NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 March 1901, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

(per press association.)

The Seventh Contingent

Wellington, March 11.

The steamer Gras Taranta, 3200 tons, has been chartered to take the Seventh Contingent to South Africa. She is expected to arrive on 27th inst. Suspected Arson. Wanganui, March 11. An enquiry into the circumstances of the fire in the Avenue on 3rd inst, by which E. D. Smith's draper's shop was destroyed was held to-day, and lasted the whole day. Tho following verdict was arrived at: " That there is no direct evidence to show how the fire originated, but there is a strong suspicion that Smith set fire to the premises in order to conceal his true position from his creditors." As a result Smith was arrested on a charge of arson. The balance sheet of the Homo Mission and Church Extension Fund showed receipts £2786, expenditure C 3283 ; estimated receipts for current year £'2590, expenditure £3026. It was resolved that tho Committee of the Centuary Fund be recommended to vote JE2OO to this fund. The conference passed a resolution protesting against any attempt to legalise the salo of liquor in the King Country. Canterbury War Fund.

Ciiristchdrch, March 11. At a meeting of the War Fund Committee thi3 afternoon the balanco sheet showed that the total receipts amounted to over £14,285 and that after tho despatch of tho Canterbury section of the Seventh Contingent a balance of £237 remained. It was decided to devote 175 guineas of the balanco to providing on tho jubilee memorial a relief representing the sending away of the Canterbury Contingent. Borough Loan. Wanganui, March 11. The poll on the proposal to borrow £30,000 for the purchase by the borough of the gas was taken to-day and carried by 00 to one. Ysfesleyan Conference. Wellington, March 11. At the evening session of tho Wesleyan Conference, returns showed that there are 297 churches with 449 other preaching places, 122 ministers, 595 local preachers, 2257 Sunday school teachers. 70,403 attendants at public worship in the Wesleyan Church in New Zealand. The Miners' Strike at 'Karangahake Auckland, March 11. Mr Hales, Engineer-in-Chief, and Mr Yiekerman, District Engineer, visited the

tunnel at Karangakake and inspected the works where the men only earned between 4s and os daily. As a result the men have been asked to go back to work with the assurance that they will be treated fairly. Mr Vickcrman said the rate paid is rather low but some of the men had been loafing in a most barefaced way, and the Government will not pay for such loafing. Government, he says, desire to deal fairly but must co-operate with those who are responsible or the present system could not be maintained. The men" have decided to go back to work at once.

The Takapuna Stranding. Wellington, This Day. The nautical enquiry into the grounding of the Takapuna near the French Pass on the night of February 11th, which was fixed for to-day, was adjourned for a fortnight. Attempted Suicide. Wellington, March 11. Alfred Rayner who attempted suicide was ordered by the Magistrate to come up for sentence when called upon. Railway Carriages. The balance of the railway carriages from America left San Francisco in the Eoyalist on Friday. The Plague. The Government has cabled to England and India for 2000 more doses of plague serum. A new system of fumigating vessels is to be brought into operation in New Zealand. Machines specially made for the purpose arc being obtained from Australia and also a supply of compressed fumes which will be distributed by the machine to every part of the ship. Federation Commission. Auckland, March 11.

The Federation Commission left for Sydney by the Mararoa to-day. Ono hundred and eighty-five witnesses have been examined in New Zealand of whom 112 were against Federation and 50 for, the remainder were indefinite. Colonial Mails. Wellington, This Day. The following movements of colonial mails are announced by the postal Department. Those by Aroya from Melbourne on Feb fohwere delivered in London on March 9th, one day early, Those by tho Alameda from Auckland, Feb Oth delivered in London March 9th, one day lato. Those by tho Warimoo from Sydney, January :!oth, delivered in London March 10th, four days lato. Disqualification. Ciiristciiurch, This Day. Tho Canterbury Jockey Club have withdrawn the trainers' license of W. G. Taggart, after consideratipn of the report from the New Zealand Trotting Association. A Dangerous Character. "Wanganui, This Day. Holloway, caught robbing a house in tho suburbs was committed for trial. Tho accused is an escapee from Queensland, where he had been sentenced to three years for burglary.