YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2231, 7 November 1907, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. AUCKLAND. Auckland timber merchants, interviewed on tho subject, generally agreed with t.lio statomont mado by Mr. D. Goldie that thero is at present an unprecedented shortage in tho supply of kauri timber. Tho reason, however, is not because of the oxtont- of our export trade, but is to be found in the oxcossivo demand which exists locally, and the decrease of gonoral output. The scarcity is such, in fact, that the average miller lias, tho greatest difficulty in coping with the local demand. “There is no getting away from the fact,” said Mr. Goldie, “that the kauri is fast working out. Wo have to go away back into almost inaccessible places to got it, and it is likely that another 15 years will witness its disappearance. It is too late to think of preserving it. There is absolutely no possibility of reproducing tho kauri forests.” A 'member of another leading firm of kauri timber merchants assured a press representative that tho situation really was serious. In past years it was always the custom of the Commissioner to throw fresh areas on tho market whenever mills intimated that they .wanted more timber. Now tho millers were in a very awkward posit ion. Tho. Depart - ment/s preservation scheme is to have a serious effect- of those millers who wore encouraged to erect plants in different parts of tho country, for in numerous cases they liavo boon compelled to close down. A young man named Gordon HendorsOH, on returning to his lioino at Onehunga at 3 a.m., after a dance, was struck on tho head, presumably with a sandbag. Ho stated that ho grappled with his assailant, and escaped with- his clothing badly torn. He reached home, but subsequently became unconscious for half an hour, and is seriously ill. Ho cannot ascribe any cause for tho attack, but supposes it was robbery. Henderson had recently been running at what was known as gaslight sports. He is described as a respectable young fellow, and his friends believe his story. News from Samoa by the s.s. Atua contains an account of a big tidal wave at IMat’autu, Savaii, on October G. Boats were smashed and much damage done to the boats and copra sheds along tho water front. When tho wave reached Mr. Brunt s residence it was about six feet high. It smashed the windows, poured into tho house and rendered it uninhabitable. The Wave smashed a buggy shed" and destroyed 1 threo buggies. Mr. Justice Donuiston suspended George F. Brimblecombe’s discharge for twelve months. Debtor was a sharebroker, and tho Magistrate said it appeared he had sold somo property which he had pledged to a petitioning creditor, tho Nor thorn Instate Agency. BLENHEIM.

A fire, fanned by a strong northwest wind, swept the Marshland flax swamp yesterday afternoon, buring about 500 tons of flax ready to bo cut, and a quantity of other flax. Mr Chaytor, tho owner, estimates his loss at nearly £IOOO. A largo gang of men fought the fire all the afternoon, and succeeded in saving a portion of tho flax. The firo afterwards crossed a big ditcli into tho raupo swamp at a Maori pa, where a laigo area was swept, but tho damage was unimportant. . Rain is 'again tlireatmg, but apparently failing. The conditions are very similiar to those of last year. The crops, however, aro still vigorous, owing to good early rains naving moistened tho subsoil. _ CHRISTCHURCH.

There were 141.391 passengers carried in tho Christchurch trams on Saturday, Cup Day, and 22,068 on Sunday. , Edward Mills, J. F. Donelly, and Harry Witto were committed for trial to-day, charged with assault and robbery of William Walton, who came into town on Octobor 31, from Martinborough witli £37. Accused decoyed him to a house in Tuam street, and it is alleged, robbed him of £23. Mr. Neil McLean, of tho firm of McLean Bros., who have tho contract for the construction of tho Arthur Hass Tunnel, is visiting Christchurch. Speaking to a press representative, 'he said that he had been advised by cable that his brother, Mr. Murdock McLean, who went home to purchase boring machinery, reached London on 23rd Octobor. Work in connection with tho contract was proceeding at tho Otira end, a number of carpenters being engaged erecting ono hundred huts for the accommodation of tho 200 men who will he put on at the tunnel face. The site of the office and huts is on a terrace about 80 feet above the lnoutli of tho tunnel. Mr. McLean expects that the : actual excavating work will bo com:nienced after the Christmas and New Year holidays. A start will bo made 'then to erect offices and huts at the Bealoy mouth of the tunnel. The 'firm’s engineer, Mr. Leslie Reynolds, lias been engaged on careful examination of .the water : power available, and Mr. jYEcLgsii is satisfied that it will be largely utilised to drivo the boring machinery. DUNEDIN.

The Tinsmiths’ Union has nominated Mr. J. A. McCullough as workers’ representative on tho Arbitration Court and Mr. W. T. Young as acting member. . . In the original poem competition, ‘ ‘Farewell to Winter/* under the auspices of tlio Dunedin Competitions Society, Miss J. A. Spence, of Auckland, was awarded first and second prizes and .special mention in tlio recitation for amateurs of any age. Mrs. Margaret Sutcliffe, of Wellington, secured second place, and in the original story competition Mrs. A. J. Crawford, Taranaki, secured third placo. At this morning’s competitions Mrs. Margaret Sutcliffe, of Wellington won the recital for lady amateurs, obtaining 166 points out of 200. The judge characterised it as thebest performance given, in the society’s six years of life. INVERCARGILL.

■ An inquest on Alice Coleby, killed on tho road a short distance from Oropuke, was held on Tuesday. The facts were that tho young lady was driving in a milk cart with a woman, when tho horse took fright at a traction engine, and the cart capsized at the side of the road, and deceased, who was pinned to the ground for some time, died from her injuries. The jury returned the following verdict: “That Alice Coleby met her death by the horso backing tlio dray down tho bank, that death was induced by the neglect and omis-

sion of Alexander Forrier, tho person in cliargo of tho traction engine; that tho deceased by turning the horso in tho wrong direction, contributed to the fatal result. Tho nogligeuco of Alexander Forrier was tho primary causo of tho death of deceased.” Tlio following rider was added: “Tho jury aro of opinion that the by-law regulating tlio conduct ol' traction engines around dangerous places should ho made moro stringent as regards scouting ahead, and that tho Wallace County Council should materially widen tho road where the accident happened.” MASTERTON. Tho heat yesterday was again phenomenal for this season of tho year. Tho maximum temperature in tho sliado was 82, which was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Last year no similiar register of heat was recorded till December 18. WELLINGTON. Somo discusison took place in the Presbyterian Assembly to-day on a request of tho Biblc-in-Schools League to confer witli the ciders of tho Assembly. There was cousiderablo difference of opinion on granting tlio request. Eventually a motion was passed to the effect that, the Assembly will be pleased to receive a deputation. A ballot of members of tho Shipmasters’ Asoeiat ioivton the question of affiliation with the Merchant Service Guild, resulted in tho proposal being affirmed. A conference will be held shortly to draw up an affiliation scheme.

Mr. J. Uprichard, contractor, of Greytowii North, was drowned in tho Ruamahunga river at Purinoa. Uprichard 'and Myors were crossing the .river. A heavy wind was blowing; the boat began to fill, and Uprichard jumped out, and commenced to swim ashore. Mr. Clarkson, who is ill, sent off another boat, but iti could make no headway. Ho then gallantly swam out, and got within a yard of Uprichard, when tho latter suddenly sank. Tho body lias not been recovered. Deceased, who was highly respected, leaves a widow and four children. WAIPAWA. Gilbert. Broad, aged 21, shot himself in the right temple at Fairfield. Ho was removed to the hospital in a critical condition.