NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1701, 17 March 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Asaooiation.) Auckland, last night.. The warship Powerful left thi norning for Napier. Wanganui, last night. A local farmer was fined £5 anc costs by Mr Stanford, S.M., at the M agistrate’s Court this morning for failing to clear his land of noxious weeds. Wellington, last night. A young married man namod Walter Jennings, employed "as a lettercarrier in the Postal Department, was committed to trial on a charge of stealing £2 from a postal packet handed to him to deliver. Blenheim, last night. The Commissioner of Crown Lands and party, exploring Clarence Talley, with a view to closer settlement, have entered the valley, and are proceeding successfully. They have a cavalcade of 25 horses, and are experiencing favorable weather. The country has been much denuded by rabbits. Carterton, last night. . A fire at Greytown destroyed • the Palace Hall and two other buildings. The fire brigade were soon on the scene, but the water gave out. Two front rooms of the s hall were used by a photographer and tobacconist respectively. Jhe insurance on the shops was £2OO each, and on the hall £4OO, in the New Zealand office. The volunteers, who used the hall as a drillshed, lost a quantity of arms and ammunition, insured for £IOO. The loss is £SO above that. The insurance on the adjoining shops is not stated.

Ohris'ohurob, last night.

The Premier has received word that the Japanese famine affects a larger area than previously imagined, and that the Japanese Government would be glad now to “accept any assistance offered. The previous offer of assistance was'refused on the understanding that it was not necessary. The High “Commissioner cables that a Mansion House fund has already been started. Mr Seddon has also received word from the French Government that Now Zealand’s offer of the Tutanekai to assist in {provisioning Tahiti after the hurricane was not necessary, thongh the offer was warmly appreciated.

Palmerston North, last night. A young man named A. J. Stockman, aged 23, was crushed between two trucks in the railway yard this morning, sustaining fatal injuries. He died within a quarter of an hour. He was a casual employee at the station, having only been there three months, and was engaged in shifting cases of fruit from the station to the goods shed while shunting was in progress. His parents live in New Plymouth.

Dunedin last night.

The Government have purchased the water rights and entire plant of the Alexandra Bonaza. Dredging and Sluicing Company for £1305. Joseph Ernest Sargent shot himself at his place of business. Deceased was accountant at Thompson and Bridge’s hardware establishment, whither he went at 9 o’clock last night, saying he had to resume work. His wife expected him to return at midnight, but as be failed to do so, she left for the office, and discovered a light there. The manager being appealed to, opened the premises, and found Sargent lying dead with bullet holes through both temples and a revolver alongside. No one else was in the place, The firm’s books are alright, and there is no cause to explain the act. He leaves a wife and two children.