LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 54, 31 January 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Per United Press Association.] Wellington, Jan. 60. An accident occurred on the railway last night. On the down train from Masterton reaching the Rimatuka summit, a stoppage was made to take on six trucks. While this was being done the trucks got away, and came thundering down this side on their own account. The tram was sent on at once, and after proceeding a mile cautiously, came on the runaway trucks, they having left the line at a sharp curve. Three or four were completely wrecked, and the merchandise thrown about in all directions. After half-an-hour’s delay the traffic was restored, At a meeting of the Woollen Manufactory Co., the following gentlemen were elected directors Sir W. Fitzherbert, Messrs. J. Smith, T. K. Macdonald, J. McKelvie, Buick, R. Cleland, and J. Dransfleld. The following are elected directors of the Gear Meat Preserving Co.: —Messrs, J. Gear, J. Duthie, J. S. M. Thompson, N. Reid, W. H. Levin, R. Greenfield, J. McKerrow, and the Hon. P. A. Buckley. The Company have declared a dividend of 12J per cent, per annum. It is reported that a certain firm of railway contractors have levanted, owing a large sum in wages.

A proposition that a colonial exhibition of Lincoln rams and ewea should be held in Wellington j about October next, for a sweepstake of £l,OOO, is likely to be warmly taken up by the leading breeders in both islands. At the Wesleyan Conference, several hours have been devoted to the consideration of the state of religion in the Churches. The annual returns showed there are 5,622 members and J ,300 communicants. The Bunday scholars number 15,866, and the total attendance upon public worship 46)122. A long conversation eventuated, in which several members of the Conference took part, after which a resolution expressing gratitude for the largest increase of church members and hearers ever recorded in any one year of the Church's history in the Colony was passed and ordered to be printed in the minutes. On the motion of the Secretary, the thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev. A. Reid for his valuable ordination charge, and it was ordered for printing in the New Zealand Wesley a n. It was decided to constitute Opunake a separate and independent circuit. Permission was given to sell a Church property in the Invercargill circuit. The reports of the treasurers of the Connexional Trusts were presented. The Rev. A. Reid presented reports of the supernumerary and children’s funds. The income for the former was £1,073 14s. 3d., and for the latter £1,480 17s. The Rev. A. Beid and Mr. Thomas Buddle were thanked and reappointed. The Rev. R. Bavin took the chair while the President presented the annual report, which showed the receipts to have been £18,084 (taxable at 3 J per cent.) The thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev. W. Morley and Mr. W. Harris, and they were reappointed. The annual Conference lecture was given by the Rev. Mr. Lewis, of Napier, on “ Christian Baptism.” The Conference held a picnic yesterday, which was very successful, 400 being present. This morning the Foreign Mission Fund was reviewed. The income for the past year was—Auckland District, £134 13s. 9d.; Wanganui, £2O Ils. Id.; Wellington, £44 19s. 9d.; Nelson, £2l Bs. fid.; Canterbury, £122 12s. 5d.; Otago, £2B os. 7d. Arrangements were made for a visit of Dr. Kelynach to the colony for the advocacy of the Fund. The question of transfer of Church property is now under consideration.

A shock of earthquake was felt at 1.10 this morning. Most of the horses engaged in the Wellington races are now here. Vanguard still retains the premier position for the Cup. At the Wesleyan Conference this afternoon, the annual report of the N.Z, Wesleyan Committee was read by the Rev. W. Tinsley and adopted. The thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev. John Crump for his services as editor, and the Rev. P. J. Williams was appointed editor for this year. The Committee was thanked and re-appointed. It was decided to change the name of the paper to the N.Z. Methodist, and the Committee was recommended to take steps for a weekly issue of the paper. Messrs. Muir and Co., the owners of the Waipaoa Block, about thirty-five miles from Gisborne, have to-day signed a lease to a Christchurch syndicate, representing a new company with £63,000 capital, to bore for oil on the property. Auckland, Jan. 30,

Sir George Grey and Messrs. F. Moss and J. M. Dargaville, M.H.R.s, addressed a public meeting last night under the auspices of the Eight Hours’ Demonstration Committee. The Mayor presided, and there was a good attendance. Sir George Grey referred afresh to Federation, going over much of tho previous ground he had traversed; but he complained that Mr. Whitaker had told them little new. He averred that in appointing delegates to the Conference the Governor had exceeded his power, and had committed a breach of duty to his Sovereign and to the people of the country. A Federal Council would be supreme, and would ba superior to the local Legislatures. Colored labor would be introduced to the depreciation of white labor and of the wages of Europeans, and in all Federal matters New Zealand would be outvoted and overwhelmed. Messrs. Moss and Dargaville followed in the same strain. The speeches were well received and votes of thanks accorded to the speakers. Both strongly supported Sir G. Grey in opposing the confederation of New Zealand with the Australian colonies.

The hotel at Helensville and the extensive stores of McLeod Bros, were burnt last night. John Harris (the cook) and Mooney (his assistant) were burnt to death. Only Harris’ body has been recovered, but several fragments picked up are discerned as portions of the other man’s body. The public hall and several private residences were only saved by the efforts of a number of bushmen, who happened to be on the spot with axes, and cut a butcher’s shop to pieces. The removal of this prevented the further spread of the fire. The total damage is several thousands of pounds. Later. The following are the insurances:—The National had £1,350 on the hotel building and £5OO on the stock, £5OO of the total being reinsured in the South British, £350 in the United, £3OO in the North British, and £2OO in the Norwich Union ; the Imperial had £350 on the hotel building, of which £2OO was reinsured in the Norwich Union. McLeod was insured for £1,200 on stock, which was reinsured in the Union and Royal for £5OO each. The inquest on the body of Frederick Dunkley, of Tasmania, resulted in a verdict of found dead. He, apparently, had been getting down the cliff to the beach and fallen half down. There were only two small bruises on the body. At Russell, Bay of Islands, a company is being started to carry on the industry of fish preserving. The following are further particulars re the fire at the Kaipara Hotel, in which John Harris, the cook, and his assistant were burnt to death: —The fire broke out at 10 o’clock last night. The two men had retired to rest in an upstairs bedroom over the kitchen. It ; is believed that the fire originated there. It was impossible to get into the room, and the greatest haste was made with the view of saving a few articles of furniture and wearingapparel. It did not enter into anyone’s thoughts, while saving these articles, that two human beings were being burned to death in their beds. Suddenly a cry was raised, “ Where’s Jack Harris, the cook?” Frantic cries were raised, as Harris was seldom known to leave the premises, and, though he had not been seen, it was thought he might be at hand. As no response was made, the neighborhood was searched, but no one had seen Harris, and, in fact, at this time most people were busily engaged

endeavoring to prevent the flames spreading to McLeod’s store and other buildings, or in trying to get goods, Ac., out of the same. The commotion at this time was heightened by McLeod's store bursting into flames, and also by shouts of “ Where is Mooney ?” As kerosene and other inflammable materials began to burn, the flames shot upwards, casting an angry glare over the western, sky. The Auckland fire-bells were set ringing and the engines got out, forty miles distant. While the flames were at their highest a tremendous explosion took place in the store, lifting the blazing wood-work and a red-hot sheet of galvanised iron high up in the air, and just as the effects of this striking pyrotechnic display ceased, Constable Naughton dragged forth from the burning pile of the hotel a portion of the body of Harris, the cook. A number of residents fought with the fire, and endeavored to stay its further progress, as well as to save all that was possible of the splendid stock of Messrs. McLeod ; but, unfortunately, a large quantity was stored in the cellars, and, the whole of this, together with much in the main building, was lost. It was evident that unless a butcher’s shop adjoining the store was quickly pulled down another block of buildings would be burned. By this means a blacksmith’s shop was saved, also baker’s shop and two private residences. The stables opposite the hotel next ignited, and it was evident if the same burned that the Public Hall and James McLeod’s private residence would be destroyed. Fortunately the fire was suppressed. A feeling of horror and regret prevailed when the strain of the work was over and it became generally known that Harris and Mooney were gone—that the two men had actually been burned to death. Constable Naughton, with assistance, extracted from the fire a portion of the charred remains of the unfortunate cook, Harris. The body was most complete, but only disjointed fragments of the other have been rescued, which are hardly discernible as being any part of a human body. Two lives were nearly sacrificed, as it was only by extraordinary exertions that Daniel McLellan, the hotelkeeper, rescued his two children. John Harris was a single man, aged 45 years, and well known in the timber-trade. John Mooney was a stranger in the district, and believed to have been single. Napier, Jan. 80. Part of a building and Bull's saw-mills at Waipukurau were burned yesterday afternoon, All the planing machinery and 40,000 ft, of timber were destroyed. Christchurch, Jan, 80.

Matches are arranged for the next week between the Christchurch and Dunedin Bowling Clubs ; also, the Victorian players. Dunedin, Jan. 80. The half-yearly meeting of the Colonial Bank was held to-day, the report recommending a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent., which was adopted. The Hon. G. McLean was elected for the directorate, in the place of the Hon. W. H. Reynolds.