NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 546, 16 October 1902, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

CAPTAIN HUGHES

By telegraph—Press Association — NAPIER, last night. Captain J. G. Hughes lias been appointed inspecting olhcer of the Defence Force for the cadets of the colony.

CROWN PROSECUTOR. Mr IJ. A. Cornford has accepted the appointment of Crown Prosecutor, to succeed the late Mr A. J. Cotterell. MUNICIPAL LOAN. PALMERSTON N., ast night.

Tile Borough Council have decided to apply to the Government for a loan of £20,000 in connection with a comprehensive scheme of borough drainage An additional £IG,UOO will be raised in two years’ time to complete tire work. SCHOOL MATTERS. FEILDING, last night.

The School Committee last night recommended Mr H. Stewart, of Pei 1ding, for appointment as head master of Lylton street school in place of Mr WylJie, who resigned. The action of the Board m submitting six names as suitable, yet recommending one, was protested against. The Committee are taking steps to form a School Committees’ Association throughout the district. COMPENSATION .COURT. STRATFORD, last night. The Compensation Court, after a hearing of over two days awarded Were Bros. £l6O, compensation out of a total claim of £1139. Judge Conoliy will not stop after to-morrow, and it, is unlikely all the claims will be dealt with. MINING AFFAIRS. THAMES, last night.

A conference of delegates representing local bodies, the Miners’ Union, and tradespeople decided to petition the Minister of Mines against the granting of protection to companies who have already had two years protection to work the ground. The proposal to test the deeji levels by a series of bores was favorably entertained, and remitted to a representative committee, also a proposal to explore and develop a large tract of country east of the Thames by means or large tunnels> It is proposed to ask the Government lor substantial assistance.

> WANGANUI ITEMS. WANGANUI, last night. The Government have authorised the .Wgifganui Licensing Committee to retain the Crown Solicitor of Wellington, Mr H. D. Bell, to oppose a motion for mandamus compelling the Committee to grant licenses to upriver steamers, which were refused owing to a portion of the river being within the prohibited King Country. Argument will he heard at Wellington. '1 lie ketch Lizzie Taylor was floated this morning oil the beach near the breakwat'.'r, after lightering fifty tons of flour, and was lowed up to flic wharf. The vessel is leaking, and her cargo lias been considerably damaged. A survey was being made this morning. The ketcli was insured for £709, and the cargo for £l2 LO, in the Commercial Union. The cargo is being discharged by the Huia. Pumping is still proceeding. The extent of the damage is not yet known. Messrs Hatrick and Co. have purchased the Up-River Settlers’ Company’s steamer Aotea for £2OOO. A little time hack the same firm offered £3200, but Hie offer was refused, and the Company afterwards went into liquidation. A new company is being formed to put another steamer on the river.

ORDERS FOR BUTTER, WELLINGTON, last nignf A local merchant states that the colony lost very large orders for butter, owing to the regulations compelling shipments under different brands of makers- The orders received were too large to he fulfilled by any one factory, and the buyer refused to take the shipment unless under one brand. ELECTRIC LINES.

r i lie City Corporation lias found it impossible to obtain any considerable portion of the plant for tiie electric tramways in the colony. .Very little of it can be made here. “ " CHEERING NEWS.

The anxiety regarding tiie safety of three men who left Picton some ago in a small steamer on a fishing excursion in the Sounds has been relieved bv tiie receipt of news that the men are safe, but tiie engine of tiie vessel lias broken down. MINERAL LEASES.

The Chief Justice this morning gave judgment in the case of Buxton versus. Heaps, an application for mandamus against defendant, as warden, to issue to plaintiiT licenses for three mineral leases in tiie Parapara district, alleged to have been granted verbally. The claim was abandoned in respect of two of tiie three leases. Ilis Honor held that non-compliance with the conditions prevented plaintiff succeeding in the third case, and judgment was given for tiie defendant, witli costs. A DEATH. BLENHEIM, last night. The (ieatli L announced, this morning, of Mr John Allen, formerly Magistrate for Blenheim, and Warden for the Marlborough goldfields. Mr Allen, wiio was highly respected, was a very old resident of Marlborough. He recently retired from office on a pension.

TROOPERS. DUNEDIN, last nightTire returned out-of-work troopers

had an interview with Messrs Miller, Arnold, Barclay, and Sidey, M.H.R.’s this morning. After discussion the members promised to wire to the Minister, urging the desirability oi putting men on the Otago Central, Catliiis or Heriot railways, also paying them Uieir sick pay. . A LESSON. INVERCARGILL, last night. Mr McCarthy, S-M., gave a decision to-day in proceedings against tiie Registrar of Electors He said that- one object of tiie Act was to subject the official conduct of the registrar, more

particularly while tiie roll was in process of preparation, to the closest scrutiny, so long as such scrutiny was conducted within the four corners of tiie Act. The only period during which it was possible lor there to lx? no roll was lietween the termination of Parliament and the gazetting of tiie formation of a new roll. The present Parliament not having terminated at tiie time of the acts charged against the defendant, lie was guilty of the offence alleged, but as these were testcases only nominal penalties of a idling would be inflicted, without costs. ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION. William James Howard, arrested, at the Blttfi on a charge oi wife desertion has been remanded to Westport.