NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

IBy Telecraph,—Presa AsscciatioDj NATIVE LANDS OFFERED. ' Auckland, July 20. Tho Ma m i owners ol' Whaiopulnilifia Blocks IS and 7, aggregating <000 and 10,000 acres respectively, linvo decided to offer tho lands to tho Government at 15s. an aero, which may be increased by the Government Valuator should he decide upon their acquisition. BAND CONTEST DATE. Gisborne, July 20. The date of the North Island band contest has been fixed for February 12 at Gisborne. The committee decided to pay the additional X'3o allowed by the association to secure an English judge. Accommodation for visiting bandsmen has been arranged at Gs. Od. per day tariff. GREY SAWMILLS BUSY. Greymouth, July 27. Glorious weather has prevailed all this month, enabling sawmill work to procoed vigorously with orders, which are coming to hand freely from Australia and ports of the Dominion. The result is general activity ill bush work consequent: on shipments leaving as soon as loaded. •TAURANGA WATER SUPPLY. Tauranga, July 27. Tho contract for the Tauranga water supply is now completed, aud the water was turned on this morning. A good display was made, giving a pressure of 1201b. to the square inch by a tested gauge. A fire hose, was used, a lid the water sent over the highest building. The main lino and reticulation covers nearly sixteen miles. The contract was carried out by tho Neplian Ferguson Steel Pipe Company, of Wanganni. Mr. 11. Munro AVilson, of Auckland, was engineer,- and the cost to the borough will be about .€12,000. REJECTED. Christchurch, July 27. There was a small polling on the Mayor's road scheme to-day, the proposal being rejected by a two to ono majority. TELEPHONE FEES, Dunedin ,July 27. The' Chamber of Commerce Committee to-day declined to concur in the complaint from the AVhangarei Chamber regarding the excessive'amount of- the annual fees charged iu the Dominion for tho telephone service, thinking' the charges not unreasonable. THE MARLBOROUGH DELUGE. Blenheim, July 27. To-day practically the only signs of tho flood in the town are small patches, of water in the low-lying portions, and damaged streets, footpaths, and river-banks. Most' of the bridges have been strained, and are unsafe for traffic. The Opawa River- broke through the bank east of Blenheim' yesterday, and flooded the farms in the Dillon's Point district, Some loss of stock resulting. To-day the pilot at the Wairau Bar reported that- the Wairau had overflowed at the lower endf evidently backed'up by tho Opawa. The first outside mails since Saturday were received this morning, the letter portion being conveyed by trap from Picton. The mailman arrived with tho Molesworth mails after abandoning tho coach in tho Awatere Valley, packing the mail over the hills. Tho Molesworth l?oad iL washed away in many places.

Tho Railway Department hopes to liavo a train through from Picton to Blenheim to-morrow. . :

Serious floods are reported iu Flaxbourne district.

MjITOR-CAR BURNED. New Plymouth, July 27. A Calthorpe 18-20 horse-power motorcar convoying a party of visitors to the North Egmont Mountain House, was totally destroyed by fire on Wednesday evening owing to tlio engine becoming overheated by a long pull on the longeari No one was injured. BRIEF MENTION. Hawera, July 2". At the Winter- Show the door takings totalled . .ESSS. 12s. 6d. The profit' is about .£320. . Greyrnouth, July 27. Communication is being kept lip between Christchurch and the Coast by coach from Avoca to Springfield, via Porter's Pass. The passengers got through yesterday easily.