TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2006, 15 February 1907, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The entries for the New Zealand Defence Rifle Association annual meeting, which opens at Treutham on February 28, are coming in freely and it is anticipated th • eattendance will be larger than last year. The work at the ranges is in a forward state. There will be 75 targets in use,_ 25 at each of tile Sommerville, Collins, and Seddon ranges. The idea of starting the meeting with the volunteer and teams’ matches has been abandoned, and the meeting will open with the championship series as heretofore. The difficulty of securing the required number of range officers and markers has been overcome.

The Government propose to extend the present postal and telegraphic officers at Wellington, the new building occupying the whole square, bounded by Customhouse, Grey, Featlierston, and Panama streets. The New Zealand Rugby Union suspended a member of a local football club for three years for playing for a Marlborough club for which he was not qualified. Another person concerned in the breach was treated similarly. It is believed the recent decision of the Conciliation Board in connection with the demands of the employees engaged in the flaxmilling industry will result iu several mills in this district being closed down. Lieut.-Colonel Collins, who was recently appointed a financial member of the newly-constituted Council of Defence, resigns liis command of the Wellington Ilifle Battalion, a position ho assumed in 1899. , Mai ol ' Brandon will succeed him. The amount of the tender of McLean and Sons for the Wellington dock was £196,261. The other tenderers were: Pulley and Co. £260,167, J\ and AY. Jamieson £273,469.

Colonel Collins relinquishes the command of tho AYellington battalion on March Ist, and retires from active vcluntecring, after serving for 33 years. The retiring officer has been connected with the New Zealand Rifle .Association since 1870, and is at present its chief executive officer. Ho was Commandant of the New Zealand team, which won the Kolapore Cup at Bisley in 1904. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Mr AA r . C. AA’aterfield, private secretary; - Captain Bingham, A.D.C., Professor Bonham, of Otago University, Mr AA’aite, and Mr Jennings, curators of Christchurch and Dunedin museums respectively, returned to AA T ellington this morning from a trip to the outlying islands in the Tutanekai. The steamer left the Bluff last AVednesday fortnight, and called at the Snares, Campbell, Auckland, Bounty, Antipodes,', and Chatham Islands. The weather on the whole was good. No gales were experienced. The Governor will probably leave next Monday for a trip over the North Island Main Trunk railway route. Tlio slaughtermen's' strike continues, though there is hope of a settlement. It is understood that the men now demand 23s per hundred, while tlie companies offer 225.

AUCKLAND, yesterday. Dr. Pomarß, Native Health officer, emphatically and absolutely denies tho statement in a press telegram of Friday that lie telegraphed to tlie Native Minister, ’ suggesting that natives should be allowed to have liquor at the tangi on Taliu. He lias always endeavored to put down the intemperate use of alcoholic liquors among his people. The Parihaka people were . against the use of liquor at the tangi, with the exception of two, who telegraphed to the Minister while Dr. Pomare was in Wellington. Mr Carroll replied that -the well-springs of sorrow were too sacred to be adultered with such vile stuff as liquor. In connection with the tiamways strike, the Company is to be cited before the Arbitration Court for discharging men without a week’s notice. Two men are to bo cited as a test case for- leaving work without notice. The Company is compelled to give, a week’s notice of discharge, unless for good and sufficient reason. The question for argument is whether the reason was sufficient, the men being discharged for refusing to teach learners. The men declare teaching learners is no part of their duty.

DUNEDIN, yesterday. In tho Supreme Court Judge Williams granted a decree nisi in the case of Samuel R. Irwin v. Irwin on the ground of desertion, the husband being the petitioner.

CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. Mr Maurice F. J. Wilson, a member of tho firm of Code and Wilson, marine engineers, of England, who is to report on the proposed Christchurch canal, went in the tug Lyttelton to Sumner, accompanied by Mr C. Hood Williams, secretary of the Lvttelton Harbor Board, Captain Clark, harbormaster, and Mr Cyrus Williams, engineer to the jlarbor Hoard. Soundings were taken and a further inspection made in connection with tho proposed work. . Tho annual convention of tho ■Women’s Christian Temperance Union opened to-day, and was largely attended. The President, Mrs Cole, in her opening address, dealt with temperance matters generally. District reports were received. WAIHOA, yesterday. Before Mr Barton, S.M., J. S. Cooper, licensee of tho Hot Springs Hotel, Morere, was charged with supplying a cask of beer to a Maori For the defence it was contended that Rowi Mote, the person who procured tho cask, was a half-caste Maori, living as a European. The informationwas dismissed. E. A. Greenside, licensee of Moliuka Hotel, pleaded guilty to supplying a Maori' woman with intoxicating liquor, and was fined £lO and costs. William Richmond, for driving a motor car at an excessive speed through Wairoa streets was lined ;Cl.

SWIMMING. TIMARU, last night. At the Timarii Swimming Club’s carnival this afternoon, F. W. Springfield, of Queensland, lowered the Now Zealand record for tho half mile from 13.20 to 12.19. ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. AUCKLAND, last night. At the Supreme Court criminal sessions to-day a young man named Wm. Holland, was found guilty of robberv with violence from a woman in Parnell on January 1", and was remanded till to-morrow for sentenco. STEWART ISLAND. INVERCARGILL, last night. Dr. L. Cockayne, of Christchurch, who is engaged writing a book on biology in New Zealand, has just returned aftor five weeks’ stay at Stewart Island. He told a Southland Times reporter that he hail discovered 80 unrecorded species ol plants, bringing tho total species for tho island to 450. Dr. Cockayne considers tho island has a great nituro as a tourist resort, and that steps should be - taken as soon as possible for the preservation of tho magnificent 1 forests on the shores of .Ports Pegasus anti William, and Paterson s inlet.

THE SHOPS ACT. INVERCARGILL, last night. Local drapers, clothiers, and mercers petitioned the Borough Connell to-night to extend the closing hour to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, threatening proceedings if the Council did not make a statutary declaration that the signatories to the petition were a majority of the trade. The Council is unable to decide the majority question, owing to the ambiguity of description of trades, and will forward the correspondence to tho Minister of Labor with a statement of lie facts. MISCELLANEOUS. ROTORUA, last night. The tennis match Tauranga v. Rotorua, which should have been played to-day, was postponed owing to the heavy rain. The Tauranga ladies arrived by coach last night. DUNEDIN, last night. Tlie Dunedin Star states that Mr. John Lomas, Inspector of Factories at Dunedin, has been appointed assistant to the Chief Inspector of Factories. He will bo replaced at Dunedin by Mr. W. H. Haggar, of the Christchurch office.

NELSON, last night. At a meeting of the Nelson Land Board to-day it was resolved to throw open fifty thousand acres of land for settlement, mostly in the vicinity of the town of Murchison, Central Bailor, with exemption of rents and local rates for four years. It is expected the land «i]l be ready for selection in about three months. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. The secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association reports having received the largest entry on record for the Association’s championship meeting to bo held on the Exhibition sports grounds on Thursday and Saturday next week. Entries for ehampionliip events number no fewer than 136, and the various handicaps have drawn the large entry of 317. Prominent athletes in Auckland, .New Plymouth, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Ashburton, Timaru, Gore, Invercargill, and other centres will be competing a# well as local runners, and the meeting is expected to be one of the largest held in tlie colony. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union Convention was continued to-day. Mrs Roberts, president, read a paper on “The changing attitude of tho medical profession towards Alcohol-’’ Reports oi‘ medical contests and hygene and fqo.d reform were read and an interesting discussion followed.

THE EXHIBITION. (By Telegraph Special Service.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. There was a large attendance at the .Exhibition to-day/ the band contest proving once again a strong attraction. Mr IV. H. Monk, of Sydney, played the organ accompaniments to the violin solos of his brother at a well-attended orchestral concert in the afternoon, and several organ solos at the concert in the evening, which appealed strongly to a large audience. Mr West, who has been exhibiting at half-hour intervals daily since the Exhibition opened moving pictures in the small hall known as Castle Theatre, gave his 1107th consecutive display this evening. Mr West lias now put through one and half million foot of film, or over 285 miles, and somo 24 million photos have, ho states, been projected on screen. He claims that this is a world’s record, likely to stand for some time. The Hawke’s Bay Ma9ris gave a performance in the pa this afternoon before a large attendance, Already their entertainments have achieved popularity second to none that have been given in the pa before them. Miss Jennings, who had the distinction of being the-millionth visitor at the Exhibition, was presented with a promised' gold watch by Mr Fowlds, Minister i>i charge, this afternoon, the presentation being accompanied by a congratulatory speech. The ceremony was not a public one. Westland school cadets, numbering 240 boys with 10 officers, arrived at the Exhibition to-day, and wont into camp for the usual week’s training. " The battalion number 270 units, and includes representatives from Groyinotith, Reefton, Hokitika, Cobden, Taylorville, Knmara, Runanga, and Blackball schools. The demonstrations of bee handling and hive manipulation given by Mr Hopkins, Government apiarist, and his assistants at the Government bee exhibit are a popular fea-tiire-at the Exhibition.. The keenest interest is taken In the observation of the hives, also in the movements and working of bees in the -bell glass. Bandsmen who have been witnesses of the popularity of such competitions in- other centres declare that the quick step contest on Saturday should attract an attendance to the Exhibition of fully 20,000. This event is expected to bo far and away the most attractive, to tho public of the entire programme of contests. It will be easily the largest and probably tho linest Exhibition of its kind yet seen in the colony, • Preparations are now complete for the military tattoo to-morrow night, in which all the ' company bands will take part. Given favorable weather, of which there is at present every indication, a unique spectaclo should bo afforded. The secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association reports having received the largest entry on record for the Association’s championship meeting to be held on the Exhibition sports grounds on Thursday and Saturday next. Entries for the championship ovents number no less than 136, and the various handicaps have drawn, an enormous entry of 317. These entries are from tho best known athletes in Auckland, Now Plymouth, Wellington, Wanganui, Nelson, Ashburton, Dunedi/i, Gore, Invercargill, and other places, in addition to local runners. A novelty will bo the Canterbury Automobile Association’s Motor Gymkana to be held on the sports ground on Saturday, March 9th. Tho function -will he preceded by a procession from tho city, in which it is expected a largo number of cars will take part. The programme of tho gymkana itself will include tortoise race, Turk s head, and j)ig sticking competition, tilting yaco, and othre curious competitions.

SEVERE FLOODS, Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. .V steady rainfall for twenty-four bourse is causing some anxiety to people in the localities Hooded n fow weeks ago. Tho rain continues in a steady downpour, and thoro is every indication of it boing of long duration. Tlie rainfall in Auckland district for tlie last 24 hours wiis two and one-third inches, being 17 points more than the heaviest rainfall for 24 hours during the recent Hoods. The Kingslaud and Dovcnport cricket grounds are again Hooded. If the present conditions continue another 24 hours the country settlers will experience a had time, as tho Hooded area of tlie lower Waikato had not altogether drained when tho present rain commenced. A Waimi telegram states: There are appalling floods bore. A number of cattle and sheep have boon drowned. The timber booms have broken, and tlie logs been washed to sea. The mill coach is surrounded by Hood. WHANGAREI, last night. The heavy and continuous downpour of rain in this district caused Hoods greater in volume than those of n month ago. At Wairua creek crossing the mail coach was swept away, tho horses attached being drowned and tho driver having a narrow escape. Railway tralfic is impelled, and telegraphic communication delayed, while the lower part of tho town was for a time Hooded and much damage has been ilono at Wnipu, the floods being tho highest on record, part of the township lying twelve foot under water. A number of cattle and sheep wore drowned. Tlie potato crops are completely ruined, and owing to the bursting of the booms a largo quantity of kauri timber lias been washed out to sea. Tlie rain has now abated, but the out-look is still threatening. AUCKLAND, last niglit.

Reports from Maungaturoto state that unprecedented floods wero experienced thoro yesterday and to-day. Many of tho larger bridges are three or four feet under water. A dairy factory hov named George Knight fell into a flooded creek and has not been soon since. .There is little doubt but that lie was drowned. At Dargaville (Northern Wairoa) there has been a heavy flood, anil train communication is interrupted. Tho main street there is wholly submerged, and the lower portions of tlie stores are flooded. Tho weather is said to bo breaking. ROTORUA, last night.

Heavy and continuous rain set in last night anil continued throughout tho day, with no appearance of cessation, the rain coming from the south-west, accompanied by a cold snap.

THE GALE. NON-ARIUVAL OF STEAMERS FROM GISBORNE. AUCKLAND, last night. It has been blowing a strong gale from between tlie north-east anil south-east all day, with heavy rain. The Talune, which left Gisborne at 3.30 p.m., on Wednesday, had not arived up to midnight, nor had the Wanaka, which left Gisborne at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. BAND CONTEST. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. The Exhibition band contest was continued this morning with the grand test selection, “Uombarili” (Verdi), arranged by Mr C. T. Russell, of the Waihi Federal Band. The order of play was determined as follows: —1, Dunedin Naval Band; 2, Mornington; 3, Napier Garrison; 4, Invercargill Municipal; 5, Wellington Garrison; 6, Timaru Marine; 7, Dunedin Citizens; 8, Invercargill Garrison ; 9, Ivaikorai ;10, Hastings ; 11, AVaihj; 12, Derry’s; 13, Taranaki ; 14, Auckland First Battalion; 15, Gisborne; 16, Greymonth; 17, Newcastle (N.S.W.); 18, Ruahine; 19, Nelson; 20, Wanganui; 21, Palmerston North; 22, Denniston; 23, Woolston; 24, Jupp’s; 25, Masterton Municipal; 26, Tuapeka; 27, Timaru Garrison; 28, Oamaru Garrison; 29, Auckland Garrison. A start was made at 9.45 a.m., and up to the luncheon adjournment (1 p.m.) eight bands had played. The same number irere got through in the same time on Tuesday, and it is to be feared that tlie contest will again extend into the small hours of to-morrow morning. The following are the leading results of the band competitions, own choice and ie,st selection (the aggregate points are given): Wanganui 305 points, Ivaikorai 303 points, Newcastle 302 points, Auckland Garrjson 298, Wellington Garrison 297, Dunedin Citizens 295, Woolston 295, Waihi 293, Mornington 293. The possible maximum was 310 points.