TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1994, 1 February 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. DARGAVILLE, yesterday. The people’s reserve of fifty acres at Kaihu, studded with' immonso and valuable kauri trees, is on fire. Tho fire spread from adjoining fern country. A large body of men are engaged in fighting the flames, but tho park appears to bo doomed. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Besides voting £20,000 to the provident fund, the Union Bank has granted a bonus of ten per cent, on all salaries to its officers.

It was anticipated that Henry Stratton Izard, solicitor, of Greytown North, who pleaded guilty of misappropriation of trust funds, would have been sentenced yesterday, but owing to the late arrival of Mr Justice Cooper from Sydney sentence was deferred until Saturday morning.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute is being held today. The President’s report stated that the Government had decided to publish a work on New Zealand mollusca, and had appointed Mr H. Suter as editor. The Hutton ■ Memorial Committee recommended that as subscriptions from the North Island had been small, the fund should not be closed, also that three trustees be appointed to control the funds; that the trustees be authorised to procure a bronze medal at a cost not to exceed £IOO, to be known as the Hutton medal; that the balance of the funds bo invested and interest arising therefrom be used for the furtherance of tho objects of the fund; that the Hutton medal be awarded from time to time to persons who have made some notable contribution in connection with zoology, botany, or geology; that grants be made from the accrued interest from time to time to persons or committees who require assistance in prosecuting research. The report stands over for consideration.

— Detective Mcllverney, of Invercargill, has been appointed chief detective in the office of the Commissioner of Police. His duty will he to investigate special cases from all parts of the colony WESTPORT, yesterday. Payne, an A.B. aboard the steamer Kini, slipped from the rigging a distance of eight" feet and died immediately. A post mortem showed his heart was badly diseased. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday.

Tho Senate this morning carried Professor Maclaurin’s motion that the definition of jurisprudence in tho statute degree of Bachelor of Arts be replaced by the folowing:—“Tho nature of civil law and relations to other kind of law, the nature of a State and its functions, tho administration of justice and its ' various forms, the sources of law, the leading divisions of law, tho leading ideas involved in a legal system, general principles of legal development, a comparison of leading principles of English and Roman law, a knowledge, Tiowcver, of the details of these systems not being required,” and that the definition of jurisprudence in the statute of honors in arts he replaced by the following : “Analytical, historical, and comparative jurisprudence, with special reference to English and Roman law.” On Mr Cohen’s motion, it was carried, “That tho Senate respectfully requests the Minister - of Justice to bring in a Bill next session of Parliament to repeal the Law Practitioners’ Act Amendment Act, 1898.” Professor Sales’ motion was carried, “That the statute of matriculation be amended by the addition of the following clause: “In every year the date of matriculation shall he the Monday nearest May 1, and no person shall be held to have matriculated in any year unless lie has fulfilled all the conditions of this statute on or before that date.” Professor Brown’s motion passed' in the following amended form: “That tho statute of the B.A. degree be amended by the addition of the words, “and provided lie has kept three years’ terms, provided further ho has passed jurisprudence and constitutional history in one examination.” On the Rev. Cameron’s motion, it was carried, “That intimation be made in the calendar that any person not a member of tlio Sonate who desires to bring any business before the Senate be required to give notice of the same to the registrar at least four weeks before the annual meeting, and that tho registrar at least two weeks before tho annual meeting shall send each member of tho Senate a list of business to be considered and a copy of all correspondence bearing on the same.” It was resolved that the subject of the McMillan Brown memorial prize, 1898, bo a dialogue or dramatic scene or the meeting of Milon and .Galileo. The Senate adopted the Music Committee’s recommendation as to the desirableness of establishment of a New Zealand conscrvatorium of music, and the appointment of a Recess Committee to report to the next annual meeting of tho Senate what stops should be taken to encourago the establishment of a conservatorium. HASTINGS, yesterday.

The Hawke’s Bay ram fair was held to-day, and was a great success. The entries constitute a record. Buyers are present from all parts, bred by Mr Bid will, Featherston. In flock rams twenty-two Romneys, topped the market at eight guineas each i

DUNEDIN, yestorday. Following are tho Dunedin Magistrate's Court returns (civil business) for last year: Plaints entered 3156, cases tried Sl3, -aggregate amount sued for £31,139, aggrognto amount recovered £IS,7SB. In tlio course of a reference to tho decision of tho Representation Commission in regard to wiping out AVaikouniti ns an electorate, Mr D. Reid, jun., M.H.R., said at AA’aikouaiti that if population was to bo the basis on which, representation was to bo given, why did they dopart from that rule? If 38 members woro required to adequately represent tho South Island before tho census was taken, which showed that thero had boon an actual inoreaso in population, why should 35 members ho sufficient to represent tho South Island now? Tho idea of reparcelling out tho electorates every live years, whilo tlioorotically very just, worked out in practice very unjustly. It was a groat injustice to those districts that were near the boundary of tho electorate, becauso they . never know in which district they would bo located. Ho thought if tho boundaries woro readjusted overy nine or twelve years it would be preferred. Referring to tho land question and to tho settlement of Otago by its hardy pioneers, Mr Reid laid emphasis on tho point that they would never liavo had tho class of settlors they had if the pioneers had boon promised only the leasehold of their lands . ,

Yesterday’s traffic on tho trains in connection with tho Bresses o’ tho Barn Band open-air eoncorts broke all records. Over 32,000 passengers were carried, yielding £283. Forty cars were employed running a two minutes’ service. It is estimated tho two concerts yielded close on £IOOO, the afternoon gate representing over 30. Tho Corporation receive £2O, making its actual profit about £l2O. DANNEVIRKE, yesterday. An elderly man named E. AA r right, engaged in cutting firewood at Mangatera, was injured by a log slipping and succumbed. AVELLINGTON, yesterday. The Shipmasters’ Association today cabled the Premier that it declined to’be represented by Mr A. R. Hyslop at tlio Maritime Conference. Mr Mills, managing director of tho Union Company, will represent tho Association. The scholarships at Te Auto Native College, offered by Mr Douglas McLean, of Napier, liavo been won as follows: —Senior scholarship: A. Bertrand, at present a pupil at To Auto College. Junior scholarship : Pani Taurere, of Tekao, North of Auckland; Albert Turei, of Rangitukia, East Coast. DUNEDIN, yesterday.

The statement of the Harbor Board’s operations shows the revenue for 1906 amounted to £76,444, being an increase of £3929 on the previous year, tho highest yet attained, and that notwithstanding tho reductions that were made in dues and shipping charges in 1904, and in transhipment rates in 1905. Tho imports of oats represent an increase of £lll6, and exports £4l. Tho total tonnage of shipping entered during the year was 697,583, an increase of 62,934 tons over last year. The works being carried on at the Heads are having the effect of improving the channel there, and tho depth of water in tho Victoria channel is being maintained at 18 feet at low water, allowing practically all oversea cargo steamers to discharge at Dunedin. AVELLINGTON, last night.

Tenders closed yesterday for the purchase of one thousand debentuics of £IOO each, part of the loan of £850,000 authorised by the AA’ellington Harbor Board Act) 1902, and Amending Act of 1903. The debentures were to boar interest at the rate of 41 per cent .per annum. This afternoon the tenders were opened, and it’ was reported that the amount subscribed was £124,101),, of which, however, certain tenders were informal. The Secretary was authorised to sell over the counter those debentures which had not been accepted up to £IOO,OOO Of £50,000 offered in London at 4 per cent 1 ., the Board accepted £49,500. At to-night’s session of the New Zealand Institute it was resolved that papers which appear too long for publication in the Transactions be re-, ferred back to the writers for condensation.

NELSON, last night. The residence of A. Lyford, at AVangamoa, has been burned down owing lo bush fires working back to his clearing.

THE MAORI RACE. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Dr. Pomare, Native Health Officor, referring to the civilising effects on the Maori race, states it is only a question of time when the whole Maori race will disappear, as it becomes assimilated with the Pakelia. Take the South Island, nearly all the Maoris there are now half-castes. Fully 75 per cent, of the Maoris in the South have European blood in them, if not more. There is the same tale to tell in the North Island. The old stock is gradually dying off. Even now a majority of the young stock has European blood in it. Within thirty years there will not be a pure-blooded Maori born in the whole of New Zealand. In the King Country 40 per cent, of tho Natives are half-castes. It is in the Urowera Country whore you find less halfcastes than elsewhere, but it .is there that you also see the poorest class of natives, many of the old stock still preferring to live in tlieir primitive methods.

SETTING FIRE TO A CHURCH AUCKLAND, last night.

At the Pukekohe Police Court today, a man named George William Shortt, described as-an engineer, was charged with attempting to set fire to the Roman Catholic Church and Hall at Pukekohe on Tuesday night. A remand was granted on the application of tile police till February 6.

PAPAKAIO MYSTERY. OAMARU, last night. John Findlay, who was recently tried and acquitted on the charge of murdering Mr Rennie, schoolmaster at Papakaio, was charged to-day in the S.M. Court with burglary and stealing from the school house a gold watch, a razor, 12 blank cheques, and a Torpedo bicycle. The bicycle was recently found submerged iu a branch of the Waitaki river. Up to the hour of adjournment tho only evidence given was as to the identification of the bicycle. The case will be resuming in the morning. A FIRE. NAPIER, last night. A fire broke out about 11.15 tonight in the upstairs portion of a baker’s shop and dwelling iu Dickens street, belonging to J. Alexander. The fire had a fairly strong hold when discovered, but there was no wind, and the fire was confined almost entirely to the upper part of the building, which was gutted, and the contents destroyed. The bakehouse adjoining was saved. It is not known how the fire originated. HOME RULE FUNDS. WELLINGTON, last night. Mr Donovan, one of the Irish envoys, in a speech to-night stated that over £22,000 had been collected for the Home Rule fund, during liis and Mr Devlin’s tour of Australasia. DEPtJ l'Y-GOYERNOR. WELLINGTON, last night. A proclamation issued by the Governor appoints Sir Jas. Prendergast to act as Lieut.-Gov< rnor during His Excellency's absence at the Chuthams.

THE EXHIBITION. (By Tologrnuh Special Servio*.) CHRISTCHURCH, Inst night. Tiro special trains from Timnru to-day brought twolvo hundred visitors to tho Exhibition and somo eight hundrod patronised a special excursion from Ashburton. They woro fortunate in arriving on tho day fixed for tlio grand combinod demonstration by Fijians and Maoris of songs and dances prior to tho return of Maoris to tlioir homos in tho North Island. Tlio Fijians in full war paint danced tlioir war, club, and fan dances with groat enthusiasm and energy, and tho New Zealand natives woro at thoir best in tho poi and liakas which eontinsted with these. Thero was a vory large attendance- Tho Fijians are expected to take tlieir departure vory shortly, which will bo greatly regretted, as tlio popularity of tlioir displays is at its lioight. Tho Maori pa will bo left with a small garrison in command till tlio arrival of a contingent of Ngatikahungu natives from Napier on tho 7 tli prox. Up to tho prosont 21 oil paintings, thirty-four water colors, and six miniatures, liavo boon purchased from tho British section of the art gallory for tho total amount of £7070 Tho details of the puroliaso arc as follows: —By tho Now South AAhiles National Gallery, oil paintings of tho value of £2190; water colors £9lB 5s Auckland City Council: Oil paintings £512 10s; water colors, £137 10s. Tho Academy of Fine Arts, AVellington: Oil paintings, £263; water colors, £155. Canterbury Society of Arts: Oil paintings, £1317 10s; water colors, £390; miniatures, £B2 10s. Private sales: Oil paintings, £525, water colors £578 18s. Tho National Gallery of Victoria may decide to make a selection as tho result of the visit of their director, Mr Bernard Hall, who is now in Christchurch, and Mr Gill, secretary of the Adelaide Art Gallery, is expected to arrive shortly with a commission to purchase pictures. Sales of works of art, glasswork, and samples of hand weaving are being made in laigo numbers. Tho bubble fountain near the aquarium is tho centre of much interest when it is in operation during tho calm weather. Tho shimmering, irridescent spheres produced in their thousands are at once tho delight and despair of astounded juveniles who witness the production of these fleeting glories at every opportunity. A wonderfully buoyance is imparted to the bubbles by their being inflated with coal gas. Mr W. S. King, of Christchurch, and Mr Otto Schwartz, of AA 7 ellington, .will he the judges of tho solo competitions at the Exhibition Band Contest during tho week, commencing February 11th. Ths Beeson Shield of the North Island Brass Band Association, now held by the AVanganui Garrison Band, will bo awarded to the hand securing the highest points in tho grand selection.

The next exhibition flower show will take the form of a begonia show, and will be held on AVednesday and Thursday next. Entries close on Monday, and as the show will he held in the main corridor, free admission will be gained to the same. Everything points to a very fine display being made. Hundreds of visitors daily pass through the Government aquarium, which has received some very interesting additions since it was first opened. The model Rotorua, where an imitation geyser sports its columns to a great height and Maori boys dive for pennies in a most realistic style, is also as popular as of yore . Tho Exhibition has now passed through three calendar months, the aggregate attendance for the period reaching the satisfactory total of 1,053,128. To-day contributed just on 13,000 towards that total, and though tho number was not large compared with .some recent attendances, ft I s officially stated, tliat. tlie ratio of cash payments to tho number of persons admitted was probably the highest yet experienced, this being the result of the unusually large number of visitors in town. It is probable that the gold watch awarded Miss Alice Jennings as the millionth visitor to the Exhibition will be presented to her by Dr. Findlay, who succeeds the Hon. Millar as Minister in charge.

A FATALITY. Press Associatioa. NELSON, last night. A fatal accident occurred at the Nelson Brick', Pottery and Tile Coy’s, works this afternoon. Alexander Lonsdale Baldero was at the brake steadying the descent of clay-laden trucks when he appears to have got entangled, and to have been violently dashed round. The accident was not seen, but' follow workmen, hearing the crash, stopped the machinery and found deceased with his neck broken and the upper portion of the body much injured. Deceased leaves a widow and two children.

ORANGE LODGES. AMALGAMATION OF GRAND LODGES. Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. A step of importance to Orange Lodges of tho colony was decided upon during tho session of the Grand Lodge of the North Island, sitting here, when it was resolved that tho Grand Lodges of the North and South Islands should amalgamate, instead of working as in tlio pas,t with a lioad in each Island. Speaking iu reference to this matter, Bro. Willis remarked that a step forward had been made iu bringing about union in the colony, and in a very few years lie considered they would sec the good effect of amalgamation.