NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 423, 23 May 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Prior to her departure from Onehunga for Raglan and Waitara last night, ■ a fire was discovered in the hold of the . steamer Kanaeri. It originated in a case shipped as “ drugs,” hut which is stated to have also contained a bottle of nitric acid. No damage was done to the vessel, hut the damage to the cargo is thought to be considerable. The steamer sailed at 10 p.m. WAIHI, last night. A young man named Michael Johnston whilst training a horse yesterday, was throwui, the horse rolling on him and causing internal injuries and concussion of the brain. He has remained unconscious since. PALMERSTON N., last night. Mr George Hoe, one of the oldest settlers of this district, died this inclining, aged fi6. Mr Roe arrived in Wellington in 18-11, and has had an adventurous life, serving through the Maori War. He came to this district 30 years ago, and one of his son’s contracts was, the erection of 40 houses for emigrants brought out by the Manchester block corporation. NAPIER, last night. The Borough Council have appointed Mr Alfred Barter, of Wellington, Assistant sanitary inspector. Judgment was reserved in the Supreme Court in the action Watt v. Clark, a claim for damages for alleged illegal deviation of a creek. FEILDING, last night. The mounted volunteers concluded a week’s camp yesterday with military tu>°rts. Despite the stormy weather prevailing all the week, valuable instruction was gained by the troopers 'in camp. A heavy gale is blowing to-day. WANGANUI, last night, A fire early’ this morning destroyed three four-roomed cottages in me smh urb of Aramoho. Two others were only saved by the exertions oi trie resjdents, who formed a bucket brigade no water supply being available, rue houses were each insured for £(><J m the New Zealand, and the furniture of the centre house (where the fire started), which was all burned, for a like amount in the same office. The furniture was removed from the otner houses.

WELLINGTON, last nigirt. Edward J. Norton, who pleaded guilty to forgery, was ordered by Judge Edwards to come up for sentence when called upon. To-night’s Gazette will contain a notification that the names of Messrs. Mallard, Smith, and Christopher. (Dunedin) have been removed from the Commission of Peace. '

NELSON, last night.; Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, arrived yesterday to inspect the sanitary precautions that are being taken here. He consulted with the Mayor, who has convened a conference on Friday of tiie local bodies, including Coilingwood, in reference to the urgent necessity for arranging for the erection of a separate hospital for infectious diseases. Messrs M. Lightband and O. H. Bisley have been nominated to the vacancy on the County Council caused by retirement of Councillor Hunter, who lias gone to Wellington in connection with a big contract there.

Mr Mestayer lias arrived to prepare a report on the complete drainage of the city.

KAIKOURA, last night. Four earthquake shocks were' felt between 3 o’clock and a quarter past 7 this morning. The first was sharp, and the others slight.

OUR DEFENCES,

ADMIRAL lIAWSON’S OPINION,

(Per Press Association), AUCKLAND, fast, night. Admiral Kawsom interviewed, said that, his appointment as .Governor of New Soutli Wales had no significance

in connection with any scheme of reorganisation of colonial defence. Such a suggestion had been made by English papers, but as a matter of fact he knew nothing about it. The English Government never "said a single word to him on the subject. The feeling in England was that * the colonies must decide what their defences shall be. As business men, if they consider it wise to insure their property against the war risk, they wijl do so. The vessels of the Australian Squadron, though up.to-date when sent out at first, and still well adapted for the work they are doing, would be of very little use in the event of an outbreak of war, if called upon to meet such modern warships as would no doubt be sent to attack the colonies.

ARBITRATION.

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, last night. The Arbitration Court delivered Judgment to-day in the case filed by the Wellington Typographical Union and Wellington Letterpress Printers, Machinists, and Lithographers’ Union.

The Court declined to separate the employment of machinists from that of compositors, as in country offices and Wellington jobbing offices there was often not enough work for a special machinist. The minimum wage of letterpress machinists in Wellington, Wanganui, and Napier was fixed at £2 10s, litho. machinists £3. In the typographical dispute, the Court fixed the hours at 48 per week. Compositors’ wages in Wellington, £3 per week for day work, and £3 Gs for night work. Piece rates is per thousand for day, and Is Id for night. Wanganui and Napier, £1 10s for day, and £2 15s for night ; piece rates, lid for day, and Is for night ; employers in these towns to have the option of employing youths without indentures by paying a slightly higher rate than in the case of apprenticed boys. In Palmerston,, Masterton, and Hastings, the rates to be £2 os and £2 10s per week, with no restriction on the number of youths to be employed, but at a scale to prevent unfair rates. For the rest of the district the rates to be £2 2s per week on a basis resembling the award as to the Canterbury country printers. Preference of employment to Unionists in Wellington, but not in the rest of the district.