NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 373, 24 March 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. Smith, the champion hurdler, left for Soutli by the ,Te Anau, en route for England. A fire occurred this morning in Nathan’s racing stables at Ellerslie, a portion of the buifding being destroyed. Two valuable yearlings were destroyed. The stables are well-known, and contain one of the most valuable selections of thoroughbreds in this part of the colony. The yearlings lost are a Hotchkiss—Miss Bose filJy) and a Seatou Delaval—Roie filly, while a Hotchkiss—Jadestone colt was badly injured.. Other race horses in the stable were : Beddiugion, Rosella, Laetitia, Glasgow, La Valiere, Northumberland, and'Grey Seaton, all the property of L. I), and N. A. Nathan, and the buildings were owned by Geo. .Wright, private trainer for Messrs Nathan.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. The gaol escapee Roderick McDonald was captured in a gravel pit in Pungatake district early this morning. A party of police and settlers ran him down.

MASTERTON, Saturday. A public meeting last night resolved to take steps to obtain a requisite guarantee towards holding .the band contest here next year. Tiie whole ol the guarantee for the next band contest has been promised, and the Secretary of the Band Association has been communicated with. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Premier wires- .that the Auck-

land message of yesterday stating that in replying to the Ministers’ Association deputation he admitted that the Government had erred in not send-

ing a chaplain with the early contingents was not correct. Mr Seddon says it would have been a violation of the Army regulations to have sent a chaplain with the first seven contingents, because they did not consist of more than five huiidired men. He told the deputation so. As Defence Minister he. embraced the first opportunity, of including chaplains with the succeeding contingents. At a meeting of delegates of .the New Zealand Rowing Association, a resolution was passed that- an alteration be made in the constitution pro viding for local government under the managing body, and that the managing conimittee submit proposals at the next meeting of delegates to give effect to this object. It was resolved that maiden oarsmen" and maiden scullers are those who have never, won a race under, the rules of races' prior to October 1 preceding the regatta otherthan races restricted to members of one club ; also that a youth sculler is one .who has not attained the age of 21 on the day. of any, sculling regatta other than races restricted to members of one club. WESTPORT, Saturday,.

The Admiralty’s chartered steamer Charterhouse is due here from Sydney, in three weeks to load coal for China stations.A specially, built collier steamer, ~v-ercedes, ercedes, to trade between Westport and •OHirwx-jnritli—A-rLmiral±Jz_£in;iJ — iS .noOT_£m_. v Brigantine Carin, from Clarence River. The crew were strictly medically examined and the .vessel fumigated in view of the plague in New" South Wales. The demand for coal throughout the colonv is slack at present. . , Tim Hon, Mr Cadman is on a visit to Westport in connection with the probable utilisation of Waimangaroa soft coal in Taranaki iron sand manurin' 1 approving of the new locomotive for the local railway, the Harbor Board recommended the Railway Department ,tc obtain British or New, Zealand enjines.; The American engines are considered by, members as too pxpensiie to maintain. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.’ A man naned Smith was found dead on Alford Fo;est road lying face down in a small steam a few inches deep., Death seemed to be due to TIMARU,- Saturday,, Up to the present 53 applications for the Tenth Contingent have been made here. , A man namel James Bell died sud-« denly, at Redclffe. „ . . „ EUNEDIN, Saturday. Over 400 applcations have been -received for the Tenth Contingent^