COMMON NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 79, 10 April 1913, Page 2

COMMON NEWS.

I SUICIDE BY POISONING. [Per Press Association.] Whangarei, April 9. At Hikurangi this morning a man named Olsen. a stranger to the district, committed suicide by drinking lysol. AN INVERCARGILL LOAN. lnvercargill, April 9. The Mayor (Mr W. B. Scandrett) has received a cabled communication to the effect tbat the Council's ierms in connection with the £90,090 loan have been agreed to. The non-bor-rowing period is reduced to twelve months and the whole of the money will be available in London un June 1. A WOOL DEAL. Greymouth, April 8. William Henry Frankpitt was charged ax, the Magistrate's Court to-day with having obtained by means of false pretences seventeen bales of wool valued at £196 from William Clayton, of Aliaura, on February 14th, by representing himself to bo the agent of Murray, Roberts and Co., of Wellington, with which firm lie was alleged to have an account in credit for £2OO. Accused was committed for trial.

METEOROLOGICAL WORK

Wellington, April 9

The collection of rainfall statistics inaugurated in the chief centres of population in New Zealand away back in the fifties has been gradually extended around the coasts, and to a certain extent inland, by the Meteorological Office, but in connection with the forecast of river floods and the defelopment of water-power these coastal stations have proved insufficient. In order to meec these requirements, a large number of rain-guages woe recently obtained, with the object of establishing additional station on the high lands and at the sources and along (he banks oi the principal rivers. It is anticipated that these- will yield a large mass of additional information winch will be of the greatest commercial advantage in future years.

Many of these stations will be established in connection with country post offices, but applications will be welcomed horn private persons interested in rain-fall, who are prepared to undertake the duty of observation. Such applicants will be supplied with rain-gauges and the necessary instructions by the Dominion Meteorologoist. The result* will '>e recorded and published lu blie Gazette with other meteorological ob ervations, and utilised in Iho meteorological survey of New Zealand.

An important aspect of this work will be the fuller observation of rivers and possibilities of floods in the lower reaches subject to inundation.

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BO^ltD

Auckland, Apiil 8

"The financial operations for 1912 constitute; a rocord," said tlie chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr J. H. Gunson, this afternoon, in moving the provisional adoption of thi> balance sheet, as at December 31st, 1912, and statements of accounts as submitted al to-day's meeting-

The revenue account, the chairman explained, showed thai, from all sources the total to he £160,527 3s 4d. After payment of fixed charges, maintenance, working expenses, and interest on loans, and also making a further deduction of £29,368 1. Id for depreciation, there was a credit balance of £28,899 13s 3d, which has been transferred to the appropriation account. .