NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 794, 8 January 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Ohoka District.—Sudden Death. — On Friday, Mr B. J Heald, a respected resident in this district, during the afternoon dropped down dead near his own residence. The deceased for some time past has been in delicate health and subject to heart disease, from which cause his medical attendant certified that his death resulted. Mr Heald has left a wife and family to lament bis loss. Stewart’s Island.— The Daily Timvs says : —” In consequence of the outbreak of scarlet fever among the Maoris and halfcastes on Stewart’s Island, Dr Burns was requested to visit the Island, and afford necessary medical assistance. He has now returned, and reports that he visited HorseShoe Bay and Half-Moon Bay, also two Native settlements in Paterson’s Inlet, and on his return called at Port William. He found that all the cases of scarlet fever were of a mild type- The main part of his work consisted in advising precautions to convalescents against exposing themselves to cold, or communicating the affection to others. Together with Mr Traill, Resident Missionary on the Island, he visited all the families in which sickness had existed. He left with Mr Traill a number of simple drugs with directions for their use in case of necessity.” Avon Road Board Election, The polling for the election of three members to serve on the Avon Road Board, took place on Saturday. Very little interest seemed to be taken in the proceedings, and the number of votes recorded were considerably less than at last year’s election. After the returns had been received from the various polling places in the district, Mr Laine, chairman of the Board, who officiated as returning officer, stated the result to be as follows :—Mr Dickenson, 154 ; Mr Mucro, 154 ; Mr Strouts, 115 ; Mr Hinton, 98 ; Mr Flescher, 77 ; Mr Corser, 70. Mr Deßourbel, one of the candidates, had retired from the contest on Friday. The returning officer therefore declared the first three gentlemen to he duly elected to serve on the Board. The various candidates returned thanks, and a vote of thanks to Mr Laine concluded the proceedings.

Amuri County Council.— At a meeting of the members of the Amuri County Council, held at the Waiau township, at noon on the 4th of January, 1877, the hoar and date fixed by his Excellency the Governor, and published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 29th December, 1876 ; present—J. S. Caverhill, T. Carter, G. H. Mcßae, P. M Neville, A. W. Rutherford, W. O. Rutherford, Sir Ji Cracroft Wilson ; the following resolutions were passed : —lt was moved by Mr Caverhill, and seconded by Mr Mcßae—- “ That Sir Cracroft Wilson be the permanent chairman of the Amuri County Council.” Carried unanimously. After discussion it was unanimously agreed that a permanent clerk to the Council be appointed at the next meeting of the Council. It was unanimously agreed that the Christchurch branch of the Union Bank of Australia be the Bank of the Council. It was unanimously resolved that the chairman be treasurer pro tern. It was unanimously received that the second meeting of the Amuri County Council take place at the Court House, in the township of Waiau, at noon on Tuesday, 6th March, 1877. Fire. —Shortly after midnight the Lichfield street fire bell rang out the alarm of fire, followed in a short time by the Market Place. A strong glare to the southward seemed to portend a serious conflagration, the night being dark and close increasing the reflection. On getting in Colombo street it was seen to be some distance down to the southward, and was ultimately found to be a house and shop fronting on Colombo street, next to Mann’s general store. It was unoccupied, and had been so for some time. When first discovered the flames appeared to come from the lean-to at the back of the shop. At the time of the fire breaking out the wind blew somewhat strongly, and as the late hot weather had rendered the timber exceedingly dry, it was only a few minutes before the whole building was in flames. A paling fence, which came up to Mann’s general store, was quickly torn down by some of the neighbors, who w r ere early on the scene, and this, with buckets of water plentifully thrown on to the side of the store nearest the blazing building, averted any serious danger to Mr Mann’s house, until the arrival of the brigade. At the rear of the fire is a small cottage occupied by the owner of the building destroyed, and it was at first thought that this was in danger, the Jong grass intervening being several times on fire. However, the neighbors, who worked gallantly, procured wet blankets, &c, and placed on the roof, and also extinguished the various fires in the grass. Fortunately the building stood, as it were, detached, hence the fire was confined to it alone. The fire brigade mustered with great promptitude, being on the spot with their engines in thirteen minuies after the first alarm. As water was scarce, and there was no danger of the fire spreading, the steamers were not brought into requisition, but the Dreadnought was placed on to a tank of water, and the Brigade soon had the fire mastered. There is not the slightest clue as to the origin of the fire. The house had been empty for some time, and no one had been seen near the premises during the evening. The house and shop was the property of Mr Urry and was insured for £ 180 in the Liverpool, London, and Globe office,

Drapers’ and Clothiers’ association. —The half-yearly meeting of members will be held this evening in the Foresters Mall at eight o’clock. U.A.0.D., Pioneer Lodge, No 47.-—A summoned meeting of the above loc.ge, or the election of officers, w". bo • n tms evening in the Good Templar Mai., Worcester street, at eight o’clock. The Eastern Question. —A London telegram dated January 4th, states that the Turks ißatify their counter proposals, and reject those 'of the Powers. The representatives re-assemble to-day. Inquest. —An inquest was held at the hospital on Saturday, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq, coroner, on the body of the boy Cornelius O’Callaghan, aged 12 years, who died at the hospital the previous day. From the evidence, it appeared that de ceased, with some other children, was playing in the Wilderness road, off Lincoln road, on Wednesday morning, between 8 and 9 a.m, when Mr Mullins, farmer, spoke to the boy and asked him to come to his place to lead a horse for him. Some little time afterwards deceased went up to the house, and he and Mr Mullins went into the stockyard, where there were eight or nine horses, a few of the number being young colts, Mr Mullins returned to the bouse to get some matches, and was not away more than a moment or so, when he happened to look through the kitchen window, and saw the boy lying on the ground, but making strong efforts to get on to his feet. He immediately ran out, followed by his wife, and saw that the poor little fellow was unconscious, and bleeding from a wound in the head. After washing the dirt and blood from the wound, the boy was brought into the hospital, where hei lingered in great agony until Friday. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.