TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2029, 14 March 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

* Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Hon. Mr. McNab spoke at Taihape last night on the Land Bill, traversing similar ground to his former speeches. He received a vote of thanks. Referring to the ballot system, the Minister said a position was developing that was never contemplated when the system was inaugurated. In a case where there were only a few applicants, little objection could be taken beyond the element of gamble, but now, when they saw 420 applicants for one section, a new aspect of diimmyism was coming into vogue. The Government had certain proposals under consideration and he hoped the objectionable features would be removed. Mr. Justice Button was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Cooper to-day. He leaves this aft era don to preside at the Blenheim sittings of the Supreme Court. Mr- W. Gray, secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department, who has been seriously ill for some time, is now in a very serious condition, and hi 3 case is causing his friends extreme anxiety. t The Rev. Mr. Coffey, too, who suffered a stroke of paralysis some time back, is said to be sinking. THAMES, yesterday. News has just been received that Thos. Mitchell, a well-known settler at Puru, near Thames, shot himself dead with a gun this morning. No reason is assigned, if deceased has taken his life, for he was prosperous, though he led a lonely life. There are no details as to whether it is suicide or aocident. Deceased was single, about 50 years of age. NELSON, yesterday-

Another severe shock of earthquake was felt here last night at 10 past ten, perhaps the most severe of the series of four shocks within twentyfour hours. No damage was done, but the shock lasted several seconds. Steady rain set in to-day, after unseasonable muggy weather.

AUCKLAND, yesterday. The annual meeting of representatives of the New Zealand district of the Australasian Catholic Benefit Society opened to-day. The annual report stated that there was a general increase in the funds and membership particularly at Dunedin and Wellington, while Christchurch, Auckland, and elsewhere had a normal influx. The general fund had a credit balance of £4O and the guarantee fund £3O 9s 2d. The amount of the sick fund in the branches was £9069, incidental fund in branches £1378 16s lOd, and benevolent fund £240 12s Bd. ' THAMES, yesterday. Mr. Wm. H. Baker, B.Sc., son of Mr. W. Baker, a well known mine manager at the Thames, has been selected from 13 applications as director of the Thames School of Mines. The .. recommendation will bo forwarded to tho Minos Department. He was a graduate of Otago University, a holder of the Thames School of Mines scholarship, and formerly assistant director at the Thames School of Mines, a director of tho technical school of Tasmania University, and is at present assistant lecturer of the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. Preliminary steps are boing taken by the Native Land Purchase Department for the purchase of twenty thousand acres of native land in Thames county. Other largo purchases are probable,

A prospector had a fearful experience in the bush district at tho back of Thames. Ho became ill and attacked by blindness. He lay helpless without food for days. Ho was found by an Austrian, who succoured him, and was afterwards able to ride to the hospital.

POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE. AUCKLAND, last night. A large gathering of the Political Reform League was held this oven ing. Mr. Herries, M.H.R., who presided, said there would be an appeal to the country at an early dal*. Mr. Massey dealt with the appointments to the Legislative Council, say ing that the men appointed would not have been chosen by the people. On the land question he criticised Mr. McNab’s speeches, and said the great majority of people of Auckland province were freeholders. Although a small party in the House they would bo able to keep the fhi£ of freehold flying, in spite of the silent and treacherous torpedoes of single taxers and socialistic .faddists.

DESPERATE SUICIDE. THAMES, last night. An inquest on Thomas Mitchell, who shot himself this morning, disclosed tho fact that deceased had been suffering from insomnia for some time. Tho unfortunate man made doliberato preparation to end his life. Ho rested his shot gun on a chair, then fastening string to the trigger, he passed tho cord round tho leg of a table, holding tho gun close to his head with his left hand, pull ing tile string attached to tho trigger with tho other. Death was instantaneous, tho top of his head being blown off. Deceased was a nativo of Glasgow, aged 47, and possessed of considerable means. The verdict was suicide while temporarily insane

ARBITRATION COURT FINES. WELLINGTON, last night. Six of tho strikers at Christchurch have paid tho fines imposed by tin Arbitration Court. Fourteen others who woro fined but refused to pav have been served with tho pro less necessary to bring them before tile Supreme Court on Friday morning, when .writs of attachment for their arrest will be applied for.

SUDDEN DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, last night A platelayer named Robert H«>ft, while reading a paper, died suddenly at Templeton this afternoon. NELSON NEWS. NELSON, last night. A Golden Bay correspondent states that two earthquakes wero experienced there on Tuesday night, the fir'd disturbing the people greatly. The earthquake in tho morning was felt severely towards Collingwood, and at JPuraniahoi chimneys were thrown down and crockery smashed whole sale

The weather is very bad in G ildon Cay, and owing to continuous rain floods aro feared. Hop. picking has been greatly retarded. The death is announced of Mrs. W. L. Handcock, ono of tho earliest settlors of Golden Bay.

A CURIOUS CASE. NELSON, last n’ght. A curious case occurred at one of tho city hotels. A man who share] a room with another man was heard talking loudly after the liousi was closed, and was requested by the landlady to extinguish his light, when he said ho had lost £2-50 ■ n notes. A search was made, and the roll of notes found on the stairs. The landlady then offered to lock them up in the safe, but as he declined he was requested to leave the house, which ho did, the police being informed of the circumstances. Next morning lie asked permission to lie down till noon, and locked himself in a room. At lunch time lie was called, when lie said he had been robbed of £SO. The landlady locked the room, and sent for the police. Meanwhile the man left. The police found the £SO between the sheets of the bed, and the money is in-their hands.-

A REMARKABLE CASE. WANGANUI, last night. At the Supreme Court to-day Jas. Noswortliy, a local herbalist, was found guilty of selling an instrument knowing it was to be .used for an unlawful purpose. The evidence showed that a police constable, at the request of his superior, visited the accused’s shop, told the accused he had got a girl into trouble, and asked For advice. Noswortliy supplied him with an instrument, and instructed him in the use of it. Counsel for the accused raised the point that as tho constable had no intention of unlawfully using the instrument, Nosworthy could not be convicted of the crime with which he was charged. The Judge reserved the point for the Court of Appeal, and Noswortliy was released on bail pending decision of the appeal.

FIRE AT PETONE. AAYELLINGTON, last night. A fire at Petone this evening gutted a shop occupied by Mrs. Parkinson, fancy goods dealer, and the flames spread to a semi-detached building occupied by Misses Cameron (milliner) and Dagg (florist), but were suppressed. The damage to these premises was mostly due to the water- The contents of Mrs. Parkinson’s shop were destroyed. No reason is assigned for the outbreak. The building, owned by Mrs T. to. Price, of AA r ellington, was insured in the New Zealand office for £650. Mrs. Parkinson’s stock was covered in the Liverpool London and Globe for - £350. Cameron and Dagg s stock was uninsured. LOCAL.

THE GOVERNOR. AVHANGAREI, last night. The Governor arrived at AVhancarei this afternoon after a rough trip from Russell, and was presented with an illuminated address and banquett'ed in the evening at the Kamo Sanatorium. He proceeds o Auckland to-morrow.

MEAT FOR PHILIPPINES. WELLINGTON, last night. A letter received to-day by Mr. T. E. Donne, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, gives the following particulars regarding the tenders now being invited for the supply of meat, for the Philippines: “Tenders are wanted for the furnishing and delivering o 6 600,000 lbs. of frozen fresh beef and 200,000 lbs. of frozen fresh mutton to the Subsistence Department at Manila, during the year ending June 30th, 1908. Accepted beef and mutton will be admitted free of Customs duties, the Government reserving the right to decrease the amount by not more than 40 per cent., upon giving reasonable notice to the contractor, or to increase the amount, with the consent of the contractor. Each proposal must be accompanied by the bidder’s guarantee in an amount of 2000 dollars, or by certified cheque for that amount, standing in Manila. Tenders close at the office of tho Chief Commissioner, Manila, at 11 a.m. on April 10th. ISLAND STEAM SERVICE. WELLINGTON, last night. The Cabinet has considered tenders received for a steam service between New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Noumea (New Caledonia), and has declined to accept any of tlo offers made, on the ground tlia„ the bsidy asked in each case is to,, heavy This practically means that the effort of the Government to open up trade with the places mentioned will be abandoned. ADD RACING.

MISCELLANEOUS. DUNEDIN, last night. At a meeting of the Marine Fish Hatchery Hoard, it was reported that thq stock of lobsters now m the hatchery at Porto Bello numbered ei.dity-fivc females and three males, and it will be nearly two years before any ova can be obtained. It was decided to repeat the importation of lobsters until they are completely acclimatised, and the Board also decided to obtain a dozen specimens of the edible crab of Britain, and if possible two kinds of food fishes from among tho following cod: Turbot, haddock, or herring.

INVEKCARGILL, last night. The Invercargill athletic sports were held to-day. There was good weather and a large crowd. The principal winners were local men. J. Currie, winner of the Sheffield, comes from Heriot, and has performed more or less successfully at meetings in Southland and Otago for the past three vears, and represented m the wren £SOO at Melbourne. Frank Ford, the Rahokna champion, annexed all prizes in the heavy events, \vinuing the collai’ and elbow aI1 “

Cumberland wrestling, putting and throwing tho stone. In the 70yds dash nearly all tho competitors in tho big ovont took part, A. Baird, a local man, annexing tho prize. Tho cycling calls for no comment, though the racing was good. The mile was won by Sununors, with Bonnott second and Shea third. WELLINGTON, last night.

A charity football match under Australian rulos was played bore today botwoon tho M.C.C. and a Wellington olovon. Tho Englishmen won by 5 goals to nil. Goals were scored by Douglas, Tufnoll, Harrison, Pago, and Simpson-Hayward. HOKITIKA, last night.

In tho Supreme Court this nftornoon tho Crown Prosecutor intimated that he would not proceed with tho evidence against Thomas McGee and Francis Cairnoy, for breaking and entering into a hilt on tho Hoki-tika-Kuniara road on October 11th, 1906, and accused woro discharged. In the case of a young man charged with unlawfully opening a letter, a formal pica of guilty was entered, but certain points wero reserved for tho Court of Appeal. The Judge said that in any caso he would grant probation. In civil jurisdiction sovoral' cases of no public impoitanco were disposed of, and in tho Divorce Court, in tho caso Monary v. Monary, wifo’s petition on tho ground of desertion, a decrco nisi was made. Probate for several wills have been granted. Tho Court closed at 5 p.m, this being tho shortest on record.