NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1966, 29 December 1906, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

Press Association. BLENHEIM, last night. John Reardon, married, aged about 85, a steward at the Working Men’s Club, toll in a lit whilst watching the Criterion .Hotel lire on Wednesday morning. Ho was taken to the hospital, where he expired this morn--1""’ HOKITIKA, last night. Yesterday George ltaine, an old resident, dropped dead in his wheelwright’s shop. To-day P. Dee, a West Coast pioneer, well-known as a road contractor, and afterwards as a largo storekeeper, passed away. Both were old identities, wlm did their share in opening up the district. CHRISTCHURCH, last night, ' Yesterday, at Ha warden stock saleyards, Alock Allen, a well-known Waikari farmer, dropped down dead dur-

alter bidding for a pen of sheep. Heart disease was the cause. Deceased was a prominent member of the Farmers’ Union, and had been a resident of the district for over 30 years. AUCKLAND, last night. Three parties made the ascent of Ngartihoo volcano during the liolida.vs —Dr. Marshall and party, from Dunedin; Mr. Anderson and party, from 'Haurinm ; and Dr. Gordon's party, from Auckland. Tnoluded In Dr. .Marshall’s parly wore two ladies, Misses Jackson and Stewart, who reached the crater, and in Mr. Anderson’s party his daughter and niece also reached the crater, which was very active, giving the visitors a grand opportunity of studying the titanic forces at work. The weather was beautifully fine. and glorious views wore obtained. ' Misses Jackson and Stewart also successfully ascended Uuapehu mountain, gaining the highest peak. In the throe parties there were no less than 28 persons. and the mountain huts were taxed to their utmost for accommodation.

Christmas business at Auckland post and telegraph offices was exceptionally hoavv, and the mails handled constitute a record. In the telegraph office in ■ four days 9039 messages were sent out and 10,007 received, and 18.248 transmitted through for other offices. On Christmas Eve 3111 messages were forwarded. 3071 received, and 0900 ransmitted. The postal figures of the Christmas business are as follows: Letters and cards received 222,392, letters and cards despatched 203,438, books received 101,542, books despatches 74,534, newspapers received 62,504. newspapers despatched 78,521, parcels received 2533, parcels despatched 1133, total packages received and despatched 746,967. Last year’s total was 491,588. It should ho'borne m nund that Christmas':Day in 1905 fell on a Monday, and a v good deal of correspondence "was timed to reach , addresses after the time of closing o r

AYEGKINGTON, hist night

The (,'ontral Hotel at. (Haiti was destroyed by lire last night. The premises were occupied by T. Aiessiter, and owned by Messrs. Wallerlimn and Freeman. Only a little of the furniture was saved.

A eimferenee of delegates representing the Moulders’ Union of Dunedin, Chrisfelmrc.il and Wellington is lionig hold hero. Auckland, though affiliated, is not represented, owing to the exceptionally busy time. It was resolved lo appro.toll the Government, wil li a request for additional duly on brass and iron rudings, also to urge the Government to speedily, establish State, foundries ill centres where l bey have not already been established, notably at Auckland and Invercargill. It was asserted that m-.iiy hundreds of pounds hod nlroi! I ••on saved lo the colony by the on :i,i iis o I the Slate I'nuiulrios at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

MTV PiTVAIOrTii, last night. Obituary: Mr. Clarence Ren nell, for 'if'ii.v years seerelm v I |„. Plymouth Harbor Board, Gas Co. iltd Investment Society, aged 75.

„„ , TJMAPIg last night. Hie Kangri,Ua traffic bridge, which was partially destroyed by' lire yesterday, has been damaged to the extent ~f about £7OOO. The fire orffiinsi.oil in gone on li e r i V! ,..j..

The body of a young man who was drowned on. Wednesday, through It .vaelit capsizing, has not yet been recovered.

’ , OAMARU, last night. A lad iumied Allen Frame win drowned whilst bathing in the AVaina Kama river to-day.