NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 368, 19 March 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Private advices state that the Charles G. Rice, which left New York on December 22nd for Wellington and Auckland, put into Rio on January 20th considerably damaged by bad weather. The s.s. Zealandia, which arrived from Sydney last night, brought transhipments per Rasbera from New York Ocean and Barbaros.sa from the Continent, Norma from Vancouver, Euralyus from Calcutta, and Barwon and Rockton from Melbourne. Arrived, 11 a.m., troopship Devon, from Wellington. The Premier states that the following changes have been made in the officers of the.. North Island Battalion: Surgeon and. Captain Murray retires; Lieutenant Woods, of the Sixth, has been . promoted to a captaincy of the Ninth ; a quarter-masteivsergeant of Hawke’s Bay has been promo led to a lieutenancy, on the recommendation of the officer commanding. Mr Barton has wired to Mr Seddon that he noticed New Zealand was sending another contingent, and that the Commonwealth was ready to send - further assistance. Tiie Premier says the horses at the amp were the finest lie had ever seen. iMAi-iisrC. la.-,,, mi;!.i. At the inquest on tiie hoy Fred Burton a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. CARTERTON,-last night.

Search parties are out trying to trace Mrs Sullivan, who started to walk from Fetherston to. Carterton on Saturday, but has not since been seem WELLINGTON, last night.

The promised reduction in the railway rates will lie announced shortly. The reduction will be on sheep and wool, with a considerable lowering of passenger rates.

Colonial mails which left Melbourne by .the China on the 12th February arrived iii London on the night, of the 15th March, one day early. The Wellington section of the Australasian Federated Seamen’s Union has endorsed Mr Belcher’s proposal for an 'independent labour party, and urged the advisability of drawing up a direct labour platform' Reilly’s hotel at Takataka, Nelson district, was destroyed by fire last night. The Court of appeal is still occupied

with the licensing case from New Plymouth. Counsel for appellant cited numerous authorities on the question of predetermination, and lias dealt also with the question whether the rule disqualifying a magistrate on the grounds of bias be relaxed in the present case, because there was no other tribunal which could have dealt with

the application for a license. Argument for respondent is proceeding.

NELSON, last H.gnt. James Reilly’s Junction Hotel, Takaka, was destroyed by lire early this morning. Page and Spurges store adjoining had a narrow escape, the stock being considerably damaged The insurances are : Contents Reilly’s £6OO in the Norwich and New Zealand offices, Page and Spurge £3OO on the building, £1290 on the stock in the Royal. There is no information as to the origin of the fire. Mr Reilly who is in New Plymouth at present, was about to rebuild the hotel, which was an old building. . It is proposed to hold the Easter camp of the Nelson Battalion at Blenheim, subject to the approval of the Commandant.

Private enquiry into the charges against members of the local police have been proceeding before Commissioner Tunbridge for some days, and are still unfinished.

CHRISTCHURCH, last night.

About twenty teachers in the North Canterbury educational district have replied to the Imperial Government’s request for teachers for South Africa. DUNEDIN, last night. A swagger, name unknown, fell off the Rattray street wharf shortly after midnight. His body was found after several hours' dragging. The body of a. woman, well dressed, apparently about 25 years of age, was found floating in the basin of F cross wharf at about 10 o’clock this morning. It has not yet been identified. The swagger drowned off Rattray street wharf is believed to he James McMahon.