NEW ZEALAND

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 810, 27 January 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, last night. .}. C. Booth, a hor.se trainer, who broke his lug in a fall on Thursday, died last night.

WAIROA, yesterday

Mr Napier Bell arrived on Saturday and will remain tor several days inspecting the course of the river and harbour improvement works. NAPIER, last night.

A sitting of the Compensation Court in connection with the compulsory acquisition of the Milbottrne estate, commenced to-day, before the Chief Justice and Messrs T. Crosse and C. Elgar, assessors. The claim of the trustees in the Stoke estate is f0r£184,998, being £161,998 for land valued at £5 12s. per acre, and £29,000 for loss of business. 7he oiler made by. the Government was £4 an acre, subject to the reduction for any area found denuded of soil by the rivers.

When the case against Magill, charged with arson, was called on at the Conn, to-day, accused did not appbar. On Saturday he was medically examined as to his sanity, and was committer' to the asylum, leaving by express for Wellington. 'Phis morning on the application of the Crown Prosecutor, n warrant was issued for his arrest, and accused will be brought back to answer the charges against him. . ,

PALMERSTON N., last night. At the Pension Court to-day Mr Greenfield, ■ S.M., amide an order requiring repayment of £ll ss, the amount of a pension overdrawn by W. 11. Tompkins, of Rongotca, and refused to renew the pension at present payable to him. FEILDING, last night. The Borough Council to-day appointed Wednesday as the statutory half holiday. A heavy thunderstorm with much rain occurred yesterday. WANGANUI, last night.

A through train from Wellington was delayed 31 hours at the foot of Foidell Bank on Saturday afternoon owing to the front axle of the front engine breaking. It was a big. train, including about 300 passengers, and had the break occurred at the top of I,l l c hill most disastrous results might have followed. Another team was sent from town to transfer the passengers, and just when that was completed, repairs to the engine were effected. Mr Eyre Kenny, S.M., gave judgment in the packet license ease this morning, in which the captain of a river steamer was charged with selling liquor to a passenger while the vessel was moored at a stopping - place during a Boxing Day excursion.. The Magistrate held that the excursion was only one passage, and the stopping merely an incident of the voyage, and that there was no illegal &alC '' STRATFORD, last night. Some 350 nominations have been received for the Stratford Caledonian Sports meeting on Thursday next. There will be 142 competitors, including Smith, Spencer, Barns, Davidson, Kerr, Brunncttc, and Humphries also the South Island champions. Amongst the pipers will he the Wanganui Pipe Band. A record meeting is anticipated. The Hon. the Premier has accepted | the position of patron of the North Taranaki Riiie Association, and has I forwarded a donation to the prize funds. WELLINGTON, last night. Two inches 59 points of rain fell in 48 hours. Considerable damage nas been done in the district. Harvesting was well forward, and promised to give good returns. The Agricultural Department are using stringent measures for the suppression of noxious weeds. Prosecu-. lions are taken and fines imposed on those who neglect, to exterminate weeds. . ~ CHRISTCHURCH, last night., Charles McNicol, a Christchurch bootmaker, sued H. G. Eli, M H.R, this morning for £B4 7s, alleged to be due on a promissory note given about sixteen years ago. He stated that EH in November lasi, had offered to pay £75 if McNicol would explain to the electors the circumstances under which the bill was given, but McNicol refused. The Magistrate gave Judgment for defendant, on the ground that the debt was barred by Statute of Limitations.

WESTPORT, last night. Robert Smith, aged 29, ‘single, a horse driver, was run over by a loaded tub,in the Denniston colliery this morning. His chest was crushed and lie was killed. DUNEDIN, last night. A severe shock of earthquake was felt, at 1.50 p.m., the direction being east to west.