YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2149, 3 August 1907, Page 4

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association

NELSON, yesterday. A shocking fatality occurred- here at ten o'clock last- night, when a small two-storey building in Aidton street was burned down, and two men named John Stewart-, a bootmaker. the owner and occupier, and John Brown, engineer and fitter, were burned to deat'ii boyond recognition. The two were victims of drunkenness, and had indulged in an orgy at Stewart.’s from the afternoon. A third man, Archibald Ogilvio, a coach trimmer, was with the others m the afternoon, but left some time in the evening, hence he is still alive. The firebell sounded promptly, and many were oil the scene, but they were unable to gain admission. A strong southerly soon helped the flames to demolish the building. The efforts of the brigade and a good supply of water saved other places to leeward. Air Norris, next door but one, suffered damage by hasty removal of fur.niture. Efforts were then directed to extricate the bodies from the gutted house. While the firemen were engaged a brick chimney toppled. Firemen James Whiting, Joseph Nosbit, and Edward Woodward sustained some injuries. Subsequently the bodies of Stewart and Brown were found so charred as to be unrecognisable but- evidence that they were in the building at the time will be given at the inquest this afternoon. The only available insurance ion Stewart’s fire is £75 on the building, an old structure, in the North Queensland. It is believed the furniture was uninsured.

WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Gazette declares a close season for mullet in the North Island waters from December Ist to February 28tli every year, A deputation of members of Parliament asked the Premier yesterday to do something for Jas. Meikle, who was dismissed after the Banksido railway collision. Sir Joseph Ward promised favorable consideration, also stating that all important inquiries in future would be carried out in publ'C and by an independent tribunal. Sn Joseph Ward told a farmers’ deputation yesterday that he fully rec< gnised the necessity for extending the use of the telephone among -country settlers. He would readily agree to any practical proposals submitted. Mr. J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines, interviewed by the farmers, said the Department was -taking steps to amend the regulations with regard to private lines in a way that would probably meet their wishes.

Thu arrivals in Now Zealand during May last numbered 1988, and the departures 3139. The figures for the corresponding month of last year we. o 2393 and 2512 respectively. The City Council last night decided to ask the Government to arrange that all milk supplied the city pass through a depot or depots to be carried on by the corporation under powers delegated to the Council. Is has been decided to relieve the railway stationmaster in the large centres of tho duty of attending to tbo transport of goods. That department will bo placed under tho charge of an official in each city, to be known as tho goods agent. Shortly before 10 o’clock this morning a man named Samuel Stevenson, employed by tlio contractors for putting an additional storey to Sargood, Son, and Kwen’s warehouse,fell down the well of tho lift used by tho builders and died in a few minutes. 'His skull was fractured, and ono of his arms broken. Deceased was a singlo man, aged about 35. The imports to New Zealand during the quarter ended June 30 were to the yaluo of £3,921,510, an increase of £988,727 over the figures for th o corresponding period of 1900. Tho imports from the United Kingdom increased from - ' £1,650,967 to £2,099,274. Tho exports for the quarter were valued at £4,841,983, an increase of £35,339. Tho shipmei to from tho principal ports are given as follows: Lyttelton £872,609, Auckland £812,838, Wellington £708,652 Timaru £404,233, Napier £37-,308, Invercargill £370,881, Dunedin £354,927, Gisborne £207,078. At the Agricultural Conference resolutions were passed to tlio following effect: “That the Government he asKtil for an annual subsidy towards holding a Royal Show each year, alternately in the North and South Islai ds; adopting tho Committee’s recommendations making earmarks supersede brands on sheep, all markings to be done with tools stamped with a Government mark.” These recommendations wore agreed to on tho understanding that the Department sul niit- to the societies a Bill drafted on tho lines indicated. It was also resolved that the Executive he reelected, and one member from Canterlury, Otago, Southland, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay, combined Marlboicugh and Nelson, combined Manawitu and Taranaki, with the Executive form a permanent committee to cai ly out the resolutions of the Conference, such committee to consider a federation of all societies into the Royal A. and P. Society of New’Zealnml,and that the Government should give pastoral tenants every encouragement to improvo tho carrying capacity of their runs. A series of res< lutions wore adopted calling for bet tel facilities for railing stock, eg' pec-ially to and from shows. It was al-s> resolved that stock inspectors be empowered to put a cull brand on onrs condemned as unfit for dairying but which are otherwise fit for fattening; that when tho inspection of dairies is taken up by the Department, inspectors should direct the attention of dairy farmers to the necessity of testing their herds by weighing and testing each individual cow’s milk; that in tho case of the Dei nr-tment requiring any permanent improvements in shed-s or yards, the cost should lie borne by the owner if

ii’., years to run. The Conference then closed. The next Conference will be held in Auckland. IN YER CAR GILL, yesterday. Mr John Hay, Southland Commissioi ei of Crown Lands, died last night He had been Commissioner fov six years, and had previously

dime a vast amount of survey work in Southland. The first illness that ovor l ii 1 him up was an attack of measles a few months ago. Ho got up too sc oil, and pleurisy supervened. Jaundice complicated tlio caso, hut until a few days ago nobody doubted his memory. Cancer of tho liver was diagnosed on Monday. Mr Hay sank fust, till dentil ended his pain at 7 last night. Deceased, who was higlilv respected by all who had to woik w 1 111 him, was born on May 9th, 1848, anil joined the service on May sth, 1867. Ho was appointed chief surveyor for Otago nbout 1897, anil followed Air. Barron bore. KOTOIIUA, yesterday.

An enquiry into the lire; that doitiovod the Presbyterian Church on He evening of July Util lasted all lav and till 11 o’clock last night. The jiii-.’ found there were many suspicious circumstances about the fire, but no direct evidence to show htfw it originated, and added a rider calling iho attention of tho Tourist Department to the evidence of the captain at tin- fire brigade that had the full pressure of water been available at tie start the firo could have been suppressed, and requesting the Depa* tment to take stops to prevent a similar failure in the future. HASTINGS, yesterday.

Tlu seventh annual show of the Hastings Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society opened to-day, with 555 entries in tho poultry section. The judges were: Poultry, Air. J. Casey (Kandahallah), and Air. J. W. Hart (Hastings); pigeons, Mr. Fitzgerald (Wellington) ; -canaries, Air. AY. ITart. ASHBUKTON, yesterday.

Another old identity passed away this morning in- the person of Joseph limit, at tho ripe ago of BS. Ho came to the distriot in 1865, and was one of the first to put down oats and wheat- in Ashburton County, and cut one of the first water races in Canterbury. OAAIAItU, yesterday.

At the Alagistrate’s Court to-day Air Iveddell, S.M., delivered judgment in the ease of Cullen v. Tart, master of the Timaru dredge for sailing without a full complement of moil. Mr. Iveddell previously heard and dismissed tho case, but on appeal to the Supreme Court Judgo Williams reversed the decision, and so it it back for tho imposition of a penalty. In giving judgment this morning, tlio Alagistrate said it was owing to the interference of a Timaru Harbor Board employee that the dredge sailed without the full complement. Regarding the -fact that the cook held a. mate’s certificate, that did not alter the case in that lie might liavo been discharged for misconduct, but being a seafaring man he was forced to follow tho soa for a livelihood though in a liumblo Capae'tj Defendant was fined £lO and costs £3 10s. GORE, yesterday. Tho man George Atunro, who was arrested on Sunday on a charge of burning fifteen straw- and oaten sheaf sticks at Riversdale, was committed to Sea cliff o Asylum yesterday for medical treatment, a medical examination proving him insane.