NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 9, 11 January 1901, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per Press Association. Wellington,*last night.

The Acting Premier has wired to the transport officer in Sydney asking when the Orient will leave Brisbane for Dunedin, and the number of returned troopers who will come by her. Mr Ward has also asked, that she should signal when passing the Bluff, so as to give Dunedin people timely notice of her approach. In all probability the Imperial troops now in Sydney will come in her if the War Office will allow them to visit New Zealand. Cable advices received from London by the Acting Premier are to the effect that the proposal io send the Imperial troops now in Sydney to New Zealand is favorably entertained by high military authorities at Home. The matter is now under final consideration. The Acting Premier has every hope that the proposal will be agreed to. Mr W. N. Grundy, Christchurch, and Mr W. Brown, Dunedin, New Zealand delegates to the Agriculturists’ Conference at Sydney, returned by the Mokoia yesterday. The Conference passed resolutions affirming the desirability of forming an Australian Institute of Agriculturists, and appointing a committee to draw up a constitution which is to be remitted to the several affiliated Institutes for consideration. Another conference is to be held to deal with the report of the affiliated bodies. The inspection of dairies by Government officials will begin next Monday. An expert is to be appointed for each of the four large centres, and the Stock Inspectors will act in country districts. Dairy farmers require to register their premises by April Ist. Mr Ritchie, Secretary to the Agricultural Department, has returned from the South. He states the orops there are looking well.

but it is not expected that the average yield will be equal to last season’s. The harvest will be later than usual. . The Postmaster-General says doubtless an effort will be made to get the Vancouver steamers to make New Zealand a place of call. We require, in his opinion, both the Vancouver and 'Frisco services, and the rivalry between the two lines would have a healthy effect. The inclusion of New Zealand in the Vancouver route would necessitate the dropping of the Queensland connection to ensure anything like a speedy service. The subsidy now paid by Canada, Queensland, and New South Wales is in round figures £4O 000 per annum, and the contract will notfexpire till 19G2. If reasonable terms are proposed, he has no doubt the-Government will favorably consider them. Notwithstanding the effect of the American navigation law, Mr Ward thinks New Zealond should continue to maintain the ’brisco line.

Dunedin, last night.

Following are the latest dredging quotations Ahaura Biver Is lS£d, Aldma ss, Dart Biver 2s 4Jd, Dobson No. 227 s Gd, Ford’s Creeks 23s (id, Hartley and Biiey £0 17s Gd, Hokitika Extended Is 3d, Kohinoor 10s, 9s Gd, Magnetic 295, 29s Gd, Maori King 2s, Is 9d, Merrimac 3Cs, Mokoia 2Gs, Molyneaux Hydraulic 255, Mosquito 3s, Orbeil Creek 4s, Pactolus No. 3 3d, Beeves' Proprietary 20s, Watterson’s Consols 2s, White Star Invercargill, last night. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones was entertained at a social last evening. All the district members were present, also Messrs McLachlan and Arnold. The Minister expressed surprise at the progress made during the past three years. Deferring to the Lake district, he said a better class of boats was required for Lake Wakatipu, and the cost of travelling should be reduced so as to bring the health resorts within reach of those of moderate means, ltegarding Mr Ward’s scheme of railway communication with Lake Manapouri, he said he had no idea that the land in that direction was of such good quality. He would ascertain the cost of a narrowgauge and ordinary-gauge railway to the Lakes, both by way of Lumsden and Otautau, and it would be for Parliament to consider whether one of these lines would be carried out. He did not know of a town in the whole colony that had a greater future before it than Invercargill. To-day the Minister received several deputations on local matters. For attempting to escape from a padded cell in which he was undergoing solitary confinement for recently breaking away from the prison gang, Charles Heatley was to-day sentenced by the Magistrate, Mr McCarthy, to twelve months’ imprisonment. The sentence he was undergoing for larceny had only three months to run.