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Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1549, 4 September 1905, Page 3

Tho Wellington fire brigade on Friday night succeeded in cnecking what threatened to be an extensive Are in a wooden leasehold part of tho oity. The fire started in Mrs Travers’ two-storey wooden building, which was more or less structurally damaged, with its contents. The damage to the adjoining building was trivial. Travers’ building was let as offices, and insured for £3OO in tho Commercial Union. Tbe tenants were insured for less amounts. The origin of the fire is unknown,

At a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, some of the members strongly criticised the alleged negleot of the secretary, especially in connection with business arising out of tbe Sbrubb and Duffey meeting. Mr Batchelor said that the affairs of the council were in an eminently unsatisfactory position and be moved, “That the secretary be asked to resign, aud that a oommittee be appointed to carry on in the meantime.” The mover added that the council was in bad odour throughout the length ana breadth of the colony, owing, he alloged, to the neglect of tbe sscretary and the explanations made by the secretary on minor points complained of. The motion was carried without dissent. The secretary’s offer to take the minutes for tbe rest of the meeting was accepted, it being understood that he would band in his resignation on the following morning, The offer of the Otago centre to control tbe cross-oountry ohampionsnip, if the oounoil would give the prizes, was declined, Mr Green was temporarily appointed hon. secretary, with the assistance of Messrs Batchelor and Jay,

The expenditure of nearly three millions of borrowed money by the Government and local bodies during tbe year— must produce more or less artificial inflation, and it is well we should bear this in mind. We are not at all sure that there is not already an element of over-speculation in the prices now being given for land both in town and country, and while generally agreeing that the present condition of the colony is sound and satisfactory, we are emphatically of opinion that it is just at this juncture a policy of prudence is most urgently required.—Press.