NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 394, 19 April 1902, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.! AUCKLAND, last night. News per the Ovalau states that Colonel Gudgeon left Raratonga by the Countess of Ranfuriy on April 2nd to arrange For the formation of the .Niue Island Council nominated by the Governor of New Zealand on the recommendation of the Native Commissioner, after consultation with the Arikis. I-Je is also to form a Native

Council at Palmerston Island. The Council previously formed at Niue by Mr Percy Smith ‘passed Acts dealing with revenue, marriage, offences, etc., but to comply with the law the Council needed to be re-constructed and the laws re-enacted. Robert Isbell, alias Steele, charged with obtaining £7 from Robert McGuire, Patea, by means of a valueless cheue, was remanded to Patea. The asphalting of Queen Street, half a side at a time, is causing much inconvenience. This morning fifty vehi. eles were blocked for nearly halt the length of the street. The Mayor, Mr Kidd, Vv 'll probably, be elected unopposed.

DANNEVIRKH, last night. The Arbitration Court sat here last evening, to hear two cases under the Workers, Compensation for Accidents Act. In the case S. G. Bunney v. Id. Amunsden, judgment was given for the claimant for £lO las and costs, but in the case of W. H. Smith v. J. Clark, claim £l2l 2s, judgment was reserved. The defence in (he latter case argued that claimant was a part, ner in the contract, and that bushfellling did not come within the operation of (he Act. * WELLINGTON, last night. The Gazette notifies the institution of a service medal for officers of the volunteer force and volunteers who have earned capitation and served efficiently in the New Zealand Volunteers forces for twelve consecutive years, this medal will not be issued to volunteers possessing the New Zealand or long-service medals - The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows decided to-day to appoint a Parliamentary agent to watch the proceedings of the .Legislature. The contribution to tlie sick and funeral fund was fixed at one farthing per annum per member, and to management expenses Is (id per quarter. A uniform scale of contributions for all lodges was adopted. The Government are offering a prize for a design for post and letter cards., NELSON, last night. 'l'Jie City Council have deferred the appointment of an expert in regard to the drainage scheme for a week, when; a ballot will be taken. The choice lies between Messrs Meslayer and Leslie Reynolds.; It is estimated that the complete scheme will cost about £IO,OOO. Councillor Piper has been nominated for the Mayoralty. The present Mayor (Mr Baigent) is also a candidate. HOKITIKI, last night. Christian', brother-in-law ol McMath dredgcmasler,, was drowned at 2 a.m., while assisting a boat load of wool to pass the Kohinoor dredge ponloou near Ross,

GBuUBTCHURCH, last night. It has now been fully decided that the Coronation Contingent will leave with the South Island Battalion of the Tenth Contingent to-morrow. The full strength is now in camp. At a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, the Chairman reported that the collection of subscriptions for the Hmith-Simpson fund had progressed slowly. The sum of £s(l had been received,* and a further sum promised brought the amount up to about £lO7, The Auckland Amateur Athletic Club alone has subscribed £10(1 to the fund. The Aciing-Premier saw several deputations shortly after his arrival, but all dealt with arrangements for send-off of the Contingent. There will be absolutely no alteration in the programme already fixed. In reference to the cable dealing with extension of the Pacific cable to Honolulu, Sir Joseph Ward stated that the Cable Board had consulted the Government on the matter, and Ministers were agreeable, hut required further information regarding the proposal, as to persons behind it, and also wanted an assurance that the connection of the cable with the United States will not have the effect of diverting any traffic from the Pacific cables proper, In connection with the departure of the Gout ngent, it was at first intended that absolutely no work would he done at Lyttelton wharf in the way of loading or discharging steamers, but Sir Joseph Ward informed a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce that this would he altered, and the steamers would he worked from 7 a.m. to 0.3(1 a.m., and possibly to 10 a.m. . , ,

DUNEDIN, last night. John Gamble, aged 70, an old age pensioner at Beaumont, Tuapeka, was working a reaper with his daughter yesterday, when the team got out of hand. The father and daughter were thrown oil. The- daughter miraculously escaped injury, but the father when picked up was was dead, and horribly mutilated, having got among the knives. , . , t WELLINGTON! last night. • Forty-four out of 200 applicants for teacherships in the Boer concentration camps were nominated by the Education Boards. The Government was informed by the Secretary of State that selection was not to oe confined to teachers employed in elementary schools. It is officially explained that both teachers belonging to Auckland who have been selected were, amongst the five whose names were submitted by the Auck.and Board, and that Miss Rees, of Dunedin, whose selection was mistakenly stated to he objected to by the Otago Board, has hail considerable experience as a teacher in private schools. TIMARU, last nightThe sitting of the Borough Assessment Court opened to-day, befotc the Stipendiary Magistrate. 'I here are 150 objections to be heard altogether.. In every case so far heard a reduction lias been granted.

DUNEDIN, last night. The Conciliation Board >n the brickmakers' case has made recommendations that a week’s work should be -IS

hours, except in June, July, and August, when it is 41 ; turners are to work 12-hour shifts wh'Tc burning

is going on ; minimum wages £2 10s, setters Is, drawers Is, hearers and lemperers IOJd, competent laborers 10.U1. Boys may be employed at wages agreed upon by employers and the Union. Wages are to he paid fortnightly. The holidays are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Labor Day, Prince of Wales Birthday, Christmas

and Boxing Days. Overtime: Sunday, Good Friday, and Christmas, time and a half; other holidays time and a quarter ; beyond t lie stated ■hours, time and a quarter the fir-st two, and thereafter time and a half. AUCKLAND, last night. Tjje Star’s correspondent states that it is understood a claim has been received by the Cook Islands Government for £BSO, the cost of insuring the schooner Countess of Ranfurly, wages of the officers and crew, etc. The suin of £4OO voted by the Islands as subsidy for the vessel has already been largely exceeded, and it is safe to say that since she first aprivgd £9OO lias been disbursed by the Islands Government on account of the schooner. An account for £SO for provisions gives a total of £IBOO in seven months. The earnings _nf the schponft- during that period were probably £sooj' Leaving a drllcjency of £I3OO. It is a nice prospect for- the Islands Government, with a total •revenue of £3OOO per annum. The imports for the March quarter were £0047, including £353-1 from New Zealand, and the exports £1450, in-* eluding .tUosc .to Mew Zealand, £l3lß.