NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1955, 11 December 1906, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. At the Magistrate’s Court to day David Todd, master of the steamer Wainui, was fined £1 and costs £3 10s for proceeding to sea from Greymouth without a full crew. The defendant said one of the seamen got drunk and did not return to the vessel, and a man could not be obtained to replace him.

Christchurch, last night.

Eain fell in heavy showers through* out North and Mid-Canterbury last night and this morniDg. It will do a large amount of good to the crops and grass, which were beginning to show the effects of the dry weather. A heavy thunderstorm was experienced in Christchurch lass night. The musical and elocutionary competition commenced at the Exhibition to-day. The first was a Shakespearian recital for males, and ten competitors essayed “ Hamlet’s Address to the Players.” In the evening the same competitors delivered their own choice of selections, and prizes will be awarded on the all-round performance. In the afternoon the ladies’ competition for Shakespearian recitations began, for which there were 15 entries,

Dunedin, last night. The Star says Dunedin will in future possess four constituencies, North, West, Central, and South, the latter embracing the whole of the flat, while Dunedin North includes the bulk of the North East Valley, which is now in Chalmers electorate.

Mangawoka, last night.

The premises of Donald Munro, wine and spirit merchant, Meyers and Sinclair’s stables, and Aiktnaa and Oliver’s bakery were burnt at 2 30 yesterday. The lire started in Hunro’s. The origin is unknown. Several other buildings had a narrow escape, the windows being smashed. Munro’s loss is estimated at £ISOO. He had just received a large Christmaß stock, xne insurances are : Munro £IOOO in the Union and National, the stables £2OO in the Alliance, the bakery £l5O in the Standard.

Palmerston North, last night. Judge Chapman’s reserved decision on the appeal in the Podding pigeon shooting case was delivered here today. The appeal was allowed without costs.

Auckland, last night,

Sir John Gorst, accomp miod by the Minister of Education (Hon. Goo. Eowlds), paid a visit to the Newmarket manual training school on Saturday morniDg. Sir John expressed himself as beiDg very pleased with the buildings and equipment, and with the appearance of the children. Sir John and Miss Gorst were driven to the National Park at Nihotapu yesterday by the Minister for Education, where a fine clump of kauris in the ranges was inspected. Sir John’s departure from New Zealand has been fixed for to-day, when he leaves for Sydney, proceeding thence to Melbourne, and subsequently to Egypt.