NEW ZEALAND,

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 337, 11 February 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND,

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. A house at Mount Roskill, owned and occupied by George Campbell, tailor, has been totally destroyed by fire. It was insured in the National Office. The furniture w r as all destroyed. It was valued at £3OO, and was uninsured. Burglars at Paeroa removed and destroyed a safe from McWater’s store and appropriated £7O, its contents. The Cooperative Butchery there was also burglarised, but without profit. At the Congregational Union annual conference, commenced this morning, the Rev J. Sargisson, Christchurch, presiding, delegates from all parts of the colony were present. NAPIER, last night. At the Supreme Court this morning Judge Edwards, in his charge to the jury, regretted that there were no, fewer than four charges of sexual offences against girls, three of accused being Maoris. The hearing of a charge against Kere Ropilia, of attempting to carnally know a girl, at Waipawa is now proceeding. PAHIATUA, last night. A man named Exley, while assisting to mark at the butts at Pongaroa rifle range on Saturday, was shot in the head. The bullet lodged in his brain. He is still conscious. He has been ordered to Palmerston Hospital. WELLINGTON, last night. The s.s. Westralia sailing or Sydney on Saturday evening, took about 150 tons of cargo, chiefly timber, hemp, scrap iron (50 tons), fungus, and butter.

The Wellington Navals, in their course of instruction at the (orts just concluded, established two records in rapid fire for the colony. r.O. Peterson's detachment at the six-inch gun got off seven rounds within the ten minutes allowed. Hitherto the record was five rounds in 8£ minutes. I’.O. Jansen ’s_mpn fired ten rounds ’in ten minutes, of WlllCfi lime were aujuugvu to he hits. The premises of a Chinese fruiterer in Pirie street were broken into early last evening, and the safe robbed of about £7O. , Sentences were imposed at the Supreme Court to-day in the case of Daniel Phillips, indecent assault and unnatural offence, four years, and George Simpson, criminal assault, five years. CHRISTCHURCH, last nignt. A twenty-roomed house at TaiLapu, belonging to Mr G. G. Holmes, was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday morning. The building and its contents were insured in the Victoria Company, but the amounts are unknown. Mr F. I-I. Pickering, President ol the New Zealand Council of Fire Underwriters, writes stating that the total fire losses this year amounted to the sum of £385,609. To this has to be added the expense of management. The total fire premiums were about £350,000. The Supreme Court criminal sessions started this morning. The calendar was light, being chiefly indictments for indecent assault, against Vivian Harold Marriott, and attempting to bribe a witness, against Geo. Mumford, late master of the yacht Ariadne. The latter arose ouL of the. Ariadne case. Mumford attempted to induce Mrs Downing to contradict her former evidence and go over to his side It is understood that Mumflirl will plead guilty, as he was convicted and sentenced to four years’ impris lament lor wrecking the Ariadne. In reply to a deputation the Premier said he would place before the Cabinet a suggestion that the Government should subsidise a steamer for the Chathanis, in order to provide more frequent communication. He would also bring under the notice of the Land Purchase Board the question of sending an officer to report on a portion of Pitt Island offered io the Government for settlement purposes. DUNEDIN, last night. Maurice Joel was convicted on two charges of failing to keep books as re quired by the Beer Duties Act. These were the first cases of the kind heard here. The information was laid under sections 24 and 25 of the Act ol 1880. There was no suggestion of fraud, and other brewers are equally guilty. The Crown merely brought a test case to show brewers that they must keep books in accordance with the Act. A fine of one shilling and costs on each information was recorded. REEFTON, last night. The Westland Trades and Labour Council resolved to urge the Government to legislate that the Inspector of Mines he compelled to give 14 days’ notice of his intention to ali>»7 Sunday working in mines ; that the Workmen’s Wages Act be amended to allow a union to sue for wages due to members ; that a labor member be appointed to the Westport Harbour Board, and that labour organisations have direct representation on the Harbour Boards of the colony ; that air-ways where stopings are required be of brick, and air gauges be put in the man-holes ; that the Government he asked to make eight hours on five days a week and four on Saturday a compulsory day’s work, where labor is regular and steady ; that the Government introduce a Referendum Bill ; .that a vote of the people be taken on the question of abolishing the Legislative Council; and that payment of jurors be equal to the amounts earned by jurors at their trade or profession.. Mr Sarvey was elected President, and the next meeting will be held at | Westport in February in 191^