NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 708, 2 January 1903, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

By; Telegraph—Press Association— TIMARU, last night. The holiday was the iinest day for a week past. A great attraction was the Caledonian games here. Lady Ranftirly and Lady Cjjstance Knox were present as guests £)T\thc Society at afternoon-tea. Tie sports were a great success, (>,OOO persons being present. The cycle nces mud “Plugger ” Bill. Martin’s tin h.p.h motorcycle proved a great retraction. There were no accidents. ' v AUCKLAND, last nifeht. The police have received information to the effect that the body tv a man has been found between Helesisvilie and Avondale, at about eighteen miles from the latter place. No farther particulars arc yet to hand. The annual meeting of the Auckland Rifle Association commenced today. Showery weather, which came on early in the afternoon, interfered with the competitions, but in other respects the meeting was opened un-, dor favorable auspices. In regard both to number of entries and districts represented, the meeting is a record for the Association, there being 150 competitors, exclusive of the cadets’ match, for which there are 50 entries. Nearly all parts of Auckland provincial district, also Taranaki and Christchurch, have sent representatives. Bisley targets were used for the first time by the Association, and the scoring, though not by any means brilliant, was for the most part of an average quality. The highest score in tiie match turned up to Private W. Cox, of Victoria Rifles, who also wins the Herald Cup, thus repeating his last year's success. After the commencement of the Coronation Match, the wind increased in strength, and, rain coming on about 2 o’clock, the targets became unworkable, and the event, being interrupted for a time, was not completed. NAPIER, last night. The following team has been select- 15 ed to represent Hawke’s Bay in the cricket match against Lord Hawke’s eleven :—Bishop, C. H. Cato, B. Cotterill, W. Gibson (Gisborne), Hallamtire, Hawke, T. W. Lewis, E. R. Ludbrook (Gisborne), Lusk, Macassey, Naught-on, Orr, Torkilson (Norsewood), Trott, and Young. LYTTELTON, last night. The Lyttelton regatta took place to-day in splendid wgather, with a fresh south-west breeze. There tvas a large attendance. Fourteen thousand had booked for Lyttelton at Christchurch alone up to 4 p.m. Amelia Sims won the schooner race ; Kia-Ora beat Waitangi in the second class yacht race : Waterwilch won the third-class yacht; the secondclass yacht race fell through ; the Redone crew won the .junior pa'irs; the Timaru crew the third maiden pairs. All the other winners of rowing races were from various Canterbury Clubs. The Lyttelton Club was not represented.

WESTPORT, last night. The Westport Athenaeum and Public Library was totally destroyed by fire this afternoon. Only a few boo' s were saved. In those lost were se T ral of the first edition of DtrfferV.. works. The insurances were £.320 on the building,' £IOO on books, and £2O on the furniture, all in the Imperial. r J he loss is fully £SOO over the insurance. WELLINGTON, last night, veyed to Napier for buriaj. J he holiday in Wellington was some what spoiled by rain, which fell until about 10 o’clock in the morning. However, at that hour the clouds disappeared, and the remainder of the day was beautifully fine. There were no public attractions in the city, but the usual excursions were well patronised. The body of a man about 40 years of age was found in the Halt river to-day, near Gear Island. NELSON, last night. The athletic and cycling sports at Richmond Park were largely attended, the new cycling track being much appreciated. In cycling, Mansford won the mile amateur, with McCarrison second, and Mansford won the five mile amateur. H. McCabe won the three mile cash, and W. J. Mill the five mile cash. The other events were won by local competitors. ’ * The races at Motupiko were fairly attended. All were district horses ' Tne holidays passed of! verv su ' c _ cessfully.

The tennis championship was not resumed till noon to-day, as heavy' rain fell in the early morning,though it cleared about 8.