TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2000, 8 February 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Rhodes scholar for this year will bo selected on the 15th inst. The candidates are :• Bogle, Wellington; Ziman, Auckland; and Gilray, Otago. The Board of Selection consists of the Governor, Chancellor of tho University, one puisne Judge, and a representative of the Professorial Board of each University College. Canterbury College has not nominated a candidate this year. A house of five rooms at Crofton, owned by Chew’s trustees, and occujjied by J. S. McLean, of tho Land and Survey Department, was destroy- • ed by fire between 1 and 2 o’clock this morning, together with the whole of the contents. The inmates escaped in their nlglit attire. The house was insured in the Commercial Union for £250, and the furniture in the New Zealand Company for £l5O. The School Inspectors’ Conference was continued this morning. A number of important questions were referred to committees for consideration and report. A motion by Inspector Bakerell that in the regulations for examination “proficiency’' should bo substituted for “competency,” in other words, that there should be one examination with one certificate, was, lost by 29 votes to 8. Mr. Mulgan, Canterbury, moved that Senior National Scholraships be awarded to persons of either sex who, being under. 19 years, and who have resided in the colony for six months, and obtained credit at the junior scholarship examination of the University of New Zealand. The motion was carried by zU votes to 17. Mr. D. J. Cooper, M.A., senior inspector for New South Wales, delivered an address. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. Heavy rain fell on the hills near Oxford yesterday, almost entirely extinguishing the bush fires. Rain, more or less heavy, appears to have been general in mid and north Canterbury, lasting some hours. An inquest was held at Kaiapoi yesterday by Mr. V. G. Day, Coroner, touching the death of Timothy Mellor, killed in the station yard the previous day. The inquest was adjourned till Saturday morning. The Australian swimming championship meeting was resumed today. The weather was fine, but the visitors complain of the coldness oi the water as being against fast swimming. The chief events on today’s programme are the half-mile race, in which two Australian teams are opposed to one New Zealand. Entries for the half-mile chanipionship are so large as to necessitate a division of the competitors into two heats. Tho heats decided to-day provided interesting racing, giving promise of a close struggle between the N.S.W. and Auckland champions, Healy and F. AY. Springfield. Those qualifying in the final were: Healy, Springfield, Mason (Victoria), A. McMillan, G. L. Bull (New Zealand). Results : Half-mile, first heat: Healy (N.S.W.) 1, AV> Mason (Victoria) 2, G. L. Bull (New Zealand) 3. Watson and West (Australia) and Harrow (Queensland) also started. Times, Healy 13.20 2-5, Mason 13.24 1-5. Second heat: Snrincfield 1, McMillan 2, Bennett (Wesf Australia) 3, Hill (N.S.W.) also started. Times, Springfield 13.31 2-5, McMillan 13.46. O AM ARU, . yesterday. The Supreme Court continued its sittings this morning before Judge Williams, The charge against hindlay of burglary at the house of Rennie ,tlie murdered schoolmaster at Papakaio, was proceeded with. I no case is likely to last two days. Mr. Biorring, assisted by Air. Ongley, a local solicitor, is defending. Mr Denniston, over 80 years of age, an old resident of Oamaru, and residing at Hampden, died suddenly last evening of heart failure. Deceased was driving home from the train after meeting friends when fie suddenly and expired. DUNEDIN, yesterday. Welcome rain fell yesterday, and the water supply outlook lias improved. At the present rate of consumption tlie store of water will last for 72 days if no rain falls. . The hearing of the dispute ;>etween the 'Otago Coalminers Union and tlie Cromwell and Bannockbuin Collieries Company lias concluded at Cromwell. Evidence was given on behalf of both parties. The award will be made when the Court returns to Dunedin. INVERCARGILL, yesterday A sum of £IOOO, subscribed to establish” hospital at «ore, was handed over to the Board to-day, •<“ site of 71 acres was purchased at £OOO from Mr. O’Kelly.. It « Proposed to call the institution the Seddon Memorial Hospital. 1 lans will be prepared immediately. WELLINGTON, last night. At the Inspectors’ Conference a resolution was carricd in the Government introducing - cliers’ Registration Act, >i r P“ - . tlie minimum salary for a first teji clier in the secondary department nF district high schools should be fi. ot district mt, >l„gan, Canterbury moved that in Urn case of techer™ certificates the division VvTtlYhP the ‘class shall be determined on the efficiency anti practical sk shown, namely, on inspectors marks alone. Tlie motion was GRADING SCHOOL CHILDREN. WELLINGTON, last night. The question of the grading o school children, according to then decree of mental alertness, " a! ; brought- before the School Inspectors Conference to-day by Mr, lb G. 1 ur 'die of Auckland, yy.h° V lQVet * a i i pupils in the classes above standard 3 should be taught in the same school Explaining his proposal he said that in Auckland city and suburbs, where there were 19 schools, he would have Ml the pfiPils of standards 4, 5 and Selected respectively jntp three P collected - L ; s wol ,ict afford centra ac f[ity for teaching, and lesgreatei tacfii y example> if stansen the cost found to number 500 they could be divided into four of fifty each under four teachtrs and they could' the- be graded to ? a nW Vug* coqkf *'do' 3 'j ustice bright r To the dull pupils. The project was supported by Messrs Multan (Canterbury) and Harkness fNolson), and carried oy a largo malority The motion lias effect of a recommendation to tho Education

CONGREGATIONAL UNION. DUNEDIN, last night, Tho annual mooting of tho Couno'l of the Congrogntional Union cf New Zealand was begun this morning. A telegram was read from tho Hon. G. Fowlds, convoying his greetings, and rogrotting that business would prevent, bis presence on Tuesday as be had intended. The chairman welcomed to the • mooting the Rev. W. D. McLnron (of England), Rev. J. and Mrs. Nowell (of Samoa), and Roy. W. M. Grant (Into of South Australia and now of Port Chalmers). The twenty-fourth annual report of the committee of tho Union was read by the secretary (Rev. John Wilkins), and was subsequently approved. It recorded the transfer of the Rev. H. G. Griffiths from Nelson to Dovonport, the vacancy at Nelson being filled by tho Rev. B. L. Thomas, and the return of the Rev. W. M. Grant to Port Chalmers to replace tho Rev. E. Taylor, transferred to Richmond, Victoria. At- the request of tho committee the Rev. R. Mitchell, after tlueo and a-lialf years’ work at Kawliia mission, is to bo removed to To Kuiti to start a new homo mission, his place at Kawliia being taken by tlio Rov. C. E. Davidson. Tho Newton Church (Auckland) remains without a minister. Tlie report also recorded the probability of a new cluirch being opened at Alicotown, a suburb of Wellington, a grant of a church site having already been made by Mrs Williams. Various district reports were submitted. At the Congregational Union tonight the Rev. IV. Day gave a presidential address, the subject being “Two sides of the Church's life.” In tho course of his speech bo made some reference to what is known as the new theology, and said a fresh statement of the Christian doctrine was needed. It was evident- the Christian Cluirch should re-read its Bible, its creed, and its message in tho clearer light God had given; not to do that which was dishonest and in the end suicidal.

SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, last night. At the Supreme Court criminal sittings to-day, Sarah McPhuud, for unlawfully abandoning her fivemonths’ old child, was sentenced to tlireo months’ imprisonment. John Ploughman, charged with committing an unatural offence, was found not guilty and discharged. WELLINGTON, last night. At tho Supreme Court Ernest Dyton, aged 17, charged with indecent assault on a nine-voar-old girl, was found guilty of common assault, and admitted to probation for twelve months, being ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. Francis John Baucke was ordered to keep tho peace for two years, and pay the costs of the prosecution. This man had been discovered hanging about his cousin’s house at midnight, and when they sallied out to chastise him he fired a revolver. The jury had acquitted him of firing with intent, but found him guilty of common assault. Kenneth Kidd and Michael O’Donnell were charged with assault and robbery. Kidd pleaded guilty. O’Donnell was found guilty of assault only. Sentence was deferred. William Condon, who had been acquitted on the previous day of indecent assault, was put forward on a second charge of a similar cliaracter. The Crown offered no ovidenco, and the prisoner was discharged.

DETECTIVE MTLVENEY. INVERCARGILL, last night. Arrangements had been made by a large section of tho Invercargill public to make a substantial presentation to Mr Mcllveney, appointed chief detective at headquarters, but instructions were received from the Commissioner to-day that no presentation whatever was to be made. Mr Mcllveney will bo officially farewelled by the Bench and Bar before leaving on Wednesday. SWIMMING. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. The Australasian swimming championship carnival, which was opened on Saturday last, was continued at the Lancaster Park baths to-day, in the presence of a large number of spectators. The results of the chief events are as follows: 880yds Australasian championship, F. W. Springfield (Queensland) 12min 23 4-ssecs, 1; R. Healey (N.S.W.), 12 mins 51 2-ssecs, 2; AV. Mason (Victoria), 13min 12 2-osecs, 3; A. McMillan (N.Z.), 13min 32 4-ssecs, 4. champiosnhip: P. Mation (AV.A.), 3min 26 2-osee, 1; J. F. Fruscott (N.Z.), 3min 40 l-osecs, 2; F. Menzies (N.Z.) and A. M. Rusell (N.Z.) dead heat, 3min 44 l-ssec, 3. 200 yds squadron: Australia 1, r«ew Zealand 2, time 2mins 31 l-ssec. The meeting will be concluded on. Saturday afternoon. 'FRUIT PESTS. AUCKLAND, last night, On January 17 the fruit inspector for Hawke’s Bay secured two apricots from trees in Napier, Wliicfi were infected with maggots of fruit. From some of these maggots Mr. Boucher, Government Pomologist, at Auckland, has since hatched five flies, which prove to he of Mediterranean species. Every effort is being made to trace further infection it any, and Mr. Boucher suggests that for the good of the industry any cases where infection is suspected should be immediately reported to the Department of Agriculture, so that steps may at once be taken to investigate the matter thoroughly.

NATIVE LANDS. AN IMPORTANT POINT. WELLINGTON, yesterday. In the Supreme Court, before the Chief Justice, an important point concerning native land law was argued. Section 26 of tlie Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900 provides that no one may acquire Maori land by purchase, lease, or gift unless he first makes a statutory declaration that he does not hold or own more than 2000 acres freehold land, including not more than 640 acres ot first-class land. The point raised is whether this restriction is impliedly repealed by Maori Land Settlement Act of 1905. Lawrence Higgins, sheep farmer of Moteo, HaiAos Bay, applied to Teiakaroa District Maori Land Board to approve the lease to him from Paora Kurupu and other natives of 1020 acres of secondclass land in Tuhirangi block; term of lease 21 years, annual rental 0s M per acre, being 5 per cent, on the Government valuation. The hoard called on Higgins to make a declaration under Section 26 of the 1900 Act, and Iliegins, through liis agent refused on the ground that the 1900 Act impliedly repeals Section 2b. The Board therefore refused J ni l&_ diction, and dismissed fie appheation for approval of the lease. Hig gins now applies to the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus against the President and members of tlie Board to compel the board to hear and determine lus application for auuroval of lease. . Mr. 8011, with him Mr. Morrison, armeared for plaintiff, and Ml. Skcrritt for defendants. Judgment was reserved.

MASTERTON NEWS. MASTERTON, last night. Tho Masterton Band wdMeave m the morning for tho Cliristclimch contest. They are live men short, namely, three cornets and two has 36 Carterton beat Masterton at bowling at Carterton to-day, in the> fust round of the Booth Cup, by 99 to SB in the senior cricket matches today Carlton B defeated Star by six toticids' Ma unset? made iOB runs hl T ?e rt fos otn’6ffic 0 t n ’6ffice St Air W H. S. Nicliolls, postmaster, *'V ss » leaves to-morrow.

THE exhibition. (By Telegraph Special Service.!) CHRISTCHURCH, last night The influx of visitors to the Exhibition from Other parts shows no shins of abating up to the present. Two steamers which arrived from Wellington this morning six boumK stearaeflmouglit one hundred f The third"'battalion of school cadets encamped at the Exhibition were .inspected this afternoon by Mr Fowlds, Minister of Education, who complimented the lads on their appearance. The battalion will remain in camp till Tuesday next, and will probably be succeeded by a battalion from Grevnioutli, oilers following later on. Seventy-five Maoris from Hawke s Bay district arrived at the Exhibition pa this morning. Their tribe were specially complimented for liaka dancine- by tlie Duke of Cornwall and York when tlioy performed before him at Rotorua, and they proudly retain the name he gave them of the “Duke’s own.’! 4 \jno»g the newcomers are a number of women who will dance pois, and the singing ot native songs will also bo a feature of their entertainment. They will remain a week or toil days, porhaps longer, and will bo succeeded immediately on their departure by another larger contingent from tbe sr.nie tribe. To-day they were welcomed

with pois and a lmkn by a few Maoris who lmd been in tho pa, and on Saturday they will bo formally wolccinoil by the-Fijians, when the ceremony of lcnva drinking will take plaeo, and representatives of both races will pertorm thoir national dniicos.

Tho begonia show in tho main corridor attracted a largo number oi admirers again to-day. . . The attendance at- the Exhibition generally has boon unusually good all day. Tho fireworks display last night nas given under the disadvantage of drizzling rain,which threatened every minute to he converted into heavy showers. There was, however, a largo crowd to witness the pyrotechnic exhibition, which was fully up to the high standard these displays have hitherto maintained.

Lieut. Bentley, who is to judge the grand selection and quick-step competition of tho Exhibition hand contest commencing on Monday next., has arrived in town. Tho prize money for this contest, totals £7OO, in addition to which the North Island Association Besson shield will 1m awarded to tho band securing highest aggregate of points in tho grand selection and quick-step, and a shield presented by Bogg and Co. will ho presented to the South Island band obtaining tho highest aggregate in tho selection. The Minister of Railways has definitely refused concessions to bands travelling to the contest It is now announced that should tho Taviuni proceed direct to Fiji oil her next' trip tho Fijians will return to thoir homes by that vessel on Wednesday next. Should this arrangement not he possible they will proceed via Auckland on Saturday week.

A shoop-varding event in connection with the Christchurch Dog Trial Chib’s events will take place on the Exhibition sports grounds on March 23rd. It has been definitely decided that the orchestra will not visit Dunedin during the week of tho hand contests. It will play on tlireo afternoons in the concert hall, and on three other days it- will play in the eoucert hall both afternoon and evening. Tlie majority of the hand contest. events will take place on the sports ground rotunda, leaving the concert hall free at- those times. A record audience for tho hall was attained to-night, when West’s Pictures and the Brescians attracted an attendance of soventeen hundred.

THE BAND. (SPEC! At, TO THE TIMES.) NAPIER, last night. AA r o had a splendid passage. Tho boys are in good spirits. They played the test pieces, etc., to a largo crowd on the Marine Parade. Tlioy left for AA'oodvillo this afternoon.

THE PLAGUE IN SYDNEY. A SERIOUS OUTBREAK. Papers by tho steamship Manuka from Sydney show that four persons suffering from plague were taken fiom one establishment, situated in King street, in what is known as tho Post: Office block, hounded by King, George, Martin-place, and Pitt streets. Plngue rats have been found not only in King streot., but also in George and Pitt streets in that block, so it is feared that the whole block may be more or less infected .

A consultation took place between the Acting-Premier, Mr. Aslitou, tho Chief Secretary, Mr. Hogue, and the President of the Board of Health, Dr. Ashburton Thompson, at 1 which steps necessary to be taken to protect the interests of the people were decided upon, and it is believed that all the necessary measures had been taken to cope with the outbreak. “It should be mentioned,” says Dr. Thompson, “that the cause of plague is now well known, so that all occasion of panic, which uncertainty affords, has been removed ,and as regards the particular premises in •which so many cases have occurred, the danger is now practically past. Dr. "Thompson further states that the persons referred to were infected with plague before the extensive operations of cleansing, which are now being carried on, had reached an efficient stage. It is still possible, he thinks, that some further cases may bo discovered, for there are still two or three persons living In the suburbs to visit, but it may turn out that they are absent from work from some other cause than illness. At all events, it is not supposed now that there is any danger connected with the premises where all the persons who became ill were infected, the cleansing operations having been, in the first place, in a general way begun many days ago, and have been most stringently carried out in the last day or two. On the other hand, Dr .Thompson says there seems now to be no doubt that there was a good many days ago a sudden eruption of diseased rats. The premises which have been reported were not only extremely well conducted, but also in exceedingly good order, and hardly any fault could he found with them than the fault now a familiar one of having a space in the ceilings in which the rats could find lodgment. In the present instance, as soon as this part was opened, the carcases of a number of rats were discovered.

If the infected premises are now free from infection, as Dr. Thompson says no doubt is the_ case, still plague rats have been picked up in other premises in their immediate vicinity. The Cit|y Council has, therefore, furnished tho medical officer of health with a large gang of experienced cleaners, who are now engaged ill going through the other properties. The President of the Health Board states that everything that can be done to get rid of the infection cither has been done or is in process of being carried out. NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS. Commenting upon the outbreak, the Sydney Daily Telegraph says:— “The bubonic plague visitation to which the city must evidently be considered liable about this time of the year has made its appearance. There is not necessarily anything alarming in that, although tho dryness of the season perhaps increases the danger, and the statement of the President of the Board of Health that ho fears a moro active prevalence of disease among rats than lias been seen for three or four years past is significant as coming from a quarter characteristically disposed to bo rather reassuring than otherwise. Even when tlie risks from disease are small, however, the law of chance, while assuring immunity to the majority, does not idontify the minority,, and no one knows but he may be the one in a thousand whose case, proportionately considered, makes tlie whole epidemic look small. Consequently, cvpryone’s duty to himself, apart from that he owes to others, is to use all the safeguards science and experience indicate. The first of these would be to have no rats about the premises, if it wore possible. As it is not, tlie next tiling necessary is to warn tlie Health Department when dead rats aro found in unusual numbers, for that mortality signifies that the animals are suffering from tbe ravages of some disease which may be—as is assumed in the case of bubonic plague—transmissable from them to human beings. If tlie destruction of rat's by disease lias been concealed from the authorities, an offence lias been committed against tlie community which ought to he visited with as severe punishment as the law provides for. If such a discovery is reported, effective measures can be token to destroy infection immediately on those premises, perhaps to wine it out altogether :if it is not, those who conceal the fact take the risk of making the promises a breed-ing-ground for deadly disease, presently to be spread among the peoplct'o wreak no one knows what destruction. People who are so blind to dangers to which obviously they exnoso themselves . first, and so callous as to the welfare of society, as to conceal and foster infection in this way, need to be sharply reminded of their dutv.”

“Lana,” a woll-known Australian pastoral authority, speaking of tho world’s decreasing (looks, says: —“It is not difficult to understand tho roason of tho decrease in European countries. For yoars past Gormany has struggled to produce wool that would moot tho manufacturers’ demands from all points, but Australian Merino wool has beaten it, oven in tho quality for which Saxony and Silesia have boon so long famous. These countries still produce what is called extra supor clothing wool, but only in such a small quantity ns to have little or no inlliioneo on tho production of lino merino wool. Thus less attention lias boon given to sheep-brooding, and moro to horsebreeding and agriculture. Russia’s sheep stock has also decreased, partly from tho same cause and partly as tho result of internal troubles. In tlie Unitod States, however, tho industry has mostly been carried along on a happy-go-lucky principle. When wool was high woolgrowing had a spurt wherever suitable* country could bo found, and when wool went below a certain figuro tho growing of it was neglectod in several of the big sheep states, and shoop wore turned into mutton. Here, again, tho influence of Australia was felt, for, notwithstanding the heavy protective duties, manufacturers had to import wool of a quality that could not bo produced locally. Now that wool has kept a high lovel for tho last two years, and will probably continue to do so for another year or two, sheepbreeding will likely receive a fillip in countries whore it has been neglected, and if so tho end of 1907 will show a record as regards the number of sheep in the world.