INVERCARGILL NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8345, 30 January 1907, Page 7

INVERCARGILL NEWS.

DEATH THROUGH BURNING.

BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD.

BOOKMAKERS FINED,

By Telegraph—Press Association,

INVERCARGILL, Jan. 29. . About 3 p.m. on Monday Eileen Gorton, of Makarewa, aged 8 years, was going with a friend over smouldering peat and rushes, which burst into flame and set fire to her frock. She rushed to the house of her grandmother, who tore off the burning clothes, but, though two doctors were sent for, the child died at 9 p.m. At the annual meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board, to-day, the Chairman, reviewing the'work of the year, said the record had been one of steady progress and the financial position was one of strength and buoyancy. The shipping returns ' showed the net tonnage entering the port during 1906 to have been 473,187, for 254 vessels, an increase of 20,678 tons, as compared with the previous year. The imports showed an increase in practically every item, that in merchandise being 745 tons, manures 6,437 tons, coal 535 tons, timber 195,000 feet. The exports increased with two exceptions. General merchandise increased by 1,883 tons and frozen produce (after a steady decline for five years) by 1,665 tons, Cheese increased by about £23,000 in value, wool by 2,999 bales. There' was ,a decrease of 15,242 tons in grain-pthe; smallest for ten years—and flax decreased by 1,078 bales. The wharfage dues had increased by £4OO. The/balance sheet showed the'total receipts for the year to be £20,216, an increase of over 1905. Of this, £20,008 was classed as ordinary revenue. The expenditure amounted to £19,984 as against £19,283 in 1905 i showing an increase of income over expenditure of £832. The debit balance of £2,918, with which the year was commenced, was reduced to £2,086. The sinking fund for the loan of £50,000 maturing in 1913 now Amounts to £28,937 and on tfie due date should rea&i £42,000. The Chairman expressed disappointment that the Marine Debarment had not yet issued written authority for the extended reclamation works. ■ . Mr MacCarthy, S.M., .delivered his reserved judgment in the cases of bookmakers trespassing on the Winton racecourse on November Alfred Driscoll, John Fairmaid, Chas Christie, Richard McDonald and David McLaren were each fined £5 . and costs. The defence was that the regulations under which the defendants were ordered to leave the racecourse Were improperly made. The Magistrate said that, as bookmakers seemed determined to set prohibitions at defiance, he would in future cases consider the advisableness of inflicting gaol instead of fines.