NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 355, 4 March 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. A man named Thomas Oliver, who on Thursday last informed the police that he had attempted suicide by stabbing himself with a boot■maker’s knife in the abdomen, and was removed to the hospital, died on Saturday evening, from phosphorus poisoning. When arl’ftitted he iold the authorities he had taken match heads. Deceased was 35 years of age ana he leaves a widow and three childrenl On Saturday night a man named Walter Kentwell, employed by Mr I-I. M. Snieaton, was thrown from a cart, receiving injuries- which caused his death. Two boys exploded powder from some crackers in a bottle. They escaped injury, but another lad, the son oi W. R. Mumford, who was watching the experiment through a crack in the fence, had his eye lacerated so that it had to be removed. STRATFORD, last night. Thieves entered the Club Hotel last night and stole a quantity of brandy and whisky and the contents of a till, amounting to £l3, some silver and a few half-sovereigns. WELLINGTON, last night. The troopship Kent is due in Wellington from Sydney on Thursday, and .after shipping stores, fodder, provisions, and 1500 carcases of mutton, will go to Port Chalmers to receive the Southern Battalion of the Ninth Contingent. She will sail for South Africa on the 12th. The mutton is the first instalment of 3000 carcases which it is understood lias been purchased by a representative of the syndicate that has secured the much-dis-cussed army supply contract. The second lot will go in the Devon a week later.

'Hie Agricultural Department has been advised that there is a profitable market in South Africa for 40,000 head of poultry per month. Fowls were recently selling at Johannesburg at 16s a pair, and eggs were fetching from 2s 6d to 4s 6‘d per dozen. During the present season the Agricultural Department sold 26,000 eggs for breeding purposes, and was unable to meet the demand. 'l’he Hon. Mr Barton lias cabled Mr Seddon, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, “ I desire to tender the deepest sympathy with New Zealanders in the heavy losses which her gallant troops sustained at Bothasburg on Sunday last.” MiLewis, Premier of Tasmania, iias cabled Tasmania’s sympathies with New Zealand in the loss of so many of her gallant sons, at the same time congratulating her upon the magnificent and successful stand made by her troops against enormous odds. The Governor is advised of the deatli at Elandsgate on February 24th of Lance-Corporal Peter George Roxburgh, a member of the Seventh Contingent, of Otago, from enteric fever. Trooper Robert J. Geary, of Portobello, Otago, Sixth Contingent, is reported dangerously ill of enteric at Wakkerstoom. Mr Seddon lias received the following cable message from Lord Hopetoun, Governor-General of Australia : “ While deploring the heavy casualties and deeply sympathising with, the relations of those slain in the recent fight in South Africa, I congratulate New Zealand on the magnificent bravery of her sons, and venture to predict that their heroic work will do much to terminate this terrible war. Australia is very proud of her neighbor’s gallant hoys.” Mr Seddon has sent a copy of Lord Ilopetoun’s message to the relatives of the fallen and the wounded. NELSON, last night. Oswald Curtis, at one time a prominent politician, and Superintendent of Nelson from 1867 to 1876, died on Saturday, aged 81. Deceased was a member of the House of Representatives for several years and at various times held the offices of Magistrate, Warden, Coroner and College Governor at Nelson. He was a Fellow of the New Zealand University, and held a seat on the Senate from 1870 to 1888. DUNEDIN, last night.

The following delegates' leave during the week to attend the Fire Brigade ’Conference at I-lokitika : Captain Mitchell (Dunedin), Firemen Russell (Caversham), Randall (Roslyn), and Lucas (Sou)h Dunedin), also Captain Washer, Vice-President of the Associa-

tion. , . ~ The Miss Gilbert mentioned m tne cables as having died from plague at Sydney is the second daughter of ine late A. J. Burns, oi this city, hut she took to the stage under the name of Jean Gilbert.