LATE NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1589, 20 October 1905, Page 2

LATE NEW ZEALAND.

Fee Press Association. Dunedin, last night.

Mr MoConecby, the representative of the Manchester ship canal, addressed the Chamber of Commerce to-day, pointing out the advantage of direct trade with Manchester, and he replied to a number of questions.

Wellington, last night. The enquiry into the conduct of Captain Ritchie, of the ship Looh Game, duriog the voyage from Liverpool to Wellington was continued to-day, and concluded. The unanimous finding of the Court was that the evidence did not sustain the charge of drunkenness. It had not been shown outside of the officers’ statements that the chief officer wbb ever at any time in sole charge of the ship. The Court recommended that the offioers be discharged, and that a copy of the evidence taken be sent to the Board of Trade. There wa3 no order as to costs.

Rendel Hogben, aged 12 years, son of the Inspector-General of Schools, died yesterday whilst under chloroform for an operation for removal of the tonsils. The medical evidence showed that syncope of the heart was the cause of death, and a verdict was returned accordingly. Blenheim, last night.

The Wairau Hospital Board has postponed the calling of tenders for the erection of the new hospital, pending the conference to be held at Timaru ner.t week with a view to the adjustment of differences between builders and architects. To-day the Marlborough Land and Railway League passed a resolution expressing dissatisfaction with the smallness of the vote of JE45.000 for the BlenheimWaipara railway (South Island trunk) as compared with the appropriations for less important works, and stating that unless there was a substantial increase on the Supplementary Estimates the residents of the east coaßt would consider themselves unjustly treated. It was pointed out that on a population basis Marlborough was entitled to JE17.000 more of the public expenditure than it had received during the last two years, the reason for the shortage being that nothing was voted for railway works at the Seddon end of the Blenheim-Waipara lino during that period, so that the price of the Flaxbourne estate might not be enhanced. Therefore there was all the more reason to Bxpeot a bigger vote this year. The Land and Railway League is asking the Lands and Survey Department to ascertain the practicability of roading and subdividing for closer settlement tho Clarence Vallevi-an area of a quarter of a million acres, mostly Crown land, in the southern portion of Marlborough. It is considered that a central road would act as a profitable feeder to tho South Island trunk railway when carried to that point. Christohuroh, last night.

A requisition was presented to Mr W. J. Poison, chairman of the Political Reform League, asking him to contest Christohuroh East in the interests of the Opposition. Mr Poison replied that he would give the matter oareful consideration. At present he doubted whether he would be able to spare the time to fight au election. He would make his decision known at tho earliest possible moment.