NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 811, 28 January 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

Per Press Association. HAMILTON, last night. i William J. Hunter, a well-known j stock auctioneer, died yesterday, j after a long illness. He leaves a widow, two sons, and four daughters. J WAIROA, yesterday. ' The Hon. J. Carroll addressed a large meeting of natives this morning on Native land administration. The settlers of Nuhaka, Morere and Opoutama have arranged with Mr Napier Bell to visit and report on Waihokopu Harbour. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. A woman who gave her name as Jane Mullen, from Waihi, Auckland, died suddenly in the gaol this morning. She arrived here by steamer on Thursday last, and was or remand for a week for medical observation as to her state of mind. WELLINGTON, last night. The hearing of the petition to upset the Newtown local option poll, wmch resulted in the carrying of prohibition, began before Dr. McArthur, S.M., to-dav. At the outset Mr Skerrett, for petitioners, objected to tthe appearance of Messrs Bell and Atkinson in opposition on the ground that there was no statutory authority for electors to be elected as a parly to a petition. lie said he had no objection to one solicitor appear- j j ri£ r ;IS ' amicus curae. The Magistrate without ruling on the point, admitted both opposing counsel as friends of the Court, and said he would allow them every latitude in the proceedings. Mr Skerrett then opened the case for the petitioners. With reiercnce to a complaint by Dunedin solicitors of dilatoriness on the part of the Defence Department in dealing with claims by returned * troupers for moneys alleged to he due the” Minister of Defence points out that the reflection is undeserved, as two claimants were finally paid while the remaining two were overpaid to the extent of a few shillings. Mi Scdcion adds that the men s pay is in no instance deliberately kept back as

alleged- O AMARU, last, night,. I-loavy rain last, night culminated in fiv-ndcr and a hail-storm to-day, hap-, nilv of brief duration, otherwise serious injury would have resulted to the crops ' As it is many heavy fields have been badly laid. WESTPORT, last night. A prisoner named Ewing, missing from the hospital at Charlestown, is supposed to have been drowned in the sea.