NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1817, 25 July 1906, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, 'net night. Tho Public Works Department lias rocoived two (ouders, 1 oth from Now Zoaland linns, for com miction of the now tunnol on tho Midland railway under Arthur's Pats. Throo or four tondors aro also oxpected from Homo, sovoral largo English firms having beeu suppliod by tho Department with data upon which to base eatimatos. Tho general manager of tho Equitablo Lifo Assurance Socioly cables from Sydnoy, stating that tho'. Society does not intond to transfer* its Now Zealand policies to tho National Mutual or any otlior company. Ernest Sorgoanf, Public Works Office clerk at Raurimn, noar Taumnrunui, committed suicido last night shooting liimsolf with a poa rillo. l'kilding, last night.

A disastrous tiro broko out atlfongotea last night in tho promises of Sutton, ironmoDgor and furnisher, resulting in tho destruction of four shops and two dwellings 1 bore was no water supply, but a bucket brigade, aided by blankote, prevented a further spread of tho tiro. Mr Sutton estimates his loss at abovo tho insurance, viz., /'285 on tho building and £570 on tho stock in tho Now Zealand office. Glover's building, destroyed, was insured for £IOO in tho same office.

WollingtOD, last night.

J. P. Evans was sentenced this morning to two yoars’ imprisonment for theft at New Plymouth.

Dunodin, l ist Light.

Tho Premier this morning inspected tho fever hospital at Logan’s point Ho says tho objections to the site aro, firstly, tho noise of firing at tho rifle butts close by, and secondly, tho presence of tho fever hospital might deprecate the value of tho surrounding property, amongst which 100 acres are owned by the Government, lie will bring tho matter before Cabinet for consideration.

The Otago League has written to the Premier, complaining of tho improper distribution of co operative workers ODgaged on railway extension works throughout the colony as shown in the report of the Department of Labor of May. Tho chief complaint is the number employod on the West Coast of this island (1517) as compared with tho number in Otago and Southland (507). The League asks for a more equitable distribution. Hokitika, last night.

Mr T. Y. Seddon, M.H li., was entertained by bis ladies’ committee yestorday at afternoon tea. There was a very large attendance of the public, including country repraenta* tives. Mr Joseph Mandol, ex-Mayor, presided, and during tho afternoon tho ladies presented tho new member with a gold sovereign case as a souvenir of tne occasion. Mr Seddon made a happy speech in reply. Several musieal items were given. Before the proceedings terminated very hearty cheers were givon for the member, Mrs Seddon, and family. Mr Seddon remains another fortnight or so on the Coast, and purposes visiting South Westland before returning to Wellington. Christchurch, last night.

At a meeting of the vestry of St. Mary’s Church, at Addington, on Thursday, it was decided to erect a belfry on the church lawn as a memorial to the late Premier. St. Mary’s was the church attended by Mr Seddon during his visits to Christchurch. Some time bofore his death he expressed his desire to assist in the erection of a suitable belfry. He gave a subscription towards the work, and himself collected subscriptions from several personal friends, but a sum of about £SO is still required. Tne vicar, tkeßev. Walter Bean, is a son-in-law of the late Mr Seddon. The road from Mackmzio to Port Robinson (Cheviot) is blocked. The sea has washed the foot of the road away, and a slip came down, comp’elely blocking the road. The subject of builder’s quantities has just been started on Tuesday eveniDgs at Christchurch technical classes, for the benefit of students in the building trades. It is the first time in the colony that a special class has been devoted to this mbject. Tho subject includes not only taking olf quantities, but abstracting ai d billi lg fr> ro scale drawings and n ether s of measurement of different kinds of work that occur in build;ngs. For several days past tho temper ature at night and day has been almost steady, varying between 45 and 50 degrees There was one day and night in which a slight rise and fall were experienced, but otherwise the pencil of the observatory recorder traced almost a straight line on tho record. A meeting of delegates of various local bodies on Banks Peninsula was held in.the County Chambers, Buvauckelles, on t-’aturday to arrango for a uniform rate of wage for lab >r in the county. The County Chairman pro* sided, and with one exception all the bodies represented at tho meeting passed a resolution “That it bo a recommendation to tlie dilfereut bodies on the Peninsula that the rate of wages be one shilling per hour up to eight hours for sui face men, overseers 010 shilling a day extra, overtime to be arranged, and for horse and dray 14s per day.”

Gore, last night.

A new development of tho dredging industry in this district has takin place. A syndicate, after surface prospecting, has secured options cv- r a very large area of agricultural land on the Waimea Plains in the vicinity of Riversdale. It was not previously suspected that any payable auriferous ground existed within many miles if tho district referred to If the final tests by boring confirm tho expectation of the syndicate, it is understood several dredges will be placed in commission to work the new field.