NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 236, 14 October 1901, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Saturday

In the final for the Ladies' Golf Championship Miss Gillies (Auckland) beat -Mis Bidwell by one up at the ISth hole, after a very exciting match. Ashburton, Saturday. Dr Gardner, of liakaia, died suddenly last evening, it is supposed of heart disease. A girl named Bella Gordon died yesterday under circumstances rendering an inquest necessary, which takes placo this afternoon. Dunedin, Saturday. At a meeting of the Law Society a resolution was passed expressing approval of the Premier's recent speech, in which lie said that the Government recognise that the salaries paid to Judges are inadequate, and stating the Society hope that legislation will be introduced during the present session to increase tho salaries.

Christchurch, Saturday; George Mumford, skipper of the Ariadne, who was remanded on Wednesday last on a charge of casting away the vessel near Waitaki on March 24, appeared before the Magistrate this morning on three additional charges—with casting away the ship in concert with l-'reke, with

having at Sydney with Kerry, the owner, and I’reke formed a common intention to cast away the ship, and at Sydney, with the other two, conspiring to defraud the underwriters. Mr Bishop, S.M., stated that an improper suggestion had been made to him that he should allow accused to deposit a certain sum to cover sureties, but it did not come to anything. He doubled tho former bail, making accused’s personal bond £4OO, and two suroties of £2OO each. Wellington, Saturday. Chief Detective McGrath and Constable McLeod (Christchurch) go to Sydney by the Talune to-night to bring back Kerry and Freke, charged with conspiracy in connection with the Ariadne wreck.

Napier, Saturday. Of particular interest at tho present in view of tho impending discussion in the House on tho Home mail services is a proposal to start a co-operative woollen company at Seattle, United States, ff the company is formed tho China Mutual Steam Navigation Company are prepared to extend their business and place a fast line of steamers to connect New Zealand and Australia with Seattle. Wool-growers in this district have already promised to take up shares in tho proposed company to tho value of £7OOO, and this sum is likely to be considerably augmented. Commenting on tho scheme to-night's Telegraph says: 11 What strikes us is the opening which this venture and that of a concession to the steamship company alluded to seems to provide for a direct wool trade with the United States and Canada. This view we consider ought to influence Parliament in discussing the mail contracts and lead the House £o decide in favor of the Vancouver route.”

Wanganui, last night. The large Parliamentary party who came through from Wellington by the mail train yesterday aftornoon went up the river. The excursion party will be back to-morrow, and will return by the mail train.

It is not to the credit of members that they should object to the Governor being refunded money ho expended on behalf of the colony. It must not be forgotten that the Government invited the Duke and Duchess to visit New Zealand, and that they were the colony’s guests ; therefore, to expect the Governor to meet the expense of their entertainment is unreasonable. But it does seem to us that £70,000 -the total sum exponded by the Government in connection with the visit

—is a idrge one to spend on a visit that lasted barely a fortnight ; and it w'ould have been better if less display had been made. The welcome would have been just as hearty, and their Royal Highnesses would, we think, have been just as well pleased to see the colony as nearly as possible as it appears to an ordinary visitor. —Tiinaru Post. The whole of Australia is now closed to us as far of Freetrade is concerned. Outfarmers can no longer reap thc-ir former profits in that quarter. Our potatoes, eggs, butter, and cheese will all have to compete under a heavy handicap witli the Australian articles ; it will be interesting to note what decrease there is in the intercolonial trade. Another question for New Zealanders to consider now is whether free markets in the Commonwealth would compensate for inclusion in the Federation ; whether it will pay New Zealand better to stand alone, or whether in the interests of our producers, and seeing our special advantages, it will not be a wise step for the colony to seek admission into the union. That is a problem which time alone can solve. Hawke’s Bay Herald.

That the Premier (says the ’Dunedin Star’) will go home for the Coronation in Tune next seems to be generally accepted as a forgone conclusion, and that there will be only one session at the usual time with Sir Joseph Ward in charge appears to be equally certain. Some people who profess to know what the future will evolve say that Air Seddon’s connection with the colony will cease after his Home trip.

The rain from the heavens, in some phases of the Maori belief, is sacred, and if it were to be caught from the roofs of their wharcs in tanks it would be tapu, and could not be used. Where the natives have to some extent become Europeanised the tapu is ignored, but in many instances Dr Pomare, Native Health Officer, says he has experienced the utmost difficulty in persuading the inhabitants that they must not drink the water drawn from wells affected by surface soakage front insanitary villages. The most convincing argument he is able to use, and one that is always effective, is to place a drop of the well water under the microscope and permit the eye of the sceptical native to light upon the animalculae that he has ' long been accustomed to swallow at a draught,