NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 317, 18 January 1902, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. NAPIER, last night. William .Start ami Harry Dennett have been commit led to trial on a charge of assaulting and robbing an elderly man named Ueachin. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. J. ,J. Litvin's ten-roomed In.use at Waren tvas totally destroyed by lire last night. Very little of the contents was saved. The origin of the lire is unknown. The insurances were £355 in the New Zealand and Norwich Union.

WKLLIN'GTON, last night. Tiie Trades Council held another lively meeting last night to reconsider the recent anti-war resolution. The pro-Boer section talked at considerable length, and raised several obstructive motions, and one of its leaders who reflected on the ruling of the chair was excluded from the meeting by 1(1 votes to 10. Then a motion rescinding the pro-Boer resolution, and expunging it from the records, was carried by 10 to 3. HOKITIKA, last night.

A local trotting club, with a membership of eighty, was formed last night. Application will be made to the New Zealand Trotting Association for affiliation.

Sir Joseph Ward, accompanied by Lady Ward, is expected to leave Wellington for a West Coast tour next Tuesday. The local visit will be specially marked by the various public bodies co-operating to take the visitors to all points of interest. The Primitive Methodist Conference will close this evening. The final draft of stations was adopted to-day, with the following alterations :—Wellington 1., Rev. S. Bailey, instead of Rev. 0. IT. Mann, whose resignation has been regretfully accepted ; Auckland 1., a minister from England, instead of Mr Bailey ; Feilding, one from England instead of Mr Jones. A motion was adopted strongly protesting against any attempt to alter the Coronation oath in such a way- as may weaken tiie cause of Protestantism and imperil the Protestant succession.

George L. Flanagan died last night from what is suspected to be sell-ad-ministered poison. A couple of days ago lie took matter described as rat poison, and became ill. It is said a doctor was sent for, but could not come. Flanagan appeared to rally, but last night suffered a fatal relapse. CHRISTCHURCH, last night.

Driver Freeman, of (lie E. Battery, now in camp at Heatlicote, was found dead in bed this morning. Deceased served in Sooth Africa, and had enteric fever.

Charlotte Knight and her son, John Knight, were charged with obstructing the New Brighton Tramway Company's tram on the 3th and Oth, and pleaded not guilty. The facts were that oil the dates mentioned the defendants had taken a cart of hay in •front of the tram and delayed it. The case against Mrs Knight was dismissed, but the son was found guilty, and fined £2 and costs.

DUNEDIN, fast night. A fire occurred at one o’clock this morning by which an eight-roomed house was completely destroyed. The family barely escaped in time. The furniture was insured in the New Zealand for £l5O, and the loss is much greater. The house was insured in the South British for £SOU, and was valued at £OOO. The present owner had only been in possession for 12 months. The cause is supposed to be the up-setting of a kerosene lamp in tiie children’s room.