NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 28, 3 February 1916, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

DISASTROUS WATERSPOUT. GREAT DAMAGE IN CENTRAL OTAGO. DUNEDIN, January JJr Following the extremely hot wither disastrous waterspouts yesterday afternoon swept over the lower regions of the Cliyde and Cromwell gorge. A spout struck the high country on tno hill about Champagne Hills cutting, on the Otago Central railway, and extended right down to the Clyde River, which now presents an awe-inspiring spectacle Desolation was wrought on the property of Doig, an orehardist, portion of the house being swept away and a large area of orchards smothered by large stones and debris. The railway' line is seriously damaged, and also the main road, while the telegraph lines to Cromwell’ are down in several places, cutting communication. The suspending of traffic from Cromwc'll is a serious matter for wool-grow-ers, ofehardists, and farmers.

A DOUBLE FATALITY,

BROTHERS-IN-LAW LOSE THEIR LIVES. TIMARU, Feb. 2. A double fatality occurred this * raoring on a farm near Otaio. Two * Timaru men—brothers-in-law named Vincent and Johnson —were sinking a well on the farm of A. Nichol. They had got down 160 feet. This morning one went down, and, giving no signal, his mate also went to see what was wrong. He also failed to signal. A third man—Nobel. Johnston —was let down, but he signalled to be pulled up, and he was brought up unconscious. Some precautions were taken to clear out gas, and Johnston went down again, but was once more overcome. A fireman’s smoke helmet was sent for from Timaru, and, wearing this, Johnston descended and both bodies were brought up during the afternoon. Vincent was a married man with two children, but Johnston was single. THE ROTORUA IN PORT. 200 MEN RETURNED. • ALL LOOKING WELL. AUCKLAND, This Day. The Rotorua arrived at daybreak with seven officers and 390 men of the New Forces returning invalided .They were given a public reception at Town Hall at noon. Southerners, 13($& in number, wer e given a motor drive this afternoon. The returned soldiers are mostly wounded who have been under treatment in England. They are thoroughly healthy looking, and there are no crutches or missing limbs, but several men have lost an eye. Captain Hardham, who won the Victoria Cross in South Africa, landed at Hobart. There also arrived by the Rotorua two English officers to join the New Zealand Staff—Captain L. A. Cooper, of the sth Lancers, who served for six months in Flanders early m the war and won the Russian War Cross; and Captain R. Neave, of the Essex Regiment, who was at the original landing at V Beach, Cape Helles. He is a machine-gun expert.