NEW ZEALAND

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 444, 16 June 1902, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, Saturday. The captain and officers of the two Japanese warships in port last night entertained a large number iof citizens on board. In a speech Captain Iwasai i expressed thanks for the .kind treatment and the good feeling extended to the Japanese, and he added : We are very proud of the treaty just entered into. We highly esteem you as our allies, and we should be so pleased if you find that Japan deserves your alliance. New Zealand has many sources of inherent wealth, that Japan should hope that a liberal exchange of commodities between the two countries should take p,ace. Mr Fowlds, M.H.IL, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, heartily reciprocated the friendly sentiment expressed by CaptIwasaki. The Coronation Celebration Committee have decided to abandon the fireworks display on the evening of Coronation Day. The Auckland and Waikato Farmers* Unions have forwarded a joint communication to the acting-Prem er, urging

that, as Australian farmers are now pleading for the abolition of the duties on New Zealnd produce the present is an opportune time to approach tne Federal Government with a view to securing some measure of reciprocity to open a wider door in the Australian markets for our farm products. Archdeacon Calder, the Anglican Bishop Commissary, interviewed on his return from Fiji, said that he went to the Islands thinking it would be a very good thing for a Crown colony to blossom into the glorious freedom of the Colonial Constitution, but after read ng the Constitution, and seeing the relative proportions of white men and natives, and learning of other matters that, he knew nothing of before, he had come to the conclusion that feder-

ation would be a very good thing ‘for New Zealand, but plot for the Fijians. The natives, he says, ate fairly treated. It is treatment that they can understand, though it does not accord witli white men’s views, but Fiji is not a white man’s country. Fiji is ruled by the natives in accordance with native capacity. He did not think the natives knew anything about federation That was entirely a whit/ man’s move principally got up by storekeepers. •He

was unable to speak as to the views of planters on federation, but there was much soreness existing in consequence of the Federal tariil affecting their Sydney markets. PALMERSTON N., Saturday. In connection with the rider added by the jury to the verdict as to the death of the boy Deader, Mr McGregor, Inspector of Machinery visited Palmerston to-day. He states that when he inspected the machinery last year ne ordered Deader to take every precaution against accident, by fencing, and especially cautioning him not to allow children in the engine room. A fire at Ashurst destroyed the public library, Bauckham's and Brewer’s stores and J. B. Beale’s office. A building occupied by West, chemist, was scorched and the stock damaged by water. The nsurances on the library are £IOO,, Bauckham’s £SOO, Brewer £2UU on the building, the stock being- uninsured. The loss is- heavy in each instance. WANGANUI, Saturday. The auction sale of the large rreezrng works at Aramoho, a suburb of Wanganui, which was to h'ave taken, place to-day,, was postponed for three weeks, owing to an interim 'injunction having been obtained by the mortgagee. MARTON, Saturday.

At the adjourned meeting or me Licensing Committee renewals and transfers were granted in all cases. Great interest was . manifested in the hearing ,of an application for a hotel at Rongotea, which occupied the whole day. The committee were unanimously of the opinion that a hotel was not quiredAt an enthusiastic meeting of the Coronation Committee, a proposal to erect an ornamental lamp in the park was adopted, instead of placing it at the junction of the two main streets. The town is- to be profusely decorated, and the decorations will include five arches. After a procession, a united service, followed by a demonstration, will be held in the park. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.

George McKay, who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to stealing a quantity of jewellery from the Royal George Hotel, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at the Supreme Court this morning. WELLINGTON, Saturday.

Mr Cameron, Inspector o£ New Zealand produce in London, reports that the shortage of supplies of chilled beef from America has been steadily causing the market for all classes of beef to become firmer. There is a great} scarcity of prime fat cattle in America. The production of beef in the States has been made expensive owing to thej short corn crop. He doe? not believe the Beef Trust has 1 been the cause of the high prices latterly ruling) New Zealand beef has practically been the only frozen beef on the Smithfield market, and has been of excellent quality. Mr Cameron believes that the prices of beef will remain high for a considerable time. Mutton is also improving in price, but has been slow of consumption.; The market, however, is promising. Lamb has been In heavy supply this season. The River Plate sent 7000 carcases, as qgainst 4000 last year. Various importers of lamb have been forcing sales and prices have consequently dropped, but il warmer weather sets in the trade will take a spurt and prices rise.