NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 13, 17 January 1901, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.]

Wellington, last night.

The returns of the Registrar-General's Office show that 2758 persons arrived in the colony and 1575 left, as against 2200 and 1236 respectively in December, 1899. Arrangements are being made by the; Government to bring into the market the lands of the Midland authorised area, six million acres in all. These will be open for selection after February Ist, and in the meantime the Commissioners of Crown Lands for Nelson and Westport are hearing applications from persons already in occupation under temporary license or under any arrangement with the Midland Company, on whose cases reports will be made to the Minister of Lands, 'lhe Tadmor block of 6000 acres will be placed on the market about the middle of March, and a survey is being made of a block at Mataroa, south of Ross, and several other blocks. The census, of New Zealand will be taken on the night of Sunday, Maroh 31st. The Registrar-General is now making arrangements.,- " v The Railway Department has been advised that a mass of rock estimated to contain 1500 yards has fallen on the Otago central line near Mount Allen. It is expected trains will be able to pass the spot to-morrow. Sir Alfred Milner has cabled to the ActingPremier that Lieutenant Keddell, of the Fourth Contingent, was wounded on the left arm at Ochtersdorp a few days .ago. The wound is not dangerous. Through the Deputy-Governor, the ActingPremier has cabled to the Admiral of the Australian station asking whether the Mil-' dura, now at Akaroa, can be atPortCkalmers when the Orient reaches there with the New Zealand returning troopers. The Acting-Premier has cabled to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, through the Deputy-Governor, suggesting that the Imperial troops when visiting New Zealand, should travel by rail.as far as possible between the chief centres, so as to enable them to view the country, and also to afford an opportunity to the people of the towns on the line of railway to catch a glimpse of the military visitors. If Mr Ward’s-suggestion is adopted, arrangements will be made to receive the troops at the Bluff on February 3rd, and then they will go on to Dunedin and Christchurch and rejoin their ship at Lyttelton, coming on in her to Wellington from there. They will travel overland to Napier, where they will embark for Auckland. Mr Ward does not expect the duration of the stay of the troops in any one town will exceed two days. Dunedin, last night.

A fire broke out this morning in Manse street in a portion of Wain's Hotel, two floors of which were completely gutted. The origin was directly traceable to disregard by the cook of the'licensee’s orders to extinguish a light in his bedroom. The fire was first noticed shortly after midnight, and two employees who slept in this part of the building returned to bed, thinking they bad extinguished it. It broke out afresh, howe ver > at about five o’clock. The brigade earned much praise by the mann el ' in which they fought to get under one time promised to be a serious conflagration, as the block is one of the most valuable in Dunedin. The insurances are : Royal Exchange £2250 (re-insurances Lancashire £475, Sun £4OO, Guardian £312, North Queensland £250, Union and Crown £250). Dunedin Stock Exchange sales: Aldinga, 4s; Charlton Creek, 35s Gd; Electric, 4s 9d ; Endeavor, 235; Grey River, 60s, 59s Od, 595; Maori King, 2s 9d, Is lOJd; Meg and Annie, G6s 6d; New Alexandria”. 17s Gd, 17s 9d, 18s, 18s 3d. 18s 9d; Waipuna, 9s 6d; Wareata, 4s 3d.

The sale of runs in Tuapeka and Clutha districts realised the upsets. Christchurch, last night.

James Kirk, a middle-aged man, has been committed for. trial on a charge of stealing £295, the property of G. L. Beath and Company, by whom accused was employed as a canvasser. The shortages in his accounts began in January, 1900, and gradually grew larger. They were discovered when the books were investigated.