TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2034, 20 March 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. A UCK LAND, yesterday. Two shops wore destroyed by lire in Newton on Saturday night. They were insured in the Guardian ollico for f t 50. .DUNEDIN, yesterday. The Town Clerk, reporting at tlie instance of the City Council, on the purchaso of Waipori, says: “All the ciicumstances loading to the purchase have not been disclosed in the correspoudenee. The purchase seems to have been suddenly' determined on. It- is late in the day* to have the business reviewed, and if it bo the Council’s wish to pursue the matter further, and to flog the dead horse, the only course is to appoint a commission of enquiry.” Mr. Richards expresses the opinion that within fourteen days the power will be available for delivery in Dunedin. James Neil, chemist and herbalist, was fined £3 and costs for failing to closo his shop in George street at 9 p.m. on Saturday. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Owing to the heavy rain yesterday a number of vessels in port were unable to load. To-day the wharves presented a very busy appearance, as many as 27 vessels being berthed, including four ocean liners. ' A middle-aged man named Henry Stunnell attempted to commit suicide by taking chlorodyne on Sunday. Accused admitted the offence at the police court' to-day, and was remanded until next week. At a meeting of billiard-room proprietors, held to-day, it was decided to form an association for controlling the management of billiard rooms, and applying for extended licenses.to 11 o’clock. It was stated that a scheme was afoot' for forming a Billiard Association for New Zealand. GREYMOUTH, yesterday. Tho demand for timber and coal is now so great that men are putting in full time with double shifts, especially at the State mine, where there are orders for six months ahead. According to present indications these are likely to be continued to an even greater extent. Provision will have to bo made for meeting tlio greater export. Shipping companies are prepared to meet all requirements. A cottage was burned this morning ■—it was insured in the Phoenix for £IBO, including furniture.' The loss is a total one. The building belonged , to Mr. George Baxter. 1 ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. , DUNEDIN, yesterday. A single man named Frederick 1 Hooker, who was working on the i Clydevale station, was admitted to ! Hospital yesterday on account of in- i juries received from a gun accident. Hooker was endeavoring with the aid 1 of a nail to extract a cartridge from i a breach-loading gun, when the cart- ] ridge exploded in his face, scorching : it and singeing both eyes. AUCKLAND, yesterday. 1

D .A. Wright, formerly stationmaster at Helensville, lately residing at Raupo, left home to shoot a haivk. He was subsequently found shot dead. Ho was a married man with a large family. AUCKLAND, last night.

Two olcl settlers died yesterday. Mr. W. M. Montgomery, formerly with the service of the Survey Department, agd 87, and Ediyard Owen, aged 75. THE FRUIT FRY. WELLINGTON, last night. Referring to the Mediterranean fruit fly in Npw Zealand, there is not yet great grounds for scare, but there is sufficient to warn the people that they must give notice of the pest as soon as they observe it. There is a very good chance of stamping out the fly before it can get a grip of the country, and the Department’s officers will resort to all possible remedial means. “We will have to take very drastic measures,” said Mr. J. D. Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture, this morning; “the destruction of all fruit from infected orchards is an imperative necessity.” •HARBOR DUES. AUCKLAND, last night. The ’Frisco mail steamers have up to the present been free of harbor duos, vessels using the port of Auckland being exempted as carriers of mails. Now that Government declines to recognise the service as a mail route to England, the J [arbor Board has decided that the exemption shall no longer apply, and steamers will in future pay the dues as charged on other vessels.

DEATH OF MR- P. S. HAY. WELLINGTON, last night. Mr. Peter S. Hay, Enginccr-in-Cliief to the Public Works Department, died here to-night. Deceased cont. racted pleurisy last November, and had been in the Hospital for some time, returning hero last week.

WINTRY WEATHER. WE LLINGTON’S WATER SUPPLY SERVICE DAMAGED. Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Heavy rain during the past few days has caused a great flow of water iri the Hutt river, near the mouth of ■which Gear Island divided the rivci into two channels. Over these channels are built bridges to carry pipes for the city’s water supply from Wainuiomata. Recently the Hutt River Board diverted water from the western channel so that the main flow of the river passed through the eastern channel. News comes from the Hutt this morning that a heavy flood has washed away about a chain t-ud a-half of the eastern bridge and pipes, cutting off completely the main water supply of Wellington, which now has to rely entirely on the Karori reservoir, which can only supply a limited period. Details are not yet available^ Later.—Over 100 ft of pipe bridge over the Hutt river was washed away and it is roughly estimated that re-

pairs to the wate rmain and bridge will take some weeks. Meanwhile the city will have to rely on the Jvarori reservoir, which has a storage capacity of fifty-six million gallons. Roughly speaking, the daily consumption of the city is ■ 0i million gallons. It' is hoped to reduce this during the shortage, and already all persons using water for business purposes have been notified that the supply is to be out off or restricted. The city ongineer estimates it will take three weeks to repair the damage to the Wainuimata mains. Meantime the city will have to economise and do tho best it can with the Karori supply. It may not bo necessary to cut off supplies to business people and factories for some clays.

WOODVILLE, yesterday. After 48 hours’ rain all tho rivors of tho district are in heavy Hood. Tho wholo of the low-lying country around Woodville is under water. 5 r ASTER TO N, yestorday. The rainfall of the previous 24 hours was just over 3J inches. Nearly all the rivers are in higher Hood than for a long time past. The road is under water for nearly a mile. No serious damage has been done, though tho approaches to several small bridges have boon washed away. The rain has ceased, but tho weather is still gloomy. CA RT E R TON, yes 1 erday. Thsi heavy rains caused the rivors to rise. The Ruamahanga is higher than since 1895, when bridges were washed away. The low lauds at Daleliehl are under water. Goods trains are blocked in the south by a slip between the Summit and Kaitoko, and in the north by a slip between -nauriceville and Mangamahoo. The Wellington train this morning was stuck up at Tvnitoke.

EK E TAI-.IU NA, yesterday. -Miring the past three days 7.41 inches of rain fell. Last night the “wild cat" train from Masterton to Woodville was about 4.1 miles below Eketahuna when a slip fell on the trucks. The engine was detached and started for Eketahuna to report, but met another large slip. Another slip falling behind it separated it from the rest of the train. There are now three slips on the line, tho largest being estimated at 1000 tons. Railway traffic is suspended, as the trains are unable to connect. Every available man is at work clearing the line. A train service is considered to be impossible before the evening.

HASTINGS; yesterday. The rainfall yesterday was 2.33 inches, the heaviest since July, 1905. NATIVE LANDS. INTERVIEW WITH SIR ROBERT STOUT. Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. Speaking to a Post reporter in regard to the Native Lands Commission, Sir Robert Stout, tho Chairman, said: “Wo have investigated an area comprising many blocks, amounting to 121,000 acres, almost all in Hawke’s Bay. We have prepared reports on all the blocks, and hope to forward them to His Excellency the Governor on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. In regard to one of the blocks, negotiations are being conducted with the present tenant, and we shall not deal with that; but in all other cases reports will be

presented/ We have come to a conclusion about the division of all the blocks but one, in respect to which we are waiting to see wiiat the Government proposes in regard to purchasing. We have no difficulty whatever in arranging with tho Maoris, and we liavo found their requests exceedingly reasonable. In every place we discovered a desire on their part to become farmers, Some of them liavo succeeded, and those in-

flamed the others also with, a desire to succeed.” After referring to the success of the natives at dairying at Nuliaka, Sir Robert said, that the Commission found in many districts i desire on the part of the Maoris to become slieep-farmors. They had begun in a small way at Moliaka, although they had not much land. The total area of tho Moliaka blocks in possession of Maoris is only 24,000 acres, and there are about sixty Maori people there. “We carefully went over their land,” said the Chief Justice. “Some of the land is to bo opened for competition to anyone who chooses to bid the highest price, and the remainder of the land is to bo partitioned amongst the Maoris so as to enable them to become farmers; and the Government is going to have surveys carried out immediately for that purpose. The land is only fit for pasturage, and is not rich land like that at Nuhaka. At Wairoa also the Commission found the natives anxious to go in for slieep-farming, and,” said His Honor, “we have divided the land so as to enable the various families to achieve that end.” Speaking more generally the Chief Justice said that the Commission had reserved for communal purposes for village residence amongst all blocks about 2500 acres —probably a little more. For farming by individual owners and families they had set aside 120,000 acres. For leasing to Maoris they had reserved about 350,000 acres. In the last-mentioned •case the majority of the owners had no titles, and the .Commission reserved about 10,000 acres for leasing by Maoris. The land available for general settlement, leaving out the Waimarama block, would bo about 20,000 acres. . Some of the land was

not yet apportioned, as the Commission was waiting for surveys, etc. The Commission also dealt with the I o ■!- kawa reserve, which requires a special act to enable the recommendations of the Commission to be carried out. It is proposed to drain the big lake and swamp at Te Aute, and convert it into valuable land. “I have no doubt that if Parliament sanctions our suggestions,” said His Honor, “there will be considerable Maori and European settlement. Of course the idea that there were in Hawke’s Bay vast blocks of land lying unused is not correct. Ibe Maori land not used by Maoris, or most of it, is in possession of Europeans under lease. There are, however, two or three blocks which wo intend to deal with, perhaps in April or May. We have not been able to deal with them yet. The Mohalca and Nuhaka* natives,” ho went on to say, “have very little land beyond what is really sufficient for their maintenance and for those who desire to live an industrial life. We intend to send interim reports deal-

ing with tho several blocks, but, ol course, wo shall not,.send in a general report or a general recommendation until we have boon over more country. It is not wise for us to como to conclusions about nnlny matters until wo have seen the natives in other districts than Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay. No conclusions or suggestions as to necessary amendments of the law will be made until we have carried our investiga-

tions much further.” Sir Robert added that he saw little laziness amongst the Maoris where they had on opportunity to work. In some instances the blocks were allotted to so many people that subdivision was impossible, as some of them would get no more than , polo each. “They will have to re main communal lands unless exchanges are made,” the Chief Justice added. “The danger of allowing exchanges is that the Maoris do-not look to the future —they give up their lands without thinking of the danger of being left landless, for the sake of a little present money, and I have seen cases in Hawke’s Bay m which the whole of the money recoved from a sale was gone in a few months:' Several instances came be-

fore us where a man had obtained

about £IOO, and in twelve months he had not a shilling left. This system of allowing Maoris to sell their land and to do what they please with the money is not only demoralising the individuals, but inculcates habits of unthrift which are perilous to the existence of the race.” The Chief Justice said that the Commission would go to Wanganui on Thursday, and after Easter they hoped to be able to visit part of the King country. Afterwards, they would, in May or June, visit the Northern part of the East Cape. Mr. Ngata will return from Napier this evening.

THE FIRE BRIGADES. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 'Cross Association. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Tho Firo Brigades Conference resumed to-day. Officers wore elected for the coming year as follows: President, Captain Hansen, Westport ; vice-presidents. Superintendent Lucas, Spit, and Sub-Superinten-dent Wildish, Gisborne; secretary, Superintendent J. G. Gilbert (rooleoted). It was decided to vote £25 to tho Record, the official firo brigades organ. Tho secretary’s salary for tho year was fixed at .GGO. Tho newly-elected officers wero installed. RESULTS OF COMPETITIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. The biennial demonstration under tho auspices of the Now Zealand Fire Brigades Association was opened on the Exhibition sports ground this afternoon, in anything hut favorable weather. As a consequence the at-

tendance was limited almost exclusively to members of the visiting brigades, of whom, however, there was a full muster. Three events were run simultaneously during the day. Only one of these, however, the three man manual, was completed ; in this Christchurch sooTed A fine win, beating Timnru h.v a second. The following are the results to date :

Manual Engine (dry), for three men; ~st prize £ls, 2nd prize £B, 3rd prize £5, 4th prize £3. —Christchurch, 47 2-sth secs, (including penalty of one second), 1; Timnru, 47 0-- see. (2 see. penalty), 2; Napier, 48 4-5 sec. (1 see. penalty), 3; Spit, 49 4-5 sec. (2 see. penalty); Plawera, 49 2-5 see.; Masterton, 50 4-5 sec. (2 see. penalty), Hastings, 51 1-5 see. (1 see.); Westport, 52 see. (1 sec.): Hokitika, 53 1-5 see. (2 sec. z Greymouth 55 1-5 sec. (1 see.); Potono, 56 2-5 sec. (1 see.); Waipawa, 58 1-5 sec.; Dunedin, Cl 2-5 sec. (10 sec.); Ashburton, 62 2-5 sec. (11 sec.); Carterton, 64 4-5 see.; Gisborne, 67 1-ssec. (6 sec.); Geraldine, 69 2-5 sec. (12 sec.), also competed. Tvnmara, Gore, Kaiapoi, Teniuka, and Eastown Railway were disqualified. In tho manual engine/(dry), for one man competition, up to the call of time the following brigades had competed in the order named: Gore, 42 2-5 see.; Carterton, 45 sec.; llangiorn, 45 1-5 sec. (4 sec. penalty) ; Spit, 46 2-5 sec. (3 see. penalty); Woodville, 46 3-5 see. (3 sec.) Coupling event fol- two men. Following are in the order of running, up to the close of time.—Grey, Lynn, 36 3-5 sec. (including 1 sec. penalty) ; Retone Railway, 54 1-5 sec. (5 sec.); Devenport, 44 1-5 sec. (3 sec.); Rangiora, 44 3-5 sec. (3 sec.); Waipawa, 48 2-5 see. (6 sec.); Inglewood, 49 see. (3 sec.); Geraldine, 45 sec. (2 sec); Potone, 46 2-5 see. (5 sec.); Ross, 55 see. ; Westport, 46 1-5 sec. (6 sec.); Newmarket, disqualified; Foilding, 45 3-5 sec. (3 see.); Masterton, 44 3-5 sec. ; Naseby, 45 2-5 sec. (3 sec.); Stratford, 45 1-5 sec. (4 sec.); Hawera, 39 2-5 sec. (2 sec.); Blenheim, disqualified; Cambridge, disqualified; Cavcrsham, 3S 1-5 see. (1 sec.); Easttown (Wanganui) Railway, 48 1-5 sec. (6 sec.); Dunedin Railway, disqualified; Eden Terraco, disqualified; Auckland, No. 1, disqualified ; Dunedin City, 36 sec. (2 sec.); Spit, disqualified; Addington Railway, disqualified; Hillside, 39 1-5 sec. (2=l sec.); Corowa (N.S. W.), disqualified; Parnell, 44 4-5 sec. (2 sec.); Dunedin South, 46 4-5 sec. (8 sec.) ; Richmond, disqualified ; Timaru, 39 sec. (3 sec.); Waihi, 39 1-5 sec. (3 sec.); Invercargill, 46 sec. (3 sec.); Clyde, 42 2-5 sec. (2 sec.); Greymouth, 46 1-5 sec. (2 see.); Gisborne, disqualified; Onehunga, disqualified ; Palmerston North, 41 1-5 sec. (2 sec.); Woodville, disqualified; Lyttelton, 43 3-5 sec. (3 sec.). , Hose Reel Flat and Ladder, for five men —The following teams in the order given, had run by the close of the afternoon: —Palmerston North, 65 2-5 sec.; Wanganui, 60 2-5 sec.; Naseby, 65 2-5 see.; Pctone, 86 see. (including lsec. penalty); Gisborne, 70 sec.; Fitzroy, 67 3-5 sec. ; Greymouth, 60 sec. (1 sec.); Christchurch disqualified; Dunedin Railway, 69 2-5 sec (1 sec.); Hastings, 59 4-5 sec.; Nelson, disqualified; Timaru, 60 see.; Parnell, -• sec. ; Whangarei, 65 2-5 sec (1 see).

Tlie competitions will be resumed to-day.

HARD LUCK FOR GISBORNE. Special to Times. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. The events are being expeditiously got off, the management being good and the officials doing their work splendidly. The Gisborne men competed in three events, but were not successful in getting a good place. They had hard luck in tho hose reel flat.