NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1409, 21 March 1905, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) ■WELLINGTON, last night. The adjourned inquest held on the woman Hughes, who was i'oiunid dead in the house iu which the man Rousoll was found at the same time With his brains blown out, failed to disclose the .. cause of death. . There was no trace of poisoning. The jury returned a verdict of found dead, there being no evidence to show, the cause.

HOKITIKA, last night. | The Westland Railway League liaa been advised ; by. .the Minister lor Public Works that the Midland railway will be completed to Broken River cm the Canterbury side by November next year, ..'when, coach connection will bo made, making it possible to do the through journey , between the East and West coasts in one day. The adds that the League may rely on a very substantial vole being proposed for the Midland railway for the coiniing session. • ’ The Ross railway .extension to Lake Mah'inapua, a delightful tourist and holiday rcspgit,-is to be ready, by next summer. ■WANGANUI, .last night. In ‘this Magistrate’s Court this morning _Mr Stanford, S.M., delevered judgment in the election poti- , lion lodged against the return of Alex. 'Higgle 1 as - representative for I Wanganui County on the Harbor Board, upholding the petition'. The allegations of the petition were :, (l'j that' the roll wias so il'legularly compiled as not to be a real roll; (2), that an insufficient ,n|umbon of voting papers was supplied to. each booth s and (6) that for want of voting papers many electors were unable to vote. The Magistrate pointed out that the Counties Act iiad not been complied with in respect to public notice being given that the roll was not open for ‘ in-

speetion, and other matters provided for in sections 59 to 77 not l aving been complied with. The returning officer anil his deputy, were ordered' to pay costs.

WELLINGTON. last night. Saturday’s gate takings were £134. The total for the match is .£336. | exclusive. : of town, sales. .The New, Zealand Cricket Council lose . . between £l2O .and £l5O. Tlie Australian cricketers have presented Mr Raphael, secretary of the N cm Zealand Cricket Council, with a gold spvereign case, as a 'tribute of his exertions on their behalf, during their tour gf the colony. A p’arcel containing a baby hoy about a fortnight old, wrapped l in woollen garments, was found on Saturday night on a doorstep in Harbor street. The infant appeared to be well nourished, and was not affected by the cold. It was removed to a rescue home, and the police arc searching for the mother. A lire was discovered on the premises of Scott and Co;, indent agents, etc., Victoria street, yes-, terday afternoon. It is supposed to have. occurred among the kapok on tho top floor, and a large amo.unt of damage was done to the stock by fire an/d water. F. Hodgson, indent agents, occupy floors beneath Scott’s and their stocks suffered by water. The premises were owned by J. M. Richardson, and were insured for £6OOO in the Phoenix. They were not much damaged. Scott’s' stock was valued at £BOOO, and .wasi ir.stir-; cd for £6OOO. The amount of the damage has nob been assessed. Hjodgson’s and 'Anderson’s stocks were also insured. The Secretary of the Postal Department is advised that the s.s. Sierra, which left ’Fisco oni the 18th tor Auckland, has 1200 bags! of mail matter, which is nearly double the usual number,; It is believed ‘that owing to the uncertain running of Orient steamers little use is now made of the Eastern service for New Zealand mails from' London.

A deputation this morning asked Mr A. Atkinson to contest the byclection lor Wellington. He desired, ” however, to stand down, in favor of Mr. J. Hutchinson, who will'be the Opposition candidate. The ordinary session of the Court, of Appeal opened this morning. The. 'Judges present were Sir Robb. Stout and Justices Williams, Denpiston, anil Edwards. The list of cases is unueally small, and outside counsel are not strongly represented . There are seven cases onr the list, it is probable three more will be added. After arranging the order of . the cases, the Court adjourned until tomorrow morning, when the local case of the Hutb County Council y, Crawford will bp argued. The Wellington Rowing Association .has dismissed the ajppeal bodged against the Canterbury, Rowing'Club for taking first prize in the champ-, ion pairs at the championship regatta' last Saturday because the winning crew finished outside the buoy. Tqe Wellington Rowing Club which lodged the protest, is now appealing to. the New Zealand Association. Mr Cl H. Izard, City, Councillor, and a candidate for the Mayoralty, will be the. Government candidate at the by-election. Sir F. M. B. Fisher, son of Mr George Fisher, is also definitely announced as a candidate. .

MASTERTON, last night. •Three settlers were fined 29s 6’d, including costs, ton failing bo clear ppsious -weeds, blackberries, from their land, DUNEDIN, last night.

Robert McGregor Hay, enginedriver, Burnside, died on " .Saturday o7'blood-poisoning, contracted by an injury, to "bis finger while employed at Burnside cattle yards. The Empire Hotel, Palmerston, was destroyed by- fire this morning. A fire broke out at 8 o’cltock last evening in a room between .. the bil-liard-room and the one-time bar, caused by the upsetting of a kerosene lamp'. The fire was got under by Mr Duncan’ and the boarders without serious damage. Every; ■thing appearing to be sate, all the inmates retired. About 2 o’clock .this morning Mr Duncan was awakened by flames, anil on turning out found, the fire had a strong hold. All the inmates Were got out safely, but little or nothing was saved, most of the boarders losing their effects. The hotel was insured in the New Zealand Office for £BOO, the furniture for ,£4:50, and the billiard table • for £IOO, Little furniture was saved. . „

INVERCARGILL - , last night. Sir Joseph Ward has given instructions to withdraw regulations applying to the carriage of grain .in 2001 b bags. From information furnished to him, there arc still.a large number of large sacks in the colony, and the Calcutta mills, New •'Zealand, are unable to change .the looms to make the sacks of the size referred to. For the above reasons, the Minister decided in the meantime- to withdraw the regulation, and grain will be carried as formerly.