TELEGRAMS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 March 1915, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

[PElt I'KESS ASSOCIATION.! FIRE IN WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD'S EXPLOSIVE STORE. Wellington, This Day. A fir© broke out m the Harbour Board's explosive store this morning, probably through chemical action 'vnd leakage of phosphorus from tins and igniting on exposure to the air. The store was full of explosives, gasoline and cylinders of compressed air. The firemen had an extremely difficult task before the outbreak was overcome. The damage was slight, EXECUTION OF ROTTMANN. Wellington, Phis Day. Arthur R-ottmann, the young German sentenced to death at Wanganui on the 13th February for the murders of Joseph McGann, Lucy Mary McCann, and Joseph McCann, an infant, at Ruahine on the 28th December, was executed at the Terrace Gael at 8 a.m. today. The arrangements were supervised by the sheriff (Mr W. A. Hawkins) and were carried out without a hitch. Death was instantaneous. On the scaffold when asked by the sheriff if he had anything to say, Rottmann in a firm but low voice remarked "1 know nothing of what I have done to these poor people. I am willing to pay the penalty of crime. It does not appear to me like a horrible sentence, but a great relief. I will die happy, facing the great entrance into a better life ind may God forgive the man that caused my death, and a great many more deaths. If the war had never taken place I would still be a free man. I say goodbye to you all and God be with you till we meet again."

BODY IDENTIFIER. Auckland, This Day. The body under the Grafton bridge has been identified as that of William John Nelson, a married man, aged about 35. He had been trouble with insomnia and left home at 5.30 on Sunday morning. FIRE AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, This Day. [ \ private hotel, The Towers, in Newmarket containing 25 rooms was pratically destroyed by fire ion Saturday night. One wing of the house was gutted. The Newmarket fire brigades reel capsized when rounding a corner and two men were slightly injured. The others proceeded to the fire without appliances. The city brigade arriving assisted and extinguished the fire. The building was owned by Mr N. Nielsen and was insured for £1200. The contents were insured tor £400 it is estimated that the damage to the building amounts to £1000. The proprietor W. Potter left the building a few minutes before the outbreak. PRISONER ESCAPES. Rotorua, This Day. On Saturday night a prisoner named Alfred Robert Curtis, cscapecl from the prison camp at Kaingaroa. He has not been recaptured. Curtis was sentenced in February, 1914, to two years' hard labour and five years' reformative treatment for forgery. INTO A BOILING POOL. On Saturday afternoon a Maori boy, aged seven years, named Tahunga Xeropa, fell into a boiling pool at Whaka, and was fearfully scalded about the body, arms, and legs. His condition is critical. GIRL KILLED INSTANTANEOUSLY. Hastings, This Day. Perie Carpenter, aged 11\, of Grant road, Wellington, who was visiting some friends at Hastings, was killed

instantaneously yesterday afternoon. She and her cousin, Mina Carpenter, were both on a horse which bucked and threw them. Perie landed on her head and broke her neck. Tho other giri escaped with a badly bruised hip. MAN BURNED TO DEATH. Hamilton, This Day. Thomas Crossley, aged 33, a widower and a native of Dewsbury, Yorkshire, was burned to death at rvawhia. He had been drinking on Saturday night and was placed in a chaff shed. His charred remains were found yesterday among the embers of the shed which took fire during the night. CHILD KILLED Invercargill, This Day. Francis Wilson, aged' seven,- who riding in his father's cart, ioli. The horse trod on his chest inflicti ig in.jui • ies from which he died a fenj, hours later. THE HUNTLY OOLLfERY DISASTER. Hamilton, Thsi Day The trial of James Fletcher, late manager of Ralph's colliery, Huntly. on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the recent pit disaster, commenced to-day before V' Justice Cooper and a special jury of twel/e. The charge read "that «>■ or about 12th September, 1914, accused did omi. without lawful- exoine, to observe his duty in regard to the safety of the lives of the miners employed at Ralph's colliery, and in consquence of such omission did cause the death of William Burton, thereby committing manslauhgter." Mr H. H. Ostler, R.C., appeared for the Crown, and Mr C. P. Skerrott. K.C., and Mr Tanks for the defence. About twenty witnesses will be called and the case is expected to last a week. STORMY WEATHER CODING. The Dominion meteorologist notifu a heavy northerly gale, storrjy we.i tier and rivers rising on the West Coast of the South Islanl. The barometer is falling very low in the south.