NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 389, 14 April 1902, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Associatu.il.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. In reference to the complaints that the parents of children attending private schools were threatened with prosecution for not sending to pubijc schools, the truant officer states that it is simply a matter of the regular attendance of children, whether at public or private schools. There has been no attempt to take the children from private schools. Frequently parents dealt with for not sending their children to school said the children were attending private schools when really they were not attending any school. The bakers notify an advance on the 21b loaf of one halfpenny, making the price 31,d frdm Monday. WAIROA, Saturday.

Owing to the Hooded rivers the Napier mailman did not arrive till yesterday. He left Napier on Monday and broke a pole in the Tangoio river, for which he had to turn back to get another coach at Petane. On arriving at Tulira he had to stay till Wednesday morning, and arriving at Waikare, had to stay until Thursday. In crossing, only for the assistance of two passengers, J. O’Reilly and Constable Williams, tiie mailman and two horses would have been drowned. It. took from seven in the morning till one in the afternoon to get across.

PALMERSTON N., Saturday. A most extraordinary case was before the Magistrate to-day. A local resident laid an information for bigamy against his wife, a woman of apparently about 25 years of age, alleging that she married at Oamaru live years ago. Four times a remand was granted on the application of the counsel for the prosecutor, who did not appear personally. The last time the Justices dismissed the case for want of prosecut,ionwant of prosecution with four guineas costs. Prior to dismissal the sergeant of police received a warrant on an information laid at Oamaru. The Justices yesterday remanded the case till this morning, when Mr Greenfield, S.M., refused the remand to Oamaru, and remanded accused for one week. Prosecutor did not appear to-day, and was not represented.

MARTON, Saturday. A Maori woman lias died suddenly at Tailiape, and there are rumours of foul jilay. A man named Canning committed suicide at Hunterville to-day. WELLINGTON, Saturday.

The Sierra, with British mails of 21)th March, left San Francisco on the 10th inst, timetable date. The Order-in-council also imposes the following export duties on kauri timber : Logs round, logs cut in half-logs squared with an axe or sawn, 3s per 100 superficial feet. Mahuta has sent to the Premier an address of greeting and congratulation for presentation to the king on the occasion of his coronation.

Tlie meeting of Parliament has been definitely fixed for July Ist. The Premier has received the following cablegram fiom the Agent-General: The War Office is calling for tenders for canned, compressed beef and mutton, the delivery of the tenders to he made on May 26th, delivery of meat half in June and half in October, at Woolwich. At the request of the War Office 1 am sending detailed specifications. I represented that it was hardly possible that tenders could be forwarded in sufficient time, but the War Office cannot grant a.n extension.

Colonel Porter cables to the Premier under date the 7th from Botha’s Pass : " Report for March -. Operating again on a drive in Orange Colony. The last drive was much impeded by bad weather and floods, with hardships and short rations. There was little fighting. Following are our captures : Prisoners 146, rifles 9, ammunition 300, cattle 70(1, sheep 250, mules 30, horses 300, also a number of waggons and cape carts destroyed. The recruiting drafts marched on the 30th and faced the enemy in a night attack at il p.m. They behaved well. There were no casualties during the month. The regiment is well but requires rest.’ CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.

David Barry, prosecuted by the Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, was fined £5 by Mr.Beetham this morning for working a horse in an unfit condition. William Shaw, an old age pensioner, was charged with making a wilfully false statement by means of which he obtained a larger amount than he was entitled to. The case was dismissed by Mr Bishop on the ground that the Court had no jurisdiction, the information not having been laid within six months, as provided by the Act. William Weils, clerk to the Woolston Borough Council, has been arrested on a charge of the theft of £7l of the (borough funds. He was remanded till Tuesday^