NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1815, 23 July 1906, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

TRUSS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, Saturday. A fishing boat searched an island oil Whitiangu, in an endeavor 10 ascertain tho cuuso of what woro supposed to bo distress signals. It found no trnco of any vossol. Doubt is now expressed if any distress signals woro rnado. A firo in a block of buildings at tho cornor of Victoria and Nelson streots

las: night, owned by tho Cochrano estate, guttod shops ocoupiod by Mrs llaldor, dressmukor, and Wing, Ittundryuiau. Tho Auckland ExhibitionCommittoo report that £055 of £BOO, tho cstiuatoil cost of tho Auckland court at tho Exhibition, has been raisod. It is propesod to form tho court in four portions, ono being a pataka, or store liouso, ono a gum oxliib t and two oxhibits of timber, wool, llax, gum, mining and other products of tho industries of tho province. IJawcrv, Saturday.

At an auction yestorday of tho ostato of tho lato A. llastio, 330 acres of land sold at £29. In another ostato 07 acres fotched £33 10s, 58 acres £52, and 50 acres at £25 10s. Tho Clydesdale stock sold readily up to 135 guineas for a four-yoar-old maro. Palmerston North, Saturday. Valuation particulars to hand show tho unimproved valuation of Palmers* ton is assossod at £1,081,3 tl as com-

pared with £828,786, tho valuation for 1901, an increaso of £252,555. In 1897, when rating on unimproved values was first adopted, tho valuation was £202,75-1, the inert aro in 9 years totalling £788,587.

Wellington, Saturday. Recently a deputation waited on tho Minister for Agriculture, urging that Government assistance bo given iu thoroughly testing a dry air procoss, tho invention of Turner, a local chemist, for dressing llax, and tho Ministor promised to support it, but it is understood Cabinet lias now refused to sanction any expenditure in that direction. A further deputation is being arranged. The Gazette notifies that Parliament moots at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21st.

Dunedin, Saturday. Shops at ra’merston South occupied by Beck (painter), and Mrs Clements, as a general store, were completely gutted by fire at an early hour this morning. The buildings were owned by Mr Johnston, a resident of Roslyn. There are no particulars. Tho insurances are; Beck’s stock in the Standard, £150; Mrs Clements’ building, Perpetual Trustees,. £OO, and the stock in the Victoria for £2OO.

Invercargill, Saturday

Riehard Wittingham, brewor, was fined £5 for failing to fix upon the plug used for tho stopper of a cask tho beer duty stamp so that it would he destroyed on withdrawal of tne beer. The plug was in the bilge, and tho stamp placed on tho head of tho cask. The prosecution did not allege fraud, but the Magistrate said tho practice opened tho door to fraud, as a stamp might bo used twice or oftoner. George Bull, Edward Mahoney, and John liana, convicted of keeping boor for sale, woro fined £SO each, in do fault ono month’s imprisonment. Tho dofouco was that tho liquor was ordorod for their own consu raption amounting to 15 gallons in 1L days. Tho Magistrate said according to accused’s statement three mon in 2J, hours consumed 10 gallons of beer. There had been concealment, and the story was so wild and improbable that he had not tho slightest hesitation in rejecting it. He announced ho would show no leniency to persons setting tho law at defiance.