NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1735, 28 April 1906, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Palmorston North, last night. A six-roomed bouso in the main stroot, owned by Mr Redwards, and oooupied by Mr G, Foster, was totally destroyed by firo at 4.80 this morniDg, The furnituro end effeots were insured in tbo National Firo and Marine for £279. The house was insurod, but the amount is not asoertainable.

Wellington, last night, * A funeral servioa was held on the warship Pegasus for the late Moses Bunker, the seaman drowned by tbo oapsizing of ft bo..t on Easter Mrnday. Bishop Wallis, tbo Rev Mr Fairolough, and Mr Moore, ef the Seamt-n’s Mission, worn present, After rosding the sorvioo and singing hymns, Mr Moore stepped forwerd and throw some flowers on the sea with ihe words, “ la the name of his mother and mombors of the Missions to Beamen's congregation, I place- these flowers upon tho Watery grave of the la'e Mcs9s Bunker.” The commander of tbo Pegasus blbo cast a bouquet on the waior. Bunker’s body haa net yet been recovered. The’ first meeting of tho Teachers’ Superannuation Board concluded yesterday afternoon, Pensions ef £25 per annum eaoh were granted to 11 teachers. It was announced that 1837 teachers were oentributors to the fund, and that 27 men and 10 women had reaobed the age for compulsory retirement. Mr Do Oastro, chitf clerk to the Education Department, was appointed o'erk to tbe Board, whioh is to meet onoe a quarter. The local members of tbo Board wore appointed a standing committee, and regulations fop administration of tho fund will bs gazetted next week.

In tho Appeal Court, Justice Denniston read a judgment written by the Chief Just'ce in the oase of ths Oommissiooer of Taxes v. the Miramar Land Company, Ltd. This case had to be deoided on one point, whether the oompany can be said to bS "oarryiDg on business ” when it was formed for the purpose of buyiDg and rolling one large blook of laod, and did, in fact, buy and sell it within a few months, the eale being made in one transaction, instead of as was originally intended by tbe company, cutting it up and selling it in 6eotions. The Court held that even though the matter was one single transco'ion, it was unanimously of opinion that snob sale was taxable under seotion 59 of tho Lmd and Income Assessment Ao>, 1900, inasmuch as it was carrying on business, as it had acquired and sold the land purchased, and the sale of whioh was the object of tho oompany’s formation. The appeal was a'Jowed, with costs. Dunedin, last night.

Archibald McKay, one of the viotims of the cement works poisoning oase died early this morning. Mr William Pryor has been appointed Parliamentary secretary of the Federated Employ era’. Association. New Plymouth, last night. . The petroleum operations ate apparently on tho ove of success. ■ Timaru, last Digh*. Tbo Harbor Board deoided at a meeting to-day to strike a fattbing ra'e for tbe ensuing year, Tbo country members objected, considering that the ratepayers wore oalled upon for too much money to build up the Timaru harbor,. Thera has been a good deal of discussion lately thioughout South Canterbury concerning rates,and it is proposed to bold a conference at Timaru shortly wiih the object of re ducing the harbor and hospital rates, Oarnaru, last night. At a special meeting of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association this morning, to consider offers of sites for a new show ground, it was unanimously decided, on tbe motion of Mr C. W. Reid, of boundary, recently acquired for working Elderslie, to a«k for tbe site on the town men’s homos. The mover stated there was no great dtmand in this district for working men’s homes, wboreas it wae an ideal.site for show grounds. Auckland, last night. A cable from Suva slates: Sailed, Navua. The sale of F-noiDg Island has been again postponed to tho 10:b. New Zealand insurance shares sold at noon tc-day at 60s and 59s 6J, buyers 59r, sellers 61s. Now Plymouth, last night. A Court of Ecquiry wa3 held into tbo wreck of the scow Warrior off Oakura, Mr HutohiDson, 8.M., presided, with Captain Hood, assessor. They found the O'ptain had committed an error of judgment in oarrying on tbo starbomd tsek for nine miles, but acquitted him of negligenoe, His certificate was returned, and he was erdered to pay costs.