NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 372, 22 March 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night.

Mr Hutchison, S.M., has dismissed the charge against several men of be- • having in a violent manner in railway carriages. He said that the evidence - proved that a number of volunteers had been guilty of disorderly conduct. He believed that during the camp at Te Papapa it was the invariable prac- . tice of the volunteers to take possession of the train, smoking in nonsmoking carriages, and conducting themselves in a manner that was a disgrace to the Railway Department. Several troopers ought to have been proceeded against, as well as the present defendants, who had tried ,to quell a disturbance. Replying to a deputation of Ministers Association, the Premier acknowledged that the Government had erred in not sending chaplains with the contingents. He said that chaplains would go with all future contingents. He assured the deputation chat regulation of church parades to be by denominations would be observed. The Premier left for Wellington this afternoon. He leaves for Napier on • Tuesday,” proceeding to the Nativo meeting at Waiapu. v The Farmers’ Union to-day • requested the Minister of Railways to lower the sheep rates by half. It was resolved that the sheep tax should be reduced by half, and that the Government procure the services of a fruit-canning and drying expert. The Conference expressed the opinion that it should be made clear that farmers were not included in the Workers’ Compensation Act, WANGANUI, last night. Colonel Somerville states that the final arrangements are now complete for sending a team of New Zealanders to compete at Bisley in July next. The passages of the team are now being secured by the Paparoa, leaving Wellington on May 3rd. The names of the men selected will be given in a few days. No question of district or locality, is being taken into consideration in ’ selecting the team, but the best

men the colony can turn out will be chosen. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. The escaped prisoner McDonald was seen at Okato, sixteen miles from New Plymouth during the night, A storekeeper named Hugson was disturbed, and found .that a man had broken into his store. The man got away, leaving a bag containing a pair of gaol trousers. Only some tobacco and silme shortbread'were missed. -Thirston, the other escapee, who was recaptured, was sentenced this morning to 14 days’ solitary confinement. The Plarbor Board to-day granted new leases to the Hon. Mr Cadman of land required, in connection with the ironsand project. Mr Cadman’s memo respecting harbor improvements was then discussed. - . , . WELLINGTON, last night. It is understood that the special corps of the Defence Forces of the colony, such as the Naval _ Artillery, Engineers, etc., will not join the infantry in the “Easter camps, but .will go into special camps. A largely attended meeting of J.P.s decided to present Inspector Pender with an address and testimonial on his retirement. The Mayor also undertook to call a meeting of citizens .with the same object. The Department of Agriculture has arranged to send a further shipment of fifteen tons of cheese to South Africa in May, from Southern factories, .. , The Magisterial enquiry as to tne recent fire on the Jessie Osborne commenced to-day. Counsel for the Customs Department stated that there was no suggestion that .the lire was other than accidental. CHRISTCHURCH, last night, Alfred Whitworth, who lately started a tailoring business in Christchurch, was before the Justices this morning, on a charge of false pretences. The evidence was that accused engaged Robert Painter as a clerk and traveller at £3 per week, and took £25 as a fidelity, guarantee. Painter alleged that Whitworth left and did not return him the money. .The Bench held that there was not sufficient evidence, and dismissed the case. Whitworth was immediately arrested by the Court baihff upon a creditor’s warrant, alleging ne was about to leave without paying his debts. „TT\mm\T Int- + Tiitrht..

e 1 '• DUNEDIN, last night. There are about 150 apphcaiits in Dunedin alone for the lenth ContinS A deputation qf citizens waited on the Mayor this morning, with a view of having Dunedin selected as the final port of departure for the lenth Contingent. Mr Denmston agreed to place himself immediately in communication with the Premier, with a view to Die wish of the deputation being given etiect to, and a committee was formed for the same purpose. Complaint was made that the Dunedin manufacturers had not been treated fairly in regard to the requirements of the former contingents. DUNEDIN, last night. The further hearing of the tailoresses’ dispute was adjourned by the Arbitration Court to Wellington on March 31st, so that data as to the position of the Auckland trade might be obtained. , , ... ' TIMARU, last Wight.

William Gunn, commercial traveller,' was charged before the Stipendiary, Magistrate to-day with having ol)tain " ed £5 from J. Dore, licensee of the Club Hotel, by false pretences having (riven an order on Roland Waghom, Dunedin, his late employer, without authority, and the order was dishonored. For the defence, accused said he thought the money was coming to him from Wellington, but the excuse was not accepted. Sentence was deferred pending a report of the probation

fficer. _ ' The following business of interest to ’overty Bay was transacted at the ast meeting of the Land Board T, 1. Strauchan applied for a lease of ection 3, block 3, Waiau.—Deferred., danger M'Kerrow forwarded report on lection 4a, block 15, Nuhaka. Mr Simpson to be informed his application is declined. An application for a renewal of lease of block 17, Buckley town, by George Kilburn, and a report thereon by the ranger, were considered.—Lease to be renewed from year to year at an annual rental of £2 11s 6d on the understanding that the section be kept free from weeds. Mrs Annie Fraser and Margaret Fraser, Motu, wrote giving reasons for non-compli-ance with improvement conditions.— Conditions must be carried out. Mr HalLrecorded his vote against the resolution, objecting to compelling lessees to destroy valuable timber. The following transters were approved -Section 1, block 3, Nuhaka, from Lucv Wright to Jefferson and McIntyre ; section 3, block 13, Matakaoa, from G. G. D. Macdonald to W. Smith ; section 1, block 10, Whan gar a from S. Boland to W Hood , section 9, block 10, Takapau, from T. Tuohy do W. C. Wallace. Proposals of local bodies for the expenditure of accrued thirds and fourths were approved as follows ; Waikohu- Road Board, £o , Patutahi Road Board, £2 9s;, Aral Road Board, £3l 7 s 7^