lie called out to his sister, “It’s all over,” and died almost instantly. WANGANUI, yesterday. The insurance on Purser’s factory and plant total £BOO, divided between the Royal £350, North British £3OO, and Sun £l5O. Tho fire is supposed to have originated in the knpoc, and spread with such rapidity that many of the workmen were unable even to save their tools. WELLIN G TON, yesterday. Arrived s.s. Atlionic, from London, via Hobart, with 250 passengers, of whom 201 are steerage. A number of these are assisted immigrants. NELSON, yesterday. , Early this morning tho six-roomed house of L. Kinzett, Brougham street, was burnt down. Tho family were absent at tlio time. The insurance is £2OO in the Sun office. Tho house was owned by A. R. Henry, of Stratford. The furniture was insured in the Royal office for £75. There is somo uneasiness as to tho whereabouts of Mrs. Kinzett and child, hut it is thought they aro in the country. LYTTELTON, yestorday.

A steerage passenger from Wellington by tlio Tarawera named John Webber, aged about 65 years, was found dead in bed on arrival of the steamer at Lyttelton this morning. He is supposed to have come from Palmerston North.

The railway engine which ran half off tho on dof No. 2 wharf at Lyttelton was replaced on the wharf at noon to-day by a lift with a 7-ton crane, and a lateral pull by two shunting engines. , OAMARU, yesterday. The Waitaki High School Board of Governors to-day appointed Air. H. H. Allen, M.A., of Napier, fourth assistant residential master. DUNEDIN, yesterday.

Samuel Woods, aged 32, singlo, an employe of the Muskctt Steel Foundry Company, Vogel street, had his brains knocked out this morning. He was working at an emery stone dressing steel balls, when the stone broke and* a piece struck him on the head, splitting his skull open.

The Independent Political Labor League aro putting forward candidates for every seat at the municipal elections.

THE LABOR PARLIAMENT. DUNEDIN, last night.

The annual report of the Trades Conference Executive says that-’ the Conference to be held in .Dunedin this week will he the largest and most representative yet held of Trades Councils. Regarding tlio Land Bill, regret is expressed that it was shelved last year, and the Executive Councils of the colony arc strongly urged to see that Sir Joseph Ward’s promise that they shall have precedence over all other measures next session will bo fulfilled. Satisfaction is expressed at the establishment of workmen’s homes near the centre; but the opinion is given that they are built too elaborately, thereby placing them beyond the aspirations of all except tho higher paid workers who enjoyed a settled salary. The report says: “Taken as a whole our relationships with our employers have been of an amicable nature. One of tho exceptions that may bo cited is the recent slaughtermen’s strike. While we may sympathise with the men in their effort to secure increased pay and better conditions, your , Executive cannot help expressing regret at their hasty and ill-advised action, ignoring the remedy provided by the Arbitration Act. Wo aro satisfied, however, that the cloud which one time threatened to spread over the colony has been dispersed, and that the men, by their steady compliance with the verdict of the Court, are showing that the powers of the Act are as potent to-day as ever they were.” Finally the Executive urge that the Chi ion label be attached to all goods manufactured in the colony. Concerning calls to the Council, tho report says that notwithstanding the opinions expressed at the previous conferences re appointments to the Upper House, the Executive regret that with the exception of Messrs. Paul and Barr, the Government did not see its way clear to secure more extensive representation of the Labor party in that much-abused Chamber.

IMPORTS FROM AMERICA. DUNEDIN, last night. A number of Dunedin consignees of United States goods have received cables notifying them that on account of the breakdown of the Oceanic Company’s service American goods are being transhipped to Vancouver for shipment here by Alley steamers. The next Alley vessel will not get away from Vancouver till April 28. A SUICIDE. AUCKLAND, last night. Alfred Parker, aged 48, ex publican, residing with his brother, John James Parker, in Nelson street, committed suicide about noon to-day by cutting his throat with a razor. PaYkcr went underneath the house and cut. his throat there. His sister thereupon went under .the house, and found her brother in a dying condition. She then called the neighbors, who carried Parker into the house, where lie died a lew moments befoie medical aid .could be summoned. The body was subsequently removed to the morgue, where, it awaits an inl~quSsfT~ Deceased was a married man, and leaves a wife and grownup family, who reside at Waverley. Hotel. He had been out of work foi a fortnight, but was in his usual state of health, and so far no cause can bo ascribed for his rash act.

MINISTERIAL. DUNEDIN, last night. The Hon. R. McNnb, Minister of Lands, reached Dunedin this evening, and went to Invercargill.

THE GOVERNOR’S TOUR

HOKITIKA, last night.

Tlio Governor returned from South Westland to-day after a very enjoyable triir to Franz Joseph- glacier. Monday morning was spent on the ice field under the care of Guide Graham. The day was perfect; and the wholo party, which included Mr. Seddon, M.IT.R., Mr. Byrne, County Chairman, and other representative country men, thoroughly enjoyed the novelty of the experience. The scenic wonders looked at their best, and the whole outing passed off most successfully. The Southern people extended a very hearty welcome to His Excellency, and Lord Plunkef was delighted with, the excursion,. Rain was experienced on the return journey, but the party got through safely, the roads being in good order. To-night Lord Blanket, as Grand Master of the Freemasons, is attending a meeting organised by the local lodge! A largo number of Masons were present from all parts of tho Coast, while Grand Lodge officers also attended from Canterbury. Thero was a conversazione, at which the lady friends of Freemasons were present, three largo halls, tastefully decorated, being used for the function. The Governor and Private Secrotary leave for Otira to-morrow on route for Christchurch, where he is duo on, Friday night,'

OBITUARY. NAPIER, last night. Edward Evans, of the firm ot Davies and Evans, tailors (who hnvo been in business in Napier lor many years), died this ovoning. Deceased had a paralytic stroke some,, months ago from which ho did not fully rccovor.

EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. An extraordinary ucoidonb occurred yesterday-afternoon on tho Port Hills, in the direction of tho Godloy Head lighthouse. Two young men, Thomas Wales and John Grubb, sons of well-known Lyttelton residents, wore out shooting rabbits on tho hills overlooking tho harbor, about 3 miles beyond the Sumner zig-zag, Wales picked up a rusty six-pound Nordonfeldt shell, which was lying in tho tussocks, and which had evidently been fired from tho Ripa Island fort during the firing practice hold there some months ago. After examining the shell Wales throw it down on the ground, when it exploded. A fragment struck Wales in the under part of liis right thigh, inflicting a very had flesh wound, but fortunately missing tho arteries. It was almost miraculous that both young men were not killed or seriously wounded by the exploding shell.

CONGO ATROCITIES. DUNEDIN, last night. At the Presbyterian Synod a motion was carried deploring the terrible massacres in Congo under Belgian rule .and requesting authorities of the British Empiro to take such vigorous action in accordance with obligations entered into with other European Powers to make a recurrence of such atrocities in future impossible.

COWARDLY ASSAULT. CHRISTCHURCH, last. night. Shortly after throe o’clock this afternoon a most cowardly assault is alleged to have been perpetrated by a man named Thornly on John Bridgoman, a financial agent. Bridgemail was talking to Detective Bishop at the cornor of Hereford and Colombo streets, when Thornly came up and insulted him. Bridgoman retaliated with Ins fists. Thornly then knocked him down, hitting him a terrible blow on tho face, cutting open his cheek. Thornly was arrested and taken to the police station.

OYSTERS AND LIQUOR CHRISTCHURCH, last night. To-night' the police raided the oyster saloon at the Exhibition, and seized 107 bottles of stout and beer. Two plain-clothes constables, brought down specially from the North Island, aro understood to have purchased drink at tho oyster saloon on two nights running. A summons is to bo issued against tho proprietor of the saloon for illegally soiling liquor at the Exhibition.

INCREASE OF SALARY. DUNEDIN, last night. Tho City Council agreed to an increase of £IOO a year in the tramway traffic manager’s salary. “STUFFING ROLLS.” REJECTING CLAIMS. Press Association, AUCKLAND, last night. In reporting to the City Council on the compilation of the municipal roll, the Town Clerk drew attention to tho number of claims for enrolment on the list submitted, which showed how easy it 1 would be to “stuff” a supplementary roll by making of claims at the last moment by persons not possessing the necessary qualifications. The last contained 20 names, and the Town Clerk stated that these examples indicated a demand by persons' who had not a residential qualification, but were simply boarders. It showed that the form of claim, which purported to he a solemn and sincere declaration that the statements therein were true, was not sufficient to prevent persons making claims which they had no legal right to make, while the- obligation on the Town Clerks to put the name of every applicant on the roll might, in a case of a supplementary roll, which could not be amended after being closed, lead to considerable roll stuffing. He recommended that the names referred to he deleted from the roll, and applicants notified that they must sufficiently prove their claims before closing the supplementary roll on April 14. A further list of 20 names were recommended for further investigation, tho claimants all being sub-tenants at from 4s to 7s 6d a week. The Council at a meeting today adopted the Town Clerk’s recommendations. Tlio Mayor stated that the matter had already been referred to at tlio last municipal conference, and no doubt the movement would make noccssary ah amendment Act. A WILL CASE. STRANGE OVERSIGHT'S. Press Association. AUCKLAND, last night. Judgment was given this morning by Mr. Justice Cooper in an interesting will case, Mackenzie and others y. Mackenzie, to decide the validity of the will and codicil of John Mackenzie, late of Rotorua. His JTonor stated that the action was for the purpose of securing probate of - the will of John Mackenzie, dated June 12th, 1904. The question was whether these documents had been properly -executed. In order t'o establish tho validity of.the will, acknowledgment of 'the testator's signature must be made in the presence of both witnesses, and before either attested, and subscribetheir signatures to the will. Mackenzie acknowledged his signature j'h; the presence of one witness, the Hdn. V. Kelly, and the latter then subscribed his name. The other witness,! Campkin, was called in. Mr. Kelly told Campkin that a signature in the will-was Mackenzie’s and ho (His Honor) thought that the statement by Kelly in tho presence of Mackenzie was a constructive acknowledgment of his signature, and if the signatures of witnesses had been subscribed afterwards,, the will would have been effective, but Mackenzie did not acknowledge his signature to Kelly before the latter signed, and the second witness was not present; therefore His Honor held that the will had not been properly* executed, acknowledgment of the signature not having been made in the presence of both witnesses. If the codicil had been properly executed, then as it had reference to the will and became incorporate with that document, the defective execution would have been cured. The witnesses to the codicil w*ere a Mr. and Mrs. Shearman." Mackenzie, an old, man, wrote laboriously, and Mrs Shearman was called away. Before , she went she signed her name as attesting witness, though Mackenzie had only completed half of his sig- ! nature. Mackenzie did not adknow- , ledge this half-written signature to Mrs. Shearman as his signature, and ! the law was that tho signature of testator must ho acknowledged. On . this account lie had to decide also 1 against, the codicil. Costs were al--3 I lowed to-the parties out of the cs- . I tato.