NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 322, 24 January 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The North Island Main Trunk Railway League lias decided to comply with a request of the Farmers’ Union by visiting the Northern districts, with the object of securing rapid extension of the railway from Wellington to Hokianga. WANGANUI, last night.

In consequence of the persistent rain, the Caledonian sport-s have been postponed till Saturday. WELLINGTON, last night.

Heavy rain fell this morning, accompanied by a fierce northerly gale. By JO o’clock the rain ceased, but it is still threatening. The stewards of the Racing Club met and decided to go on with the meeting. The gale is still blowing. The residence of J. O’Sullivan, Defence Storekeeper, was gutted by fire early this morning. The building, which is the property of the Government, was unoccupied at the time, the family being away. The contents were uninsured.

O’Sullivan’s bouse,, was insured for £2OO in the National.

Brother Urban, at present conducting the annual retreat of the Marist Brothers at Wellington, has been appointed Provincial of the Order in Australia in succession to Brother John, who recently became AssistantGeneral.

The Wellington Anniversary holiday is being observed to-day in place of yesterday. The day is spoilt by the heavy northerly gale, with rain, which sprang up last night. Most of the excursion and picnic fixtures arranged had to be abandoned. The regatta of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club has been postponed till Saturday. The Marine Department are asking various shipping companies to instruct their captains to furnish it with any information they may obtain respecting tides, currents, etc., on their runs, and more especially to notify any errors in charts or the New Zealand Pilot.

THAMES, last night. Gibbons’ timber mill at Kopu was destroyed by fire early this morning. It was valued at five thousand pounds. The only insurance was £1250 in the North . Queensland office. The nightwatchman was sick, and no one was on duty in the yard. The foreman saw a glare, and the fire had then a good hold. The wind was blowing away from the large timber stacks, and five thousand pounds’ worth of timber was saved. The fire was caused by sparks from the furnace. HOKITIKA, last night. The dam of the great Woodstock dredging claim in the Shenandoah creek broke away during the night, stranding the pontoons. The accident is not of a serious nature, as they can be re-floated easily while the creek is high. Since the weather broke last week, there has been some heavy rain. Last night rain fell steadily for some hours, resulting in a big flood. To-day the low-lying portions of the town is under water. A heavy gale prevailed through the night, and a mountainous sea is rolling in. The flood will probably do a good deal of damage in the country districts.

The Westland school excursion to Totara Flat yesterday passed oft successfully. Over one thousand travelled to it. No rain was experienced till the homeward journey. It is doubtful if Sir Joseph Ward will get through to the Coast to-mor-row, as he proposed doing, owing to tho weather prevailing. The local bodies are arranging a programme that will occupy four days for Westland, embracing visits to Hokitika, the neighboring lakes, and the agricultural centres, Ross and Kumara, with the intervening townships. The Hokitika river dredge started work yesterday evening, but the river was at high-flood level to-day.

CHRISTCHURCH, last night.

Claude Smith, of Belfast, was driving down the Papanui road last night with two ladies, when, on turning a corner, the trap capsized. The ladies were slightly injured. Smith received fatal injuries, and was taken to the hospital', where he died, DUNEDIN, last night.

The ten year old son of Mr David Porter, of South Dunedin, while spending a holiday with his uncle at the Blue Spur, received injuries causing instantaneous death through a horse bolting and throwing oft deceased and his cousin. The latter is not seriously hurt.