NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 22 February 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) 1 AUCKLAND, last night. The Waihi Company has declared its 36th dividend of 2s fid on the old issue and 10 per cent, interest on the new issue. The total dividends are £836,722

Sir Joseph Ward left Dargaville yesterday. He spoke at Hclensville on his way to Auckland. Referring to the growth of Auckland province, lie said tiie population since 1896 had increased from 155,940 to 179,419, the imports from £1,989,643 to £3,082,300, and the exports from £1,670,619 to £2,198,925, the lands under cultivation

from 1,500,000 acres to 2,013,000 ac., land under grass from 1,400,000 acres to 1,885,800, In stock the increases were : Horses 7000, cattle 65..4, and :-ueep had gone up from 1,700,000 to 2,(79,000. .Sir Joseph arrived in Auckland early this morning, and this afternoon proceeded to the goldfields. WANGANUI, last night. The Wanganui and West Co'it Rifle Association meeting was continued this morning, with a variable, light, tricky w'ind. In the Wanganui maten, of 500, 600, and 700 yards, Atkinson (Ilawera), 93, won £5 ; Carey (Patea), 92, £94 ; Needham (Palmerston North) 90 £1 ; o:l<ey (Taranaki), 90, Hughes (Wanganui), 89, £2 each. The aggregates are : Atkinson 220, O’Key 220, Winslade 220, Carey 216, Hubert 212, Parnell 211, Scott 210, Parkes 207,

Thorpe 200, Armitage 206, Davidson 203, I-lughes 201, Kiernan 200, O'Neill 195, White 195, and Poole 194. These fired in tiie Grand Aggregate Match this afternoon.

WELLINGTON, last night. In view of the increase of plague in Australia, the City Council intends to renew its stringent inspection of houses and also offering a bonus for the killing of rats. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. A farewell to Mr T. E. Taylor, who is leaving for England, took the form of a prohibition demonstration. The Rev. F. W. Isitt outlined the plan for the coining campaign. He said that

the following speakers were coming to help in the crusade : J. G. Woolley, Mr Smedley, now in India, Miss Flo. Balgarvie, Mrs Harrison Lee, and Mr J. Vale, of Melbourne, The general committee in connection with the proposed presentation to the Premier met last night, Mr G. G. Stead being in the chair, and resolved “ That the presentation to the Premier take the shape of a purse of sovereigns, to he raised by national subscription, and that it be. presented at one of the chief centres of the colony ”;■ also “ That it be a recommendation that the names of all the subscribers to the

fund (omitting the amount of subscription) be arranged alphabetically .in a volume or volumes lo be pre•sented to the Premier as a lasting record of the sympathy of the colony with his policy in regard to the South African war, and that the other con. tres be invited to co-operate in this direction,”

A meeting of the Scddon Testimonial Committee was strongly of opinion that the centres of the colony should combine to make a joint national presentation' to Mr Seddon. Peter Tainui and William Urn, jun., two Maori bovs of 13 years, appeared before Judge Denniston this morning for sentence, having pleaded guilty to laving indecently, assaulted a Native girl at Woodend.' A difficulty occurred owing to the Criminal Cede enacting that a child between 7 and 14 must be found to have been doing wrong either by a convicting jury or Magistrate convicting summarily, and then being remanded for sentence. Neither of these courses occurred. Judge Denniston postponed his decision until lie had consulted his brother -Judges, He ordered the boys to come up for sentence when called upon, on the understanding that their fathers would punish them. When the case against Edgar Allan Easton Roper, arrested at Dunedin on a charge of intending to desert his wife and leaving her without adccpiate means of support, came before the Court this morning, Mrs Roper’s lawyer asked that the information be dismissed, as his client had discovered ttiat the grounds on which she laid the information were insufficient. Mr Stringer, for accused, explained that bis client never intended leaving the colony, and as Mrs Roper Lad instituted proceedings for divorce, must have known that her husband to go back to Per would have destroyed her case. On behalf of his client he mad oilered to deposit £SOO that he would not have the colony. The solicitor then, acting for Mrs Roper asked that the amount be paid to her unconditionally., r i his satisfied Mr Stringer that Mrs Roper was not bona fide in the present Accused was discharged. , ~ , DUNEDIN, last night. Leading aggregates for the Otago P. ; ne Association’s meeting, with one match to go, are : Lieutenant Jack (City Guards) 186, Private Smith (Kaitangata) 185, Private T. Jones (Waikari) .181, Private SmaiU (Kaitangata) 180.