NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 May 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION. | TRAM TRAILER CAPSIZES. CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. Late this afternoon there occurred the biggest accident which has yet taken place on the Christchurch tramways. a large number'' of people being more or less seriously injured. A car with two double deck trailers attached, left Sumner for the city at 4.10 p.m. All the cars wore fully loaded, but not overcrowded. All went well till reaching the front of the Heathcotc Arms Hotel,- about half way to town, when the rear trailer left the lino, and, after a couple of lurches, fell over on its left. side. The passengers on top were violently flung on the road, and those inside were inextricably mixed up and showered, with broken glass. It was at once seen that between twenty and thirty people wore more or less injured out of the fifty contained in the car. Ambulances and doctors were summoned from town, and those unable to move were carried into the hotel. All who could hobbled along and were taken by electric car direct to the Hospital, where they were at once attended to. Som e of the injured, however, preferred to go to their own homes, and drivers of passing cars were very good in assisting with the transport of such cases.. Ambulances removed the more scrijously injured —nine adults and five children —to the hospital. No cause is assigned for the trailer leaving the rails, but an inquiry is to be held. Following is a list of the injured at present in the Christchurch Hospital: Erie P. Gcnn, aged 22, serious injuries to left hand and right foot.

Samuel Brunton, 47, fractured skull William Fla veil, 31, injury to log. John A. Chapman, 41. broken collar

bone. Janies Borthwick, 59, broken, left arm Emile Diehl, (12, broken ' ankle. Mrs Lough-ton. facial injuries. Mrs Seed (of Ashburton), lacerated face. An infant named floedlia.nl, two years of age, severe injury to head. lan MeCalhixn, 8 years, shock and abrasions. Donald McCallum, 4 years, two fingers amputated. ■Daphne Chapman, 11, lacerated hand. A girl named Matthews, six years, a deep wound in Iho chin and knee.

Besides these, about 15 other people were more or loss injured, some being treated in iho out-patients’ department of the Hospital, and some going to their homes. As far as can be ascertained, Ihp names are; Mrs Green (50), injury to back and leg; Mrs Heap, Mrs Jackson (Wellington), W. Guy, abrasions of knee; Mrs Adamson, injuries to head, cuts, and bruises; Mrs W. J. Hughes, injuries to back and bruises; Mrs John R. Ollivcr, cut on forehead, bruises, and shock; Mrs L. T. Ollivcr, shock. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE. WELLINGTON, this day. At the Magistrate’s Couprt to-day, Mr Myers applied for a rehearing of the ease in which Howard Nattrass. a. member of Nattrass and Harris Motor Co., charged with being a rogue and vagabond, in that h e was found bv night, without lawful excuse, on the preimses of William Strangman. At the original hearing, defendant was bound over in £2OO and a surety of £IOO to keep the peace for 12 months.

To-day’s application was based on affidavits signed by four men, who declared they and two others were the persons on the premises; that neither Nat trass nor Aubrey Gaulter was there: that a witness, who said he identified the two last-named was mistaken. Mr Fraser, S.M'.. refused to grant a re-hearing, and said considered oven if such evidence had been given at the original hearing, it was not of such a nature as would have justified him in coming to a different decision.

RAINY CONDITIONS.

DEVELOPING NORTHWARD.

WELLINGTON, May 15,

The Dominion Meteorologist now gives some hope of an early break of the drought conditions. He says the anti-cyclone system, which has prevailed so long now, shows weakening, though it is too soon to forecast a definite break in the drought. Conditions favourable for rain arc developing in the north, and the general outlook is more hopeful. There are signs that two ex-tropical disturbances are operating on the edge of the anticyclone, one to the north-east, and one to the north-west of th e Dominion. Either visitor will be welcome at the present juncture.

TRANSPORT ARAWA.

ARRIVAL AT LYTTELTON,

A "JifeALTHY’f SHIP.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 15

The transport Arawa berthed this morning. General Russell being officially ’welcomed by the Mayor of Christchurch. The General arrived in the city at 11 a.m., and was most enthusiastically greeted. The streets were decorated with bunting, and a procession started for King Edward Barracks, the General’s motor being drawn by a squad of returned soldiers At the entrance to the barracks the procession stopped for the General to receive a welcome from Maoris from Canterbury pas, under Mr. Uru, M.P. Ninety soldiers’ wives and thirtytwo children came out by the Arawa, Splendid weather was experienced until about ten days before arrival. The health of all on board was excellent, the hospital being practically empty throughout the voyage.

DROUGHT IN NEW ZEALAND

THE TAURANGA DISTRICT

GLOOMY WINTER OUTLOOK

TAURANGA, May 15

The prolonged spell of fine weather has seriously affected the Tauranga district in regard to winter feed for stock except in the low-lying swamp areas and one or two favoured localities. The pastures are practically bare and fanners in some places are short of water. The outlook is a gloomy ‘one, more particularly for those who have made little or no provision for winter feed in the way of hay or root and fodder crops.

At the recent stock sales there was no demand for shorn stock, and vendors who have been forced to sell through shortage of feed have had to quit their surplus stock at a considerable loss.

Winter supplies of bay and green fodder are now being used by some farmers. The Katikati district does not seem to have been so seriously affected by the drought as ,• other localities, the stock beuig in better condition and the pastures fresher PARCHED‘LAND IN HAWKE’S BAY. LITTLE FEED REMAINING. NAPIER, May 15. The drought in Hawke’s Bay shows no sign of breaking and the position more acute every" day. Farmers are threatened with heavy loss of stock, and even shrubs arc being used as fodder in some parts. Warm rains arc wanted to preserve the stock, which is suffering in condition so much that cold weather would aggravate the present state of affairs as far as mortality and destruction of sheep goes. A well-known agent whose dally task takes him through much of the country stated that ho had never seen the country look so bad. The country-side in some districts is almost as bare as the roads that traverse it.

CONDITIONS IN MARLBOROUGH

BLENHEIM, this day

Marlborough, in common with the rest of the Dominion is feeling the mark of the severe drought, though not to the same extent as Hawke’s Bay and North Auckland. Rain is badly wanted, but lucerne to some extent is stalling off disaster. Water is giving out, uad many rivers and creeks are drying up_ No mortality in stock has been reported but prices have fallen considerably. The outlook for winter feed is not promising, and the present is the worst dry spell known in the district. The Pelorous and Wakamarina rivers arc very low. / '■ DEATH UNDER OPERATION GISBORNE, this day. Victor Sorenson, 47, who dislocated his elbow at Teararoa, died In the hospital yesterday, while under an anaesthetic.