NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 74, 2 April 1901, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, last night. Arrived : Elingamite, from Sydney ; in quarantine. The net Customs duties for Auckland in March were £42,241, a decrease compared with March of last year of 4)7335. The beer duty decreased by 4)319 to ■£1471, The gold exports were £40,376, an increase of £7512. The butter exports were valued at £20,854, an increase of £14,557 ; beef,- £I9SB, an increase of £176 ; mutton and lamb, £7496, an increase of 165512.

The polo sports at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday were poorly attended. The Hurdles were won by N. Banks’ Ilia Ora, Elliott’s Wee Tottie second, Baby third. The Polo Cup was won by R, Hannon’s Pukiori, 12.7, Wee Tottie 2, Hanna’s Elora 3, Tho Steeplechase resulted: Ivia Ora, 12,0,1 ! ; Tonka’ General Mite 2, Crowther’s Dick 3. • President’s Cup : Hauna’s Flora, 12.0, 1 ; Pukiori 2, Wee Tottie 3. The pony Roy’, owned and ridden by J. Russell, bolted and jumped a fence sft 6in high, land'ng on another pony inside. Roy was killed. Russell escaped with a severe shaking. A meeting of the Miners’ Union to consider Mr Barry’s offer of contract work for the Waihi Company pending a settlement of tho dispute by the Conciliation Board resolved that the men do not go back to work until properly reinstated. Napier, last night. The following team has been chosen to represent Hawke’s Bay against the Wellington Cricket representatives at Easter : C. H. Cato, Dent, Gore, Hallamore, Hawke, Hill, Hughes, Lusk, Macassey, Marshall, Wilson. Playing in a senior cup match on Saturday. Lusk compiled 159.

Wellington, last night. The interlocking system for railway signalling and working points came into use at Wellington station to-day. Westport will be equipped next. An improved tablet block system is also being introduced.

Rules for the formation of riile clubs

have been issued. Clubs within five miles of the headquarters of volunteer districts are to bo confined to ex-volunteers of three years’ service. Each club will have four quarterly drills, and every member must attend at least two, but may if unable to attend, arrange to drill with the nearest club or volunteer corps. The Government may, if requested by half of the clubs of the colony, fix a standard uniform, tho cost not to exceed £5. The State will supply -303 rifles at 20 per cent, under cost price, and [on terms, For the first year members arc to be allowed 100 rounds of free ammunition, but after tho first year the issue will depend on the efficiency and attendance of half the members of the club at drills. Members will have free railway passes to competitions, and Government will grant. £2OO a year to each of the volunteer districts for prize-firing. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cable from the AgentGeneral, under date March 30th: “ Butter 100 s ; there is better demand for butter. Cheese, 475, market dull; some holders are forcing sales. New Zealand hemp, good, £24 10s ; Manila £34 ; hemp market depressed ; indifferent deliveries ; market dependent on Manila report. Cocksfoot seed, 17lb standard, 32s ; market speculative. Mutton, dull; Canterbury, average, 4jrl, Dunedin 4d; North Island 3 7-Bd, Australian 3d, River Plate 34 d. Lamb Steady ; Canterbury s:]d ; others 5 3-Bd, Australian 4?jd. Beef quiet, hinds 3 5-Bd, fores 3 l-Bd.”

New Plymouth, last night.

The Customs duties for March quarter were: £5,204, as against £4,936 in March, 1900. The exports for New Plymouth for March quarter were £188,462, and for Waitara £3,960. In the March quarter, 1900, they were £168,640 and £31,523 respectively. The imports for March quarter were £18,552, and for March, 1900, £14,631. The Customs revenue for the financial year was £21,549, an increase of £532 over the previous year. Christchurch, last night.

Tlie main items in the Conciliation Board’s recommendations in the slaughtermen’s dispute are : First slaughterman to receive £3 10s per week day pay, second slaughterman <£3, all others 112 10s ; horn s of labor, 50 per week; overtime paid at rate of time and a quarter. The colors presented to the Canterbury Rifle Volunteers forty years ago by Lady Wilson and other ladies were consecrated yesterday by Bishop Julius. The ceremony was a most imposing one. The man found drowned in the Avon on the 6th of last month has been identified as James McGrath, who used to live in a tent by himself at Ludbrooks. He was identified by a photograph and a watch.

Colonel Francis who went to South Africa in command of the Fifth Contingent, and was invalided home after an attack of enteric, died last night. He attended the New Zealand Rifle Associa-

tion meeting, and returned on Saturday in a state of collapse. Invercargill, last night. A fire at Riverton on Saturday night destroyed Moore’s Hall and four shops, all wooden structures, occupied by J. Moore, tailor; J. Lyle, mining agent; F. Nash, painter; and A. Anderson, solicitor.

Woodville, last night. Nelson, the champion rifle shot, and other members of the Woodville Rifle Club, had an enthusiastic reception on Saturday on their return from Wanganui. On the arrival of the train, after hearty congratulations, the champion was carried shoulder high to a carriage. A procession was formed, consisting of a band, volunteers, mounted rifles, a carriage containing the shooting men, which was drawn by a number of enthusiasts and several hundred people. All the streets paraded were beautifully lit up with Chinese lanterns most of the way and flags on prominent buildings. A halt was made in front of the Borough Chambers, when congratulatory speeches were delivered by the Mayor and others. Being Saturday night, business could only be suspended for a short time, but the victorious riflemen will be entertained at a social on Wednesday night.