WELLINGTON NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 296, 21 December 1901, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

FIRE INQUIRY. [By Telegraph—Press Association.] Wellington, last night.

At the inquiry into the fire at Mrs Brown’s shop at Newtown the jury returned a verdict that the premises were wilfully set fire to by some person or persons unknown, and added a rider expressing the opinion that the method adopted by the insurance company in valuing Mrs Brown’s stock for insurance deserved severe censure, and was a direct incentive to incendiarism. TRADE WITH SYDNEY.

The amount of cargo taken from New Zealand to Sydney by boats leaving Wellington direct is diminishing each week. The Talune sailed to-day with only 154 tons in the holds. The average cargo carried when Sydney was a free port was 900 tons. THEFT OF A GRAPHOPHONE.

Leonard Nation was to-day sentenced to two months’ hard labor by the Chief Justice for the theft of a graphophone. This man is at present undergoing two years’ for stealing bicycles. OPERATING THEATRE. Tho now operating theatre at Wellington Hospital, whicli cost ±4600, and is said to be the most complete in the Southern Hemisphere, was opened to-day by the Governor, The theatre was erected to commemorate the record reign of the late Queen. A SETTLED QUESTION.

The question as to whether the members of the Eighth Contingent can remain in South Africa after their term of engagement has expired has been settled. They must come back. An exception will be made in the cases of men who obtain appointments, and are recommended to be allowed to remain by the officer commanding the contingent.