NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 471, 12 July 1902, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) WANGANUI, last night. A big Masonic gathering last night was held on the occasion of the installation of Bro, A. G. Bignell, Worshipful Master of St, Andrew Kilwinning Lodge. One hundred and sixty brethren were present, including LI Past Masters, Grandmaster IL J. Williams, and Grand Secretary Malcolm Niccol. 'l'lie sum of iS 15 was collected in the room towards the Aged and Indigent Masons Fund. • WELLINGTON, last night. Mr Campbell, for 63 years chier engineer of the Government steamers, is retiring from the service, The Libel Bill (Mr Carncross) was introduced to-day, The second reading was fixed for" August 6th. The recommendations of the Municipal Conference, which concluded its sitting yesterday, were presented to the Acting-Premier to-day by a deputation. In reply Sir J, G. Ward said he fully recognised the valuable work done by these conferences,, and the Government, was equally desirous of bringing about uniformity in the working of the municipal system. He was personally in accord with the conclusions arrived at with regard to the I amalgamation of boroughs, mid thought tiie recommendations concerning hospital hoards should he brought about. lie agreed that there should he some limit to the height of buildings in cities. As to increasing the amount of loans to local bodies, the present limit appeared to him as high as the Government were justified m going. It was not intended to make the system of rating on unimproved values compulsory, A clause to that effect in tiie Bill circulated slipped in inadvertently, lie promised tiie Government would print the proceedings of the Conference. The Hon, Mr Mills, as head of tiie Valuation Department, said with regard io tiie complaint about valuation charges tiiat there was no desire on tiie part of tiie Department to overload local bodies, whose representations would he fully gone into, CHRISTCHURCH, last night, A six-roomed house at Woolston, owned and occupied by Mr Cockburn, was destroyed by lire last night. The insurances on tiie building are £2OO. in the London and Liverpool. The furniture and piano were insured for about £llO in tiie Imperial. DUNEDIN, last night. 1 The jury at the inquest on McNiven returned a verdict of death through heart trouble. A large and representative public meeting of miners and others at Riinu last night unanimously resolved that, in view of tiie probability in the near future of the permanent supply being Drought on to Seddon’s Terrace, it is considered absolutely necessary that tiie Hokitika river should he proclaimed a sludge chanbcl. The. meeting further resolved to ask tiie local bodies to send a deputation to Wellington to urge the great importance of the matter to tiie district. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and the feeling is pronounced. AUCKLAND, last night. _ I Owing to tiie completion of tiie main, lines for the electric tramways, there are a good many unemployed in the I city. The Government are to he urged

to provide work for men needing it. A ease of leprosy is reported at the .Maori settlement, at Rangariri. The patic-nt, a man living with his wife and family, declined to be isolated. The Raglan Council have resolved to ask the Health Department to deal with tire case. PALMERSTON N., last night. The Canterbury A. arid R. Association have intimated to the Manawatu A. and P. Association that it cannot alter the dates of its next, annual show which clashes with the Manawatu exlure. The Special Committee appointed has recommended the Horough Council to invite alternative competitive designs for the erection of a town hall containing municipal offices, public library, and hall with seating accommodation for 1500, or an opera house only, to seat the same number. Applications for debentures for £BOOO allotted for the purpose will he invited in Wellington, Napier, Wanganui and Palmerston. WELLINGTON, last night. The Public Health Department today prosecuted a .suburban doctor and resident for failure to report a case of infections disease, scarlet fever. The action was taken to impress on medical men and householders that all cases of an infectious character must be re•ported. Defendants were fined a nominal amount. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Dr Townsend, a well-known doctor, father-in-law of the Earl of Seafield, died this morning of paralysis. John Nelson, a farmer at I-loroata, was thrown from his trap on Tuesday and has died from his - injuries'.