NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1676, 17 February 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

.(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, last night. The agricultural returns collected by enumerators early in October have now been summarised, and are set out in the gazette published this evening. The area under wheat for threshing was 222,9(35, a decrease of 35,050 acres, and for chaffing 606, a decrease of 275; oats for threshing, 360,569 acres, and for chaffing 238,687 acres, show increases of 18,380 and 31,938 respectively. There is an increase of 713 acres in the area under barley. The number of horses in the colony is 326,966, an increase of 12,196; cattle 1,810,936, an increase of 74,086 ; sheep 19,130.875, an increase of 850,069, swine 249,727, a decrease of 5593.

The s.s. Sonoma, with the British mail of .February 3rd, left San Francisco on the 15fch.

Dunedin, last night. Mr Anderson, Drainage Board engineer has been elected an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. Feilding, last night. A serious accident happened at noon to C. Newall, of Makino. He v.as driving to Eeildiog, when his horse capsized the vehicle. Newell was dragged, and lies at Manchester hotel in a critical condition. Mrs Newell and daughter were also injured.

Palmerston North, last Dight.

A daring robbery was perpetrated by a couple of men named Petor Grant and John |Cullen at J. H. An- j derson’s store, at one o’clock last night. The men entered the front room of the store, and forcibly removed a case, containing cash, £lO, and a quantity of gold and silver jewellery. They were arrested at 11 o’clock, and at the S.M. Court this morning were remanded for a week. The jewellery and cash were found on them when arrested.

Blenheim, last night

The Marlborough barley market fairly opened yesterday at 4s 3d per bushel, It ascended to 4s 6d, and is now at 4s Bd, with appearances of brisk business. Prospects for growers are considered bright.

Greymouth, laat night.” An Arbitration Court dispute, Tyneside Co. v. employees, has been settled out of Court The company have agreed to an increase in the hewing rate by three pence per ton for all coal got on the east side, making vie rate 2s 7d, while all other coal will be paid for at 2s 4d per ton.