Supposed Terrible Conse-

quences of a Joke

(BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION".)

Mastertok, this day. A sad case of poisoning occurred at Pahia. tua on Christmas Day, when the whole of theguests of Mr S. Naylor, whose daugbtor'3 wedding was being were attacked with violent vomiting and other symptoms of poisoning after dinner. Medical aid. was immediately summoned and the victims weio thought to be pro  grossing favourably, but lasc night two deaths resulted, Joseph Moore, a member of the County Council, and Mr Dickson, man ager of the Wholesale Drapery succumbing to the effects of the poison which is supposed to have been accident, ally mixed in the Christmas pudding. Later. Twenty others who partook of the wedding fare at Pahiatua are in a critical condition. Dr. llosking", who was called to Pahiatua from Masterton, considers arsenic gob into |4ie food in mistake for baking soda. Another theory is that oxalic acid was put in the cakes in mistake for Epsom's salts, merely for a lark. Dickson is highly respected in Masterton, and was VV.JM. elect of the Masonic Lodge. Mr 3 Dickson is not expected to recover.
A MARINE DISASTER.
A Survivor's Nakkatiye,

Three of tho survivors from the Liverpool barque Charhvood, which was run down oil the Eddysfcone, about the end of October, have arrived at Liverpool, namely, Miss Hiscocks, daughter of. the captain; and Ernest Alfred Roberts and William 11. Downie,apprentices. Roberts not lonjjsiuce wont through ti similar ad veil Lure having been wrecked 400 milea toufch of New Zealand, aiid, with others, spent 103 days on v deserted island, sutforinfr great pvtvatiosi. The captain, his wife, and son, the mate Owen, and two other appronticas, all of whom ivure clrovviisu, to Liver pool. The remainder of tho crew v/ure foreigners.
