NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1686, 1 March 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last eight. Mr Cotter, counsel for the Kmg of Tonga, has received a ccmmun'cation in which the luDg denies his intooticn to abdicate. News by the s.s. Marapouri Etatcs that a now engineer, under the direction of the Tongan Government, is straightening the roads on tho island, and the main road will run through the 10'ng’s propotty. The King has refused to allow tho road to bo formed, and foot a protest to Mr Im Thurm, the High Commissioner, the exact nature of which is net In.wn. The natives are quiot. The auxiliary screw echoooer Pairburn, built by Bailey and Lews for C "at by and Co,, Napier, was launched this morning. Tho Pairburn is of 100 tons carrying capacity, and equipped with a 22 b,p. engine. The steamer Kvipava, sailing t o day for London, takes from the Government poultry depot 80 oraios of poultry, including 1000 young duck and chickens. This is the largest shipment yet sent from Auckland. The averago weight of the birds is d.Jlb llotort Alexander Williamson, aged 26, Bingle, the brother of tho manager, was U'lled on tho Lone Star 'drelg-q Cardrona, oa Tuesday night, owing to a wheel breaking and falling on him. At the sale of pastoral run leases toaday the attendance was large. Competition was keen, and prices showed a substantial advance. Ono jumped from £52 a year, paid by the late tenant, to £l2l per annum ; another from £152 to £22g, and a third from £25 to £Bl aytar. Wanganui, laßt Dight.

Tho Wanganui river tourist t atlio is very brisk at proaent. Soventv passengers aro already booked to leave Taumarunui by to-morrow morning's steamer. In tbe Supremo Court to-d-iy the Cbjef Just'co sentooced Allred Wanstell to 12 months ou each of two charges of breakirg and ontoring at Macgaweka, sonloncps to bo concurroct. Palmerston North, last n'ght, In his address at the annual meeting of the JVlanawatu A. and P. Association t>day, Mr Cohen, tho President, stated alter referring to the recent institution of a scholarship at Lioooln College, that tbe commitleo hoped from year to you the number tf scholarships would be so in creased so as to onlargo their scope of usofalooss to the gonural farming community of the district. Wellington, la-1 night. Tho Education llrard resolved to lake tho advice of tho Bolicitor-Genoral on two questions arising out of tho Education Act last session : (1) Whether ad mombere of tho Board retiro on an elcotioo taking pliCO, or whether only those members go out who would ol'nerwiso havo had to retire this year ; (2) whether in tho case of thoro being only one applicant f.r a teacher's v-ciuoy, it is necessary for tho Board to send this name on to the Cotnmittro beforo making the appointment. It is felt that in such an instance the seeding on o£ tfco name to the Committee serves no purpes-, and only delays the appointment.

An irqucst on Fio'.d, a passonger missed from tho Corinthia botwar n Hobart and Wolngtco, concluded to-day. Captain David t-Xf lai ■cd that ha had warned Field in a trioadly way that ho should brace up in order to pass tho medical examination at Wellington. He did noi make any sort ol throat, and Field, who at first appeared to have misunderstood him, afterwards wroto apologising and thanking him. Evidonco was givon by the ship’s ofliosrs to show thero wa3 no reason to suspect Field would commit suicide. Tho Coroner said tho evidonco showed that Field was lost at sea, but how he got into tho wator thero was nothiog to show, Oamaru, last night. Mrs King, wife of Sergeant King, of tho police force, who leaves for Dunedin on promotion, to be senior sergeant, was presented with a purse of ssvonty sov> *reigo?.