NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 358, 7 March 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The Survj/or-General lias wired the Crown Lands Hoard that the reason for Uie Kawhai lands being withdrawn from lease w itli the right of purchase is that they are believed to contain valuable mineral deposits. Mr Mueller has also received a letter reducing ti e areas fixed for reserve, an! stating that such reduced areas wo .ill be for village and for improved farm se'tlements.

Daniel Lindsay, a civilian, charge i with assaulting Quarternwster-Sergnt. Jackson at Te Papapa camp, was sentenced to one months’ Laid mbor. Accused was intoxicated, and struck ack.son, who ordered his removal from tli3 camp. I lie bridge across the Kaitui creek collapsed yesterday, when a number of Dargaville school children attending a picn'ic were upon it. The children 'e.i into the river. A number sustained broken arms or legs, but no Ives were lost.

T , THAMES, last night. Patrick Cronin, aged 10, a resident of Karangahakc, was Drought to the Police Court on Tuesday, being rcrr.vnded from Paeroa, wiiere he had been found helplessly drunk. Medical assistance was sought, Dr Bond attending, and prescribing for the sufferer, who had taken too much alcohol This morning Cronin suffered a relapse. Sergeant Clark and Detective Miller visited the cell and found him dying. The doctor will mane a postmortem inquest to-morrow. Mi Hunter, Assistant Instructor of tile School cf Mines, who nas won a valuable science scholarship in England, after a visit to the South, proceeds Home in May.

WELLINGTON, last night. Twenty-live Chinamen arrested in a police raid in a Haining sLreet house last night, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court tiiis morning, and were remanded till Monday. The local representative of I-luddart, Parker, and Co. is advised that the Westralia has to he docked at Melbourne for extensive repairs consequent on the grounding at the Bluff, and will have to miss ner next round of New Zealand, hut it is hoped that she will he able to leave Sydney on the 22nd.

The troopship Kent has arrived to ship coals and provisions, and then she goes South to take on board the Southern battalion of the Ninth Contingent.

DUNEDIN, last night,

Peter Grant pleaded guilty at the Police Court to five informations for tote-betting, and he was Tiled £2O and costs in each case. The remainder of the informations were withdrawn. This closes the prosecution of the man Grant, against whom forty-five informations were originally laid. HOKITIKA, last night.

Tlie delegates to the Fire Brigade Conference, which starts on Monday, are already arriving. The hulk of tne residents reach here on Saturday. The Agricultural Show had to Ire postponed owing to the unfavorable weather.

The horse fiend has appeared in this district. A valuable draught horse, pioperty of Mr Powle Stafford, was found in a paddock this morning with

its throat cut. The deed was done apparently with deliberation. There is no clue to the perpetrator. Great indignation and concern are felt at the outrage. ______________