NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 829, 18 February 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

FATAL OVERDOSE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Aucklund, last night. Mrs Mary Ann Brown, died at Karangahake on Wednesday. At tho inquest a verdict of death from an overdose of laudanum inadvertently taken while suffering from severe pain was returned. Mil SEDDON GOES TO ROTORUA. The Premier leaves to-morrow for Rotorua. He visits the Huka Falls in company witli the Swiss expert in connection with the scheme for the generation of electricity from water powor. ALLEGED BIGAMY John Dick Coppleston, a Dunedin carter, has been arrested at Auckland on a charge of bigamy. HOUSE DESTROYED A six-roomed house on Mount Reskill road, owned by Robert Froude, and occupied by Mrs Dickie, has boon burnt. The insurances are L2OO on tho house in tho Commercial Union, and LIOO on the furnituro in the New Zealand. ELECTORAL RIGHTS. The Premier, interviewed by the Auckland temperance parties, said his experience of the electoral rights system was that it afforded many opportunities for plural voting. He favored disconsiouance of the purging of the rolls after an election, which caused irritation. He said Aucklanders were not alone in complaints regarding the poiL. Wellington was alive with irritated people. A WEALTHY COMPANY. The Waihi Company has declared a dividend of 2s 6d, making L 02.500, and bringing the total distributed to L 1,065,896. Buyers of shares are offering L 5 13s. A GAS COMPANY. Palmerston North, last night. Tho directors’ report to the annual meeting of shareholders of the Palmerston North Gas Company indicates a prosperous year. Tlie amount available for distribution is L 2770. A dividend of 7 per cent, on the paid-up capital is recommended, and of the balance ol' LI3OO LIOGO will be placed to the credit of the reserve, and L3OO carried forward to next year's accounts.

MASTERTON SHOW. Masterton, last night. There is fino weather for the Masterton Show. The sheep espeeiuiiy are well represented, there being 701 entries in Lincolns. Perry Bros, and B. atid W. Rayner are the chief prizotukers. Messrs Williams and Beethaui have the champion bull. NO DAMAGES ALLOWED. Wellington, last night. At the civil sittings of the Supreme Court this morning, the Chief Justice strongly complained of counsel not being prepared to proceed with caseß when called on. His intention was to look up his powers, and, if possible, to make counsel and not the clients pay all the costs in cases in which solicitors were the cause of delay in proceeding. His Honor also urged ;the necessity of umondiug tho law relating to jurors, so that when put to expense and trouble they should be paid adequate fees. Christchurch, last night. The jury returned a verdict for defendant in tho case brought by Elizaboth Yarr against Robert J. Loekhead, claiming JC4OO damages for the loss of tho trotting mare Jessie Palm, alleged to have boon killed by negligence of defendant while grazing on defondant’s land. A SLANDER CASE, Dunedin, last night. Judgo Williams and a jury of twelve are hoariug an action in which £5Ol damages is claimod for slander by Leung Chung against Wee Ivee. The parties were rival traders at Alexandra, and defendant asserted to the local constable that plaintiff was a leper, with the result that ho was quarantined.

THEY SAT IN SECRET. Hokitika, last night. The prison enquiry sat privately yesterday afternoon. The complainant prisoners deoliued to go on with the charges made, giving as a reason that the enquiry was not an open one, while two of them objected to the personnel of the Committee. The enquiry therefore lapsed.