NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1971, 5 January 1907, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The Governors of Prioco Albert College, which has been conducted for some years past under the auspices of the Methodist body, have decided not to continue the establishment. This resolu

tion has beeu arrived at for financial considerations, tho step having, it is stated, been rendered necessary by the extended facilities now afforded by the Government by means of “ free places ” and scholarships at institutions to children desirous of pursuing a course of secondary education. The site on which the Prince Albert College stands has been associated with educational pro-

gress from the early days of Auckland The land was bought originally by tbo early Wesleyan missionaries, and fpr some tint o a “ \V es l°y School ” was oarried on, the late Bev, J. H. Flotcher having charge of tbo institution for . a considerable period, About ten years ago tbo Board of Governors established the Prince Albert College. The official figures showing the amount of business done by the Begistrar of births, marriages, and deaths during the year for “ Greater Auckland 1 ' district, as compared with 1905, are as follows : —1906, births 2094, marriages 1003, deaths 1060, while for 19Q5 the figures were, births 2511, marriages 943, deaths 1059. The inclusion of 14 deaths jit the wrecks of the Haoremai, Aotea, and Sir Henry ivt the Auckland figures Bwells the death rato boyond its properquota, and they make the number of deaths in 1906 exceed by- one tho deaths of 1905, otherwise the rato would show a considerable reduction, in spite of increased population Taking Greater Auckland’s population as 82,000, the percentage will be approximately as follows : 191-5 : Births 3.06, marriages 1.15, deaths 1 291. 1906 : Births i}.l6, marriages 12, deaths 1.292, The rainfall during tho year 1906 totalled 35.7 inches, In the average tho average rainfall in Auckland may he approximately staled at 4Qin, so that the total for the year just olosed is 4,Jin (a considerable amount) below the average. The rainfall for tho month of December was 1.77, the fain falling on seven days. Tho average for the last 45 years is 2,64, so that the fall is considerably below that which is generally experienced. The mean temperature for the same month was 63.5, slightly above tlie average, 62.4. The driest month of tho year was October, in which less than 1).97in of rain fell, while July (6,Soin) was the wettest month. The December quarterly returns of Customs and of excise duties collected in tho port of Auckland show that £191,477 was collected under the Customs and £3Ol in excise duties. These figures show an increase of £25,000 and £7B respectively compared with the eor-re-ponding period of 1905, ans beat the record quarter of 1904 by the big margin of £7OOO, thus creating a new record. The gold duties, which totalled £9323 for the quarter, show a substantial inI crease of £2484

WELLINGTON, yesterday. Captain Wynyard’s injury consisted of a broken sinew behind the knee, which carried away with it some of the nerves, the result being that he will be confined to liii bed for at least six weeks, and it will .be some time after that before he can use the limb without risk of permanent injury. As to playing cricket, it would be impossible for many months under the circumstances, As lie could be of no furthe -.se to the team he has decided lie might as well put in bis period of enforced retirement in a steamer cabin and return to England. De Trafford will now captain the team. Captain Wynyard is sure they are a much better batting eleven than they have yet shown themselves, and is, of course, bitterly disappointed at coming 32,000 miles‘merely to be laid aside. He speaks in high terms of the way in which the visitors have been treated, and the golden opinions they have formed of the country,

WESTPOET, yesterday. Two strangers, named Delanoy and Gibbons, were committed for trial today for burglarising a local hotel, and removing tho cash register and conton Is.

Tho Westport Coal Company’s output last year was 071,559 tons. The Seddonvillc Stato collieries output tvus 30,043 tons.

CIIEISTCH URCIT, yesterday. Mr Gray, M.11.R., yesterday tele graphed to Mr Hnll-Joncs stating thal large numbers of excuisiimisls from all

pans of tho colony wore very anxious

to have their tickets extended, say ti January 3ist, and ho sincerely hoped, i

tho interests of the Exhibition, he w'oul grant the request. The Minister rc gretted that as these tickots are avail

able for two .months from date of issue, ‘Sjdare a liberal concession, lie cannot see bis way to <*2mply with tlio request. In reply to ft 'fe.blegram forwarded by I the Premier through tlie Governor, sending greetings from the Government and people of the colony to the King and Queen, the Governor, Sir Joseph Ward states, lias received the following reply from tlio Secretary of Statefor the Colonies : “ Their Majeesti’s send your Government and the people of New Zealand sincere thanks for New Year's greetings and expressions of loyalty.” Pour shocks of earthquake were felt at Kaikoura this morning, one at 6 o’clock being very severe. Tlio Educational Institute continued its sitting to-day. Mr C D.Plardie moved an amendment on Mr Gibbs’ motion : That the Institute desires to empha-i* calhy protest against the all too prevalent notion that success in examinations is in itself an end, and not a moans to higher ends, It discountenances all such methods of coaching or preparation for competitive examinations, as they fail to pay regard to the moral and physical, as well as the mental, well-being of the children, and the Institute is of opinion that the number of competitive -examinations should be reduced.” The amendmtnt was curried by 84 to 18, and passed as the substantive motion.