NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1673, 14 February 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

(For Press Association.) . Invercargill, last night.

The Southland Sawmilling Company’s mill at Kapuka has boon com-pltl-iy destroyed by firo. The building, its stock and contents, were insured in the Commercial Union office for £llOO. The owners will rebuild immediately.

Waipawa, last night.

George Winlove, 40 years of age, a resident of Waipawa, dropped dead this morning. He had been ailing for some time.

Palmerston North, last night.

[ Representatives of the district and I Chamber of Commerce held a conference this morning on the subject of 1 the lack of railway facilities on the East and West Coasts. Numerous complaints were made by various speakers as to tbe lack,of communication Under the present condition, and the opinion was expressed and approved by all present that no effective and permanent reform can be instituted unless the Government purchases the Manawatu. Railway. It was urged that if that were done passengers could reach Wellington from Napier quicker by way of Palmerston than via Wairarapa, besides which an immense saving in haulage over the Rimutaka would be made.

Feilding, last night.

An indignation meeting of ratepayers was held last evening to protest against the increased valuation, which averages 100 per cent over the borough. A resolution was passed asking the Valuer-General for a new valuation, and in the event of the request being declined a committee will be set up with power to employ counsel to assist the ratepayers in the Assessment Court.

Pahiatua, last night,

For. January milk, the BaUance Dairy Factory pay out iu advances, being at the rate of ninepence per pound. Wellington, last night. With reference to the reported scarcity of farm hands in the Oamaru district, and [the suggestion that this has been brought, about by the drafting of men to the Government cooperative works, the Labor Department informs the Post that the number of men sent to co-operative works since last,November is only 37.

Auckland, last night,

The question of admitting Maori girls as day pupil nurses to the Auckland Hospital came before the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. The Secretary for Education wrote thanking the Board for its approval of the proposal for training JvTaori girls as nurses. He asked if it would not be possible for the Board to accept at once one of the girls who had actually served in Napier Hospital for a year as a day pupil; further, if the Auckland Board saw no objection, the Department would ask it to accept a girl from Queen Victoria school as a day pupil, in the hope that a vacancy as probationer might be found for her at-Auckland or some other hospital at | the expiration of her first year. The Chairman moved—That the matter he referred to-the Hospital staff, with, power to act. The Board, he said, had approved’ of the principle regarding Maori girls, and he thought the Hospital would be able to meet the wishes of the Department. This was agreed to.