NEW ZEALAND

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1973, 8 January 1907, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND

Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The AYaihi'Grand Junction records 1763 tons for £3664, for 18 days’ crushI mg. AVANGANUI, yesterday. Tho Herald’s athlotic contributor, “ Victor,” received a wire from Sydney on Saturday asking whether \A r ebb would go to Sydney and join Durnan’s stable. It is improbable Webb will go. It is rumored he will be challenged by a Napier oarsman

PALMERSTON, yesterday, AV. Good was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on two charges of selling indecent pictures. A request for the imposition of a fine was refused by Mr Thomson, S.M., who said if ever there was a case for imprisonment this was one. Accused sold seven pictures, and eight others, all of a grossly indecent nature, wore in his possession when he was arrested.

WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Minister of Agriculture states that tho proposed new regulations for the grading of flax have generally met with approval, and will shortly be brought into operation.

The first issue of the School Journal, which i* being published by the Education Department, is expected to be ready when the schools reassemble in February. A large number of applications havo bcon received for the position of editor, and an appointment will shortly be made by Cabinet. The Minister of Education believes the journal will prove a very valuable adjunct to our educational system,

The High Commissioner in London has cabled tlic Mines Department, asking what areas are available at Maharahara, near Woodville, as copper areas A prolonged though not severe earthquake was felt early yesterday morning. The first meeting of the Council of Defence, under the presidency of the Premier, will be held to-day. Speaking of the unification of the Public Health Department and hospitals of the colony, the Minister of Public Health said he was a strong believer in local administration so far as hospitals wore concerned, and against centralisation, though he thought as the Government provided a largo proportion of the total cost of upkeep they should have a little more control than at present. He intimated he was looking out for a site for a central mental hospital in the North Island, which would relievo tho Mount View hospital, Wellington, All the mental hospitals were practically full, and it was better to establish a central institution than to extend the existing institutions. Tho Government propose making provision for the establishment of a receiving institution in each of the four centres, where persons in incipient stages of insanity can go either voluntarily or be committed for observation and special treatment. In these patients will receive more individual treatment than is now possible in the larger mental hospitals, which will be an important factor in effecting cures. The Hon. Mr Eowlds, speaking of the School Jonrnal, said there had boon considerable csmplaint from all parts of the colony regarding tho lack of uniformity in our school books and the expense incurred by parents in getting now sets of books when leaving one school dtstrict for another, “ I am hoping that wo shall be able to supply all supplementary reading matter by means of the School Journal, and this will enable us in time to publish a standard reader, uniform for the whole colony, with tho addition of a variety of selected up-to-date matter published in the J ournal. This will be a much less expensive method of providing uniformity than of attempting to print such books as might be required to bring a bout uniformity.”

NELSON, yesterday. No rain has fallen for nearly ten weeks on the Waimea plains, but an abundance in the Buller district where tho grass is breast high. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday The new theatre in Christchurch has been registered under the Companies Act, with a proprietary of three, Messrs G. G- Stead A 8334, R. M. Macdonald £8333, and P. A. Herman £8333. For the Exhibition and contest, to be held from February 10 to 16, the judge of the test and choice selections and music of the quickstep contest will be-Lieut. W. G. Bentley, of Sydney, a British Army bandmaster with high credentials. For the selection and quickstep competitions 37 bands have entered, including Newcastle City (N.S.W ), and Code’s (Melbourne). Thirty-three bands provide entries for solo, quartette, and trombone competitions.