LATE NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 412, 10 May 1902, Page 2

LATE NEW ZEALAND NEWS

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night.

A conference of local bodies in the North Canterbury Hospital District, held this afternoon, passed motions expressing the opinion that an Infectious Diseases Hospital should be erected, that the Chief Health Officer be requested to select the site, and that the area be the same as that of the present Hospital district. The City Council, at a special meeting, endorsed these resolutions. The people of Bromley object strongly to the smallpox reserve where the suspected patient has been taken, and which is in their area, being selected as the place for a permanent infectious diseases hospital. The condition of the patient Shields is still improving, but the medical authorities still decline to make a statement as to whether the case is one of plague. Wellington, last night. The Governor gives a state dinner on June 26th, a ball on the 27th, and holds a levee on the oOth.

The Arbitration Court to-day commenced the hearing of a dispute tiled by the Wellington Grooms and CanductoL's’ Union against the City Council, This caso concerned the city tramways, and had been referred directly to the Court by the Corporation. The demands ask the Court to fix 46 hours as a week’s work, the time of starting work to bo at the discretion of the employer, with the stipulation that r day’s work shall be continuous, meal hours excepted. A minimum weekly wage of £2 8s is asked for competent grooms, cleaners out, and general stable hands ; £8 for nightwatchmen, and £1 los for conductors, with an increase of 2s 6d per month until £2 5s is reached. During the evidence it was stated that if the demand of the conductors were granted it would involve an extra expenditure of £ISOO per annum. The Totara Flat dredge yield is 6oz 16dwt of gold for 92 hours. Westport, last night. At a special meeting of the Westport Harbor Board to-day to consider the steps to be taken for the improvement of the river, which at the entrance has shoaled considerably of late, it was decided to request the Finance Committee to place before Sir J. G. Ward a scheme for providing the necessary interest on a loan for procuring an up-to-date sand dredge. Mr Scanlon, the mover of tho motion, advocated the raising of tho port charges, and mentioned, in the course of his remarks, that vessels only paid 12s 6d per day at Westport as compared with £lO at Wellington, and more at other ports. The Board also decided to cable to the Otis Company, Melbourne, an order for suction appliances to fit on one of the dredge hoppers, for use until an up-to-date dredge is obtained. A financial statement laid on the table by the Treasurer showed the Board’s position to be as follows : Credit current account, £12,787 14s 5d ; credit special rate, coal account, £3741 Is lid ; fixed deposit, £2OOO ; unissued debentures, £SOOO ; total, £28,528 16s 4d. New Plymouth, last night. Miss Balgarie, tho prohibition lecturess, passed through New Plymouth this evening. She was officially welcomed by Mrs Douglass, President of the W.C.T.U., and Mr C. Bellringer, President of the Prohibition League. She proceeds to Auckland by the Takapuna. At the Assessment Court to-day, the Borough valuations by the Government Valuer were upheld, although the increases were considerable. The Court warmly complimented the Valuer on the careful and sagacious valuation, intimating also that no land boom existed in town property.

Napier, last night. At the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society to-day the accounts in connection with the recent Autumn Show were laid on the table. These showed the gross amount of loss to be £4l os 3d, and as several prize winners have donated their innings to the Society this amount will be considerably reduced. This result is in the highest degree satisfactory, taking into account the very wet weather experienced on show day, and there is no doubt that had the weather been fine the show, the first of its kind to be held in the North Island, would have been a very great success. Indeed, the members paid a high tribute to the Secretary, whose energy was largely instrumental in securing the large number of entries and the fine display of produce, etc., on exhibition at the show.

Nelson, last night,

At a meeting of the City Council tonight, the Mayor announced the resignation of Cr Hunter, who, with his partner, has secured the contract for building a Town Hall at Wellington. The Mayor and Councillors spoke most highly of the services rendered by Cr Hunter, and expressed their best wishes for his future prosperity. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Mayor presented Mr W. D. Lusty, who is leaving the staff of the Evening Mail to take up a position on the Auckland Herald, with a testimonial signed by himself and all the Councillors, expressing their high appreciation of the manner in which he has performed his duties here, testifying to his ability, and wishing him success,