DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 82, 20 November 1911, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. (Per Press Association.) Rotorua, November 20. The third phenomenally severe thunder storm in a fortnignt raged here last night. QUICK”'WORK. Rotorua, November 20. A record for any native land court in New Zealand was put up by the local court under Judge Brown, 166 orders of partition being put through in six weeks.

FIRE AT GISBORNE. Gisborne, November 20. A fire broke out yesterday afternoon in a four-roomed house on Upper Gladstone road, occupied by a Mr Gibb and family. The outbreak had a big hold wiien discovered, and the house being an old one the fire quickly spread. A fresh breeze carried the flames to a five-roomed dwelling adjacent, occupied by Gus Manning, horse trainer. A bucket brigade prevented tho house from catching for a long time, ffl Eventually, the gables were ignited, pi Tho brigade arrived a few minutes Ifl later and soon had the fire under con- & trol. Gibb’s house was burned to the li ground, and nothing was saved. Man- || ning’s house is badly charred on drie || side. H. Clark succeeded in liberat- * ing a number of pigeons. The cottages were owned by Captain Ware. The house destroyed was insured fof £l5O in the Norwich Union and the second dwelling, which is a comparatively now one, fpr £6OO in the South British.

EX-DETECTIVE’S SUICIDE. Palmerston N., November 20. At the inquest concerning the death of ex-Detective Benjamin a verdict was returned of suicide while temporarily insane. SPORTS AND POLITICS. Masterton, November 20.: At a meeting of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society yesterday, the following resolution was unanimously’ carried:—“That this society indignantly resents the unwarranted liberty taken by the licensing party in quoting the following alleged fact, arid publishing the same in the Wellington Evening Post of 2nd November, viz., ‘That the Caledonian Society in JVlasterton made a loss of £6l on their last meeting, due to no-license,’ and that this society confirms the action of the president in instructing the secretary to contradict the same as the statement is absolutely false and a deliberate reversal of the true position.”

A BOATING ACCIDENT,

Wellington, November 20. - The police are informed that a mishap occurred just before noon to-day to a boating party between Paremata and Plimmerton. So far as is known one man was drowned. No farther particulars are knowfu atypresentATyvo men have been sent out to investigate.

PECULIAR RAILWAY COLLISION

Christchurch, Novembex-, 20. A peculiar railway collision occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Parjc road crossing of the double line bg&ween Christchurch and Addihgtpti. The train from Addington to Christchurch had passed, when the dfivpr of a grocer’s cart, unaware that |flD train from Christchurch going ■sou£h was about to pass on the further Set of rails, and failing to appreciate the crossing keeper’s signals, essayed to cross. The engine struck the cart in the middle and the driver of it Was thrown out on his head, and taken to the hospital in a semi-conscious condition, but is now on a fair way to recovei'y.. No bones ai'e broken. The horse was carried some distance by the engine, but escaped practically unhurt.

THE PREMIER. Christchurch, November 20. The Prime Minister is expected to arrive early this evex\ing by motor-car from Oamaru. To-morrow, at 11 a.m., he lays the foundation stone of the Government’s new departmental buildings in Worcester street, and at 3 p.m. lays the foundation stone of a new post office at Sydenham. A scruiT fire. Christchurch, November 20. A stiff northerly blew to-day, and the lupins on the beach at New Brighton, south of the pier, by some means or other became alight, and the fire spread rapidly and threatened a number of cottijges. The brigade turned out smartly and saved the properties from destruction.

CYCLING ACCIDENT. Timaru, November 20. ( An accident occurred near Geraldine to a party of three cyclists. All collided with a horse and trap in the dark. The cyclists were more or less bruised. I'lie horse swerved and all the ocupants of the trap (three ladies, a man, ind a child) were thrown out. The man had his collarbone broken, one lady had a bad cut on her head, and the others escaped with bnxises. THE NEW ADMIRAL. Auckland, November 20. H.M.S. Powerful, with the new Admiral of the station, Vice-Admiral King-Hall, arrived from Sydney this morning.