NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1593, 25 October 1905, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.)' Wellington, last night. Sir Joseph Ward has issued writs for libel, claiming £SOOO damages each from tlie Post and Times for publishing an advertisement by V. Braund convening a meeting to-night to hear him deliver an address on certain matters. The,annual report of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association shows that 43 clubs are now affiliated, representing 2606 active paying members. The financial position is satisfactory. The credit balance is £52, and there are no liabiliiea. Akaroa and Marlborough have applied to have the next championship events rowed in their districts. Mr R. Heaton-Rhodes, Christchurch, was elected president; and Messrs H. Marriner, Auckland, and L. R. Wilson, Dunedin, vice-presidents. Mr Huntly Elliot, who retires from the position of .U.nder-Secretary for Mines at the end of the year, has been granted a pension of £4OO per annum. He will be succeeded by Mr T. H, Hamer, private secretary to the Premier, who has ranked as chief clerk of the Mines Department for many years. Oamarn, last night.

A meeting of the local branch of the Formers' Union, held to discuss the Col* onial Executive’s electoral circular, severely criticised the action of the Executive, and finally it was resolved “ That the circular re election be received and that the test questions be put to candidates on the platform as a guide to the electors’* The agricultural education proposals were discussed, but. no decision come to, Mr Donald Dorrie, a member of the Union, and of the Education Board, said provision was already made in a very desirable form for this very instruction. He had no sympathy with the proposal to give young children agricultural subjects. The syllabus already was very large, and the adding of agricultural subjects might deprive a scholar of his best chance of securing a high school education free. In regard to the American harvest combine it was unanimously resolved : “That the meeting protests in the strongest manner possible against any additional . duty being imposed on agricultural implements.” Dunedin, last night.

At an inquest at Beaumont on Alexander McGregor, drowned off the Gold-' en River dredge at Roxburgh Gorge, the jury found that death was due to a fall from the dredge, caused by a defective hand rail. It added a rider that the dredgemaster should have seen to fhe railing immediately on receiving notice from the inspector. The jury expressed the opinion that the stanchions were not strong enough for the work required. Edward Guy Monk was charged at the Police Court to - day with embezzling moneys of the Railway Department. He was formally remanded till Monday, but the Crown Prosecutor said the trial would probably proceed on Friday. It was incidentally mentioned that the peculations amounted to several hundred pounds,