NEWS ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 694, 13 December 1902, Page 3

NEWS ITEMS.

During last month Wellington experienced 15 wet days, the fall being 2.96 in. Tho Hay district, Now South Wales, has lost over 700,000 sheep sineo December last, owing to want of rain. It is understood that there are nearly 200 applications for land near Now Plymouth, under tho workmen’s homos schomo. Tho Lyttelton Times says that it is quito possible that before tho end of his political career Mr Jennings may bo promoted to Ministerial rank. At Bowral, Now .South Woles, a horso belonging to Mr W. Stokos was struok with lightening and killed. Tho storm was sovero, and tho lightening flashes excessively vivid, A wharf laborer, Henry .Tames Court, 39, while working in tho hold of tho steamer Age, at Port Pirie, was struck by a pieco of coal on tho head and died from tho injuries received. Tho tendency nowadays, said Mr Justice Donniston at Wellington, apropos of applications from jurors for exemption, is for tho law to exempt all persons who arc likely to bo usoful jurors. Tho cloud that has hung ovor tho Ivimutakas for tho last fow weeks liftod for a short time last Wednesday, and revoaled that tho hills wore still clad with snow for a considerable distance from tho top. At Tokaanu, tho residents all seem to be of tho same mind as regards political mattors and tho local option question. Tho whole of tho voters in that community (24 in number) gavo a block vote to Mr Herries, whilst on tho licensing question they went solid for continuance. —New Zealand Herald. Among the newly-olected members of Parliament, we notice the name;of Mr W. T. Wood, who, in 1879, was carrying on his trade as a farrier and blacksmith in Main street, Kumara. Taken as a whole tho result of the general election is satisfactory, and has given New Kealand a greatly improved House. —Observer. Private advices from Wellington go to show that the Premier may be expected

i go to Auckland before the end of this loath on a short official visit, and to atind to various local matters. . News from Sydney records the death of centenarian. This was Mr Richard tevons, who was aged 101. Ho had seon lany changes in the fortunes of Australia. [e died of senile decay at the residence t his son at Deep Dene, Vernon street, trathfield. Last month the Scottish Antarctic xpedition left the Clyde for the Sandwich hands and the Antarctic Circle, bent on - jientific research. It will be absent fully j year. The expedition is composed en- 1 .rely of Scotsmen, the sum of £22,000 aving been subscribed by Scotland to f over the expenses. 1 A few days ago it was claimod by a s )unedin paper (writes our Wellington i orrespondent), that the Macrahanish was redited with tho fastest passage from tho Jape of Good Hope to Otago Heads. A Vellington journal denied its contempoary’s statement, and claimod the honor Dr tho Sterling. Both are wrong, howvor, for in Novombor, 18913, the barque loicn Denny, then in possession of the i.S. and A, Co., and now owned and comnanded by Capt Holm, of the G. M. I luckor, made tho passage from tho longiude of tho Capo to Port Chalmers in 23 lays. Capt. James, now of tho ship Auckland, was then in charge, and one of iis officers was Mr Tate, at present chief ifficor of the Union Company’s s.s. Rotonahana. As a general rulo seamen do not take jaturally to the role of witnesses in udicialp roceedings, and this fact has been jxemplifiod moro than once during the orogress of tho inquiry into tho wreck of ihfl Elingamito. One of tho witnesses jailed did not give his evidence with that freedom from resorvo and self consciousness which the examining counsel (tho Hon. J. A. Tele) desired. Tho chairman, Mr Hasolden, said ho thought tho witness was rather norvous, and he remarked, 11 dome of theso sailor? are moro afraid of counsel than they are of rocks.” Mr Tole reminded the witness that he was only required to speak tho truth. ,l That’s what I am trying to do,” was tho reply, “but you won't bolieve me.” Mr Tole :“ I did not say that I did not believe you.” “ No, you did not say so,” rejoined tho witness, who gavo tho concluding portion of his evidence with more freedom than he had exhibited up to this time. A Mokoreta correspondent of tho Southland Nows writes :—Our roads are far from being in goodordor ; in fact, they aro in their normal winter condition. We find fault with our Government for excessive botrowing and extravagance, but wo want to have roads, bridgos, and railways. In this respect, we, in a small way, resemble tho famous Mr Allen, of Bruce, who wanted £300,000 from the Government to make railway's, and at the sams time stigmatised the Government for their borrowing proclivities. How superlatively consistent is the aspiring leader of the Opposition, Well, as far as wo are concerned, we realise that no Government can make roads and railways without money, not even tho Seddon Government. We, therefore, are in favor of moderate borrowing and very careful expenditure; of course it is tho Opposition’s forte to cry down tho Government for extravagance, at the same time wishing to get as much money as they can.