TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2027, 12 March 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. Mr Hubert Ferguson, Inspector of Factories, and agent of tho Labor Department, diod this morning, aged G 4. He had beon 45 years in tho Government service.

WANGANUI, yostorday

The Supremo Court oponed bofore Mr Justice Chapman this morning. His Honor remarked that the calendar was not largo for tho district, but it was a matter for disquiet that so largo a in'oportion of cases were charges of soxual offence. William Burns, for assault and robbery, was found guilty. Ernest Taylor pleaded guilty to obtaining goods by falso protonces. NAPIER, yesterday. A party of eight, including Mr Hill, Inspector of Schools, was attacked with ptomaine poisoning on Saturday, but prompt medical aid prevented serious consequences. HASTINGS, yesterday.

Last week tho local orchard inspector discovered tho prosonco of Queensland fruit fly in private orchards on tho Napier hills. The fly had attacked a peach tree and the fruit was badly infected. The discovery led to a mooting of the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association in Hastings on Saturday evening, when a resolution was carried calling on the Government- to destroy all fruit on the Napier hills as the only moans of exterminating the pest; also to alter t system of inspection of fruit imported into the colony. The meeting expressed tho opinion that tho onl chanco of preserving tho growing fruit industry was to absolutely prohibit the importation of fruit from fly-infested districts into the colony. It was stated at tho meeting that there was very little fear of the fly finding its way to the Hastings orchards, as it was considered that the climate on the Napior hills was very suitable for encouraging tho growth of the fly. WELLINGTON, yesterday.

The training ship Amokura will be put to practical use in the course of a few days. The first batch of twelve aspirants for a naval career will arrive here this week, and another batch will be sent for as soon as the first contingent settles down, as the authorities do not think it advisable to bring the whole seventy odd boys that the ship will accommodate into action at- once. Some three hundred have applied, but many of them are over the stipulated age. It is hoped the ship will be in full going order in five or six weeks’ time-

Considerable progress lias been made of late with a view of getting rid of arrears of work which confronts the Native Land Courts. For the four months ending the close of January, the average number of dealt with by the Court was 1520. Previous records never exceeded 600 a month. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. About half-past eleven on Saturday night an alarm of fire was raised at the Exhibition. Heavy smoke was seen to be issuing from a cafe restaurant. The Exhibition Brigade broke in the door and found two largo tins of boiling fat just on the point of boiling over, and one tin caught fire while being lifted. The flames were beaten out with sacks, and no great damage was done. An enquiry will be held. TIMARU, yesterday. Olif Kavli, who has been in the employ of Messrs. Dalgety and Company for the past three and a half years, latterly as shipping clerk and chief ledger keeper, was to-day committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence, having pleaded guilty to embezzling certain money belonging to his employers. Accused's total defalcations amounted to £260 odd, these extending over tho past twelve months.

NATIVE LAND COMMISSION. NAPIER, last night. The Native Land Commission sat at Nuhaka to-day, over a hundred natives being present. The enquiry was in connection with the Nuhaka No. 2 block, sub-divided by the Native Land Court a few years ago. One spokesman for the party pointed out the great expense the natives had been put to in defence of the position of their titles, and the long delays owing to proper surveys. The milk suppliers were running their stock on communal lands without proper titles. The- want of these titles was keenly felt at times when local differences revealed the insecurity of the present position. The Chief ■Justice complimented the local natives on the practical interest they had taken in the dairy industry, as evidenced by the fact that over twenty of them were suppliers this season. He thought the Commission could assist them by arranging that they should get good titles to the land they were now occupying.

SUICIDAL MANIA. AUCKLAND, yesterday. A middle-aged woman named Annie Florey committed j suicide by hanging herself from the corner of a door of her residence in Newton road. She had apparently stood on a chair and placed the rope around her neck, fastened the rope to a corner of the door, and then jumped off a chair. At the inquest yesterday the jury returned a verdict of suicide while in a state of unsound mind.

A young married man named Phillip Edward Sallon is said to have attempted suicide at liis residence, Ponsonby. Sallon was not long married. He had some trouble with his wife, and to frighten her is alleged to have taken some corrosive acid. His condition is not serious. He has been placed under arrest.

SUPREME COURT, WANGANUI, last night. The Supreme Court opened this morning before Mr Justice Chapman, guilty of indecent assault on a one year’s imprisonment for assault, Ernest Taylor one year for false pretences, and R. E. Turnbull found guilty of indecent assault of a one vear old child at Waiouru, sentence was deferred till the morning.

THE FRUIT FLY. WELLINGTON, last night. Government experts are stated to be alive to the necessity for prompt action concerning the discovery of the Queensland fruit fly at Napier, and every step deemed necessary will bo taken to prevent the spread of the fly. It is blieved the fly was first imported in a shipment of Australian fruit which arrived at Auckland in December or thereabouts.

NAPIER NEWS. NAPIER, last night. The Hawke’s Bay Education Board have appointed Miss J. P. Millington, Thames, instructress of cookery. Miss Connor, matron of the Napier Hospital, lias resigned. In a case to-day where a sheepfarmer was convicted for the second time of having failed to take diligent steps to destroy rabbits on bis pproperty, a fine of . £3O was inflicted.

MASONIC. AUCKLAND, last night. On Saturday evening the Most Worshipful Grandmaster of New Zealand, His' Excellency Brother Lord Plunket, will be welcomed at the Freemasons’ Hall by representatives of the Lodges of New Zealand Constitution in Auckland province. It is expected that about 500 brethren will be present.

A VALUABLE PICTURE. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. A discovery of rare intorest to art lovers has recently boon made in Dunedin. A picture which had hung for many years in a private residence is statod to bo a gonuino Wnltonu. Mr. Longden, British Art Commissioner at tho Exhibition, who was in Dunedin recently, saw tho picture and ho says that ft is a genuine Wnltonu and worth a considerable suth of money. The picture was brought to tho colony about 40 years ago by a remittance man, who loft it with an hotelkeeper in payment for a debt. The hotolkoopor left it in the custody of tho Bank of Now Zealand for several years, and thirty years ago gave it to his daughter as a wedding present, and tho picture has remained in her house ever

since. TARANAKI OIL. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. Tlx# most important recent development in oil field exploiting is tho shutting off of tho water in tho TaratanooirPl koW b: ,coRbH .dll adF naki Petroleum Company’s No. 2 bore, at a depth of 1711 foot, which was effectively done to-day. The sixinch casing now rests embedded in solid rock at that depth, and is hermetically scaled. Tho effect of this is that boring may now proceed uninterruptedly till oil moasures are struck, estimated at a furtlior depth of 300 to 400 feet, probably taking about two months to reach. Shares in tho company arc liardoning and difficult to procure. Operations are now proceeding at six other bores in the locality.

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Press Association. DARGAVILLE, yesterday. Victor Turner, aged 20 years, was drowned whilst bathing at Mangatu creek. His companion, after dressing, missed him. A search was made and tho body discovered in a deep pool. ASHBURTON, yesterday. William Eagle, a farm servant, married, was found dead in the bush near Staveley this morning. Heart disease was supposed to be the cause. PALMERSTON N„ yesterday.

Two engineers named Peterson and Pritchard, employed by Niven and Co., of Napier, to erect a lift at Adraliam and Williams’ store bore, had a narrow escape this morning. The lift fell a distance of ten feet while being tested while both men were on board. Pritchard was not seriously hurt, but Petersen sustained cuts about the head by a barrel rolling on him from the lift as he lay on the ground.

SUDDEN DEATHS. AUCKLAND, last night. A middle-aged man named Harry Lonnell, aged 50, expired at the hospital this morning, while being placed under the influence of an anaesthetic. The patient was suffering from cancer, as he had recently had his tongue removed, and there was a risk of death in performing a second operation. Dr Savage informed Linnell of the position—an operation was the only chance of saving tho patient’s life. Linnell elected to take the risk rather than wait for the dread certainty, and unfortunately he collapsed under chloroform as was feared. Dr Blair was administering the anaesthetic, and Dr Savage and Dr, Aicken were present, Dr. Savage being about to perform the operation. Julia Driver, aged 50 years, and a married woman, died suddenly last night. She was seen in the kitchen of her house, by Mr. Wm. Beadle, at about 7 o’clock on Sunday night. At half-past six this morning Beadle found Mrs. Driver lying on her face in the kitchen. He called assistance from next door, and when picked up the woman had her face covered with blood and was seen to have been dead for some hours. She. had been attended by Dr. Hooper on account of fits.

A SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. A serious tramway accident occurred a few minutes before 9 o ’clock to-night, the victim being Mr. Benjamin Pilkington, who for a number of years was stationmaster at Christ■hurch, but was retired some time ago. Mr Pilkington was returning from town to his home at Richmond on a steam tram, and appears either to have fallen or jumped off before a stopping had been effected, and the wheels of the oar passed over his feet. Mr. Pilkington was immediately taken' to the hospital, where it was found that amputation of both feet was imperative. The operation Was performed, but the patient’s condition afterwards was grave in the extreme.

WORK AND WAGES.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. As far as can be ascertained no reply has yet been given, owing to short notice, by the Auckland employers to the demands of the newlyformed Slaughtermen’s Union. The log will be considered by a committee early this week, and the rccommendtions framed will in’ all probability be submitted to a general meeting of the Association. GORE, yesterday. Sixteen slaughtermen were at the Mataura works to-day, and are expected to kill 800 sheep. Eight old hands, two men previously in the sheds, and six new men comprise the boarding, and they are doing good work, and will quickly become proficient. The terms are the same as those offered by the company from the commencement of the trouble, that the new awarfj be made retrospective. The men at work are all Gore or Mataura residents. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. There are no further developments as to the strike. The companies are engaging men as they come along, and the men on strike arc taking employment wherever they can find it. The companies and union are negotiating at present.

GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED AGAINST MEN. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Acting on the opinion of the At-torney-General, Cabinet has decided to take proceedings against the slaughtermen to ouforce payment of the fines inflicted by the Arbitration Court. The proceedings will take the form of writs of attachment, and will be heard at Christchurch on Friday next.

- THE LATEST POSITION. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. It is understood that one at least of the strikers has suggested more moderate demands in the shape of a return to an early rate of 20s for “freezers” with the removal of the extra duties, such as ticketing, etc., which form one subject of the men’s grievances. This would mean, according to the men, a return to the old condition of many years ago. The more moderate of the strikSTs seem to agree that all of them who have money or property will have to pay their fines, but nine-tenths of the men, it is stated, have not the wherewithal to pay. “If these are sent to gaol, we go back to a state of slavery right away,” one of the men declared this morning. Later.—An important meeting in connection with the slaughtermen’s strike was held in the Trades Hall tonight. About 100 ' slaughtermen were present, and the proceedings, which were often of a nasty character, lasted for about 2 hours. Messrs T. H. Davey and G. Wittey, M.H.R’s, attended to offer their services, it is understood, as mediators between tfce

companies and tho men. Both members addressed tho moil, and when they left tho room at. tho conclusion of their remarks, they wero brought back amidst much chooring and invited to stay. At the close of the mooting tho president of tho Union informed tho press representatives that it had boon decided to give no information to tho press at that juncture beyond stating that tho meeting had boon adjourned till tho following evening, when some information might possibly bo supplied. Forty strikors have already left tho district for tho North Island or Australia, and tho Union is having a difficulty in persuading tho rost to remain until something dofinito has boon sottled.

THE EXHIBITION.

(By Telegraph Special Service.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Tlioro w as a fair attendance at the Exhibition to-day. Mr. Munro, general manager, states that there has beon a marked increase lately in tho receipts of tho various side shows and of holders of selling rights. Permission has bpon granted to Mr. Scott, Commissioner for South Australia, to display a shipment of South Australian grapes around tho fountain in the main dome of the Exhibition in tho same position as N.Z. grapes last week. This shipment of grapes arrived at tho Bluff to-day per tho Monowai, and should ho on view at the Exhibition on Wednesday next.

Tenders are being invited for the purchase in one lot for removal of the machinery hall and tho main building of the Exhibition, with the exception of the concert hall, fernery, and lavatories. Delivery will bo given not later than May 15th, and four clear months thoreaftciwill bo allowed for removal. Tenders are to bo addressed to the Minister in chargo of the Exhibition. Mr. H. Grogson, of Napier, is to give a series of organ recitals in tho concert hall on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next. Mrs. Buckeridge, of Gisborne (nee Maude Hudson), formerly of tho Pollard Opera Company, has been engaged to contribute to the programme of the forthcoming popular concerts, and it is possible that the services of Mrs. Ernest Davies (nee Miss Marion Mitcholl) will he engaged. Saturday, 23rd inst., being annivjrsary day in Otago, the Union S.S. Co. have decided to run a special excursion by steamer, leaving Dunedin on the evening of Friday, the 22nd inst., returning from Christchurch by the 7.45 train from Christchurch to Lyttelton on Saturday, 23rd inst. This excursion will enable visitors to spend anniversary day at tho Exhibition without involving them in any loss <f time.

Demonstrations of force feeding with ten white Plymouth Rocks and whito Wyandottes, which have just come to hand, will be a novel feature of the Agricultural Department’s Court, having much interest for poultry farmers. The birds will be weighed before the fattening process begins, and again after a fortnight or three weeks’ progress. Members of fire brigades in different parts of the colony are already arriving in town to take part in tho competitions which commence next Tuesday on tho sports ground. The teams are all practising hard on vacant spots in the city and suburbsw About ninety brigades will be represented in all, making a total of about 800 firemen who will be engaged in the competitions. A water display on tho river bank will be given next Tuesday evening, and 80 to 90 boats filled with firemen discharging fireworks and preceded by a band will take part in the river procession on Wednesday night- On Thursday night there will be a great display on Victoria Lake, which with the aid of lines of hose laid to its centre, will be converted into a veritable Waimangu, lighted with colored fires and Roman candles.

The banquet and presentation of prizes are fixed for Friday night, and Saturday will see the drawing of the art union, for which 30,000 tickets have been sold.