NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 343, 18 February 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Mr McKay, the Government Geologist, in his report on the Cheviot earthquakes, says there are no means of safeguarding against the effects of earthquakes which may occur in future as it is quite uncertain what line of fault is next to be affected and whether or not during the recent disturbances a new line of fracture and upheaval was being formed. His opinion is that there is a probability of more frequent recurrence in greater violence in time to come ; also that the scene of the next earthquake disturbance will be elsewhere than in Cheviot district; and that, as there has been no serious disturbance of that part of the country for fifty years prior to November last, it- is reasonable to conclude a like period will pass before the district is again violently disturbed. The report concludes thus : “ Though on this occasion something further has been added to our information as to the behavior of earthquakes, and although they may be classified, and some of their more proximate courses indicated, the earthquake as a whole still remains a visitation and a mystery.

nujxin.txfl., last, nignu. The Premier had an enthusiastic reception at Ross on Saturday. An address of welcome was presented to Mrs Seddon by the women of the district. Latei on Mr Seddon laid the foundation stone of the memorial to the late Trooper Allen, who died at Pretoria. The Premier delivered a short address. He afterwards turned the first sod of the Ross railway. In the course of his remarks he pronounced a hope that the line would be completed in two years. Referring to the progress of settlement in the southern district, he said that already one thousand acres of the Waitaha settlement, which was only taken up a few months ago, were down in grass. Mr Seddon was entertained at luncheon. He had a magnificent welcome. He expressed his delight at the British-Japanese treaty, and said that it would be of great interest and value to the colonies of Australasia to have a friendly power at hand. He spoke of the Umpire adopting freetrade, and mentioned the meat contract question, saying that arrangements were being made for twenty thousand carcases to be drawn from New Zealand immediately. Referring to local subjects, he explained that £15,000 of Government subsidy for the development of Ross Flat was still available. A large social was held in the evening. AUCKLAND, last night. [ Sir Joseph Ward received deputations to-day. He says that the Gontingenters at Te Papapa (the Ninth) are a fine body of men. The arrangements are very good, and the men are doing very good work. WOODVILLE, last night. Messrs Dixon and McGaflin, the tenderers for the Woodville waterworks contract, have failed to take the contract up. Mr John Griffen, of Napier, the next lowest tenderer, hasbeen asked to undertake the work. His price is £3370. ' PAHIATUA, last night. A book-binder named Fred. Akeris died suddenly in the police cells on Saturday morning. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict that death was accelerated by excessive drink-

ing. At Makauri a settler named William Neill shot himself in his whare. He was last seen alive on Friday. WANGANUI, last night. Colonel Sommerville left to-day for Wellington, to supervise the arrangements in connection with the Ride Association’s meeting at Trentham to commence on the 25th. He has received an offer from Greytown of £SO towards sending a team to Bisley, on condition that certain men go, but he is of opinion that the money must first he subscribed, and then the best men selected. Last week a girl named Hughes, of two years of age, died at Waverley, the result'of burns. The child took a fire-stick from under a copper wheu her mother was washing, and the little one’s clothes caught fire. Fatal injuries were received before the distracted mother could extinguish the flames. ~ . ... ' WELLINGTON, last night. Thomas Venables, single, about 27 years of age, was thrown from a dray while engaged in carting wood near Masterton. The wheel passed over his head. Death was instantaneous. Deceased was a recent arrival from England. . . In the Divorce Court decrees nisi were granted in the cases of Thomas l jYlontague\_Y ; . Annie Montague, and* ofi Margaret Keefe v. John J. Keefe. At the Supreme Court, Alexander Clarke, charged with theft, was admitted to probation. Messrs Haselden, S.M., and Poynton, Public Trustee, sat this morning as Commissioners to inquire into the charges made by a prisoner named. Wilson against Warder E. Murphy, officer in charge at Point Halswell. At the outset Wilson began to read from a type-written document, apparently a claim that the inquiry should be into the whole gaol administration, instead of merely to Ins own allegations. As the Commissioners refused to allow him to go on unless he allowed them first to scan the paper, Wilson refused to go further 'into the matter. When called as a witness he declined to go on. Murphy was then examined in denial of the charges. WAKAPUAKA, last night.

Mr Browning, superintendent of the Cable Company, is advised that the cable steamer Scotia is now paying out the final section of the Cape-Aus-tralia cable between Fremantle and Adelaide. Yesterday she was in lat. 35.42 south, long. 116.20 east, and had laid 375 miles of the 1600 miles length. She is due at Adelaide about the" 24th, and the final section of the cable should be open for work on the Ist March. NELSON, last night. A sitting of the Arbitration Court was held to-day, before Judge Cooper and Messrs Brown and Slater. The award of the Conciliation Board in reference to the dispute between the Parapara Company and the Collingwood Miners’ Union was confirmed, viz., fixing the wages at Ss Od a day. There was no other business. A girl named Lilley, aged eight, and a boy named Ruffel, aged five, were drowned in the lagoon at Stoke Sands yesterday. A woman and child i*ad a narrow escape from drowning '.n the same lagoon on New Year's Day. INVERCARGILL, last night. David Warnock, a well-known settler, was found dead in a ditch on the'roadside leading to his property on Sunday morning.' He was last seen at about 11 o’clock on Saturday night going home, and it is surmised L nat the " fall stunned him, and lie was drowned, though there was only a few inches of water in the ditch. OAMARU, last night. Two men named Thomas Emerson and Daniel Tennent pleaded guilty today to falsely representing themselves on Sunday as travellers. They were fined 40s each and costs, or 7 days'imprisonment. DUNEDIN, last night. It is reported that Lieut.-Colonel Wales has been asked and has accepted nomination to the Representative .Couuaission, vies Dr Hislop, resigned.