YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2086, 11 January 1908, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

’ Proas Association. . AUCKLAND. Two nnui-o’-warsmen, JMuitiiyli and (!i'iint, appeared at the Police Court This morning on charges arising out of a disturbance in the street last night. The,Jack Tars were using bail language to two ladies, and a constable and civilian who interfered were roughly- fused. Air. Dyer, S.AI., said he felt it his duty to teach tlio offenders ami others a lesson. T-liey were convicted' on /the charge of using obscene language, and lined C l 10s and costs each for assault. The local staff of the Department of Agriculture last night entertained Mr. R. fPounsford, poultry grader at Auckland for seven years, who has been transferred to Christchurch, and Air. T. T. Lloiliy, Mr. Pounsford’s suceescor at. Auckland. The latter remarked ujnm the fact that Auckland was far behind the rest of tin*colony'■iu/tho, poultry, industry at starting, but had now eclipsed thorn all. and had .a 'dlmiKnncnul, businesiv A hoy ■phiying' at Afanukau Meads found .a bottle.containing the following' written on a half sheet of notepaper: “Pleasure boat in distress; broken down whilst out for sail, about 50 miles outside Afanukau Heads; name of boat To Rawiti. Anybody finding this, will they please send' help?.” it is signed Sydney James Captain Neal, harbormaster, is inclined to the belief that the letter is a hoax, but has instructed the- masters of vessels to keep a lookout at sea for such a craft as described. CAAI BRIDGE.

Tlio Hon. G. Fowkls, Minister for Health, accompanied l>\ Dr. Mason, Chief Health Ofiicer, representative modicocs, and mivnlmiv of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, yesterday afternoon paid a, visit to the 'Waikato sanatorium,., located eight miles from Cambridge. Tlio Minister and party wore greatly impressed with the* management" and the excellent results of the open-air treatment. One probable result of the visit will bo file adoption by tlio hospital boards in the province of a similar -method of treating consump-tives-in their districts. AVELLfNGTON.

The arrivals in New Zealand in November were 3656, and departures 1590. WANGANUI. Owing to continued illness, Conductor Crichton, who is suffering from a nervous breakdown, which has threatened him lor four or five years, the Wanganui Garrison Band has -definitely decided to-.abandon all idea- of competing in the test selections at the New Plymouth contest. Several members wilf compete in the solo competitions. BLENHEIM. A largo grass fire last night, on Bankhouse run, Wairau Valley, swept about 2500 acres, destroying the station stables and outbuildings. The house was saved with difficulty. Portions of a valuable plantation were destroyed, and several telegraph poles burned. No stock is thought to have been lost. The \Vailiopai river flat was cleaned of gorse and briar, and on the whole the burn was rather good than bad. Another fire, at Riverlands, was extinguished during the afternoon. The Bankhouse stables were covered by insurance, there being £290 in the New Zealand office on the stables and outbuildings. TIM ARIL

The Harbor Board to-day considered a special report by Air. J. P. Alaxwell on-the wharfage needed now and for the future expansion of tlio harbor. In regard to the latter ho purposes to remove the north mole and construct- a new one to provide a larger area, also to extend by 500 ft the eastern breakwater recently completed. The Board accepted -with slight modifications of position the proposal for a 600 ft jetty in ferroconcrete. The other proposals wei;e left to a future meeting. It was resolved -also to advertise for a resident engineer at a salary of £4OO. The statement for the year ended December 31st of imports and exports at Timaru harbor shows the imports were 86,220 tons, ail increase of 7067 tons on the previous record. The import of timber was 8,832,912 ft, an increase on last year of 2i million feet. The exports during 1907 totalled 65.052 tons, loss than last year by 1-1,960 tons, wool showing a decrease of 6900 bales, and oats 8500 tons. The export, of frozen mutton was 837.997 carcases, a record for tlio port, -an. increase on- the previous total of 49,000. The total revenue was £25,036, compared to £25,643 in 1906. The value of imports, foreign and intercolonial, was £297,547, ail increase of £57,000, -and exports £1,216,542, au increase of £IOO,OOO. Admiral Eawkes and Lady Fawkes arrived this afternoon. They were met bv the Mayor and Commander Bentiiick, of IT.AI.S. Prometheus. The party were entertained at- luncheon, taken for a motor drive, -and afterwards accorded a public welcome. The Admiral -and party leave for Alount Cook this afternoon. During the visit the Admiral’s flag was flown by tlio cruiser Prometheus, -at present in harbor. This is. tlio first occasion of such -a flag being flown hei<? ' ASHBURTON.

At the Alagistrato’s Court to-day, before Air. V. G. Day, S.AI., Andrew Young, charged on the information of the police with keei>ing for sale liquor, namely, fiv-e cases ol whisky, was convicted and fined £2O and costs. The charged against Albert Sims, -remanded from last week, on a- charge- of assault oil a young girl on the Fairfield-Ashburton road, with intent to commit a- crime, was beard with closed doors. Accused was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Timaru on February DUNEDIN.

The effect of the continued dry we-atlier in Central Otago- is being severely felt by the mining -and agricultural industries. During the past three weeks the heat about Alexandra and Cromwell has been excessive, the thermometer on- several occasions registering 100 in tlie shade and 130 in the sun. As a result of the prevailing hot winds, the crops ■arc rixicning before tliedr time, uikl unless steady, rain falls soon, there is every indication of tlie country being dried up completely. -Grass paddocks that onlv a couple of weeks ago looked better than they had been lor years are now burnt up, but tlie turnip crops are reported to bo good, and in some eases there is far above the average yield. In Alexandra water for domestic purposes is running short, and a water famine in the near future is threatened. At the inquest on Kathleen Ai. Aleaclc. aged 15, who died from the wound of a revolver bullet at St-. Kilda yesterday, a verdict- of accidental ‘death was returned. The medical evidence as to the trend ol the bullet was against- any theory of

suicide. The family’s evidence was that the girl was of bright spirits and cheerful disposition. The Dunedin Star’s Alexandra correspondent says that the Borough Council recently purchased a valuable right for two fields from ißutclier’s Gully, which is fed from Old Alan’s range, where water even now ■is plentiful, ami residents are agitating that the Government he applied for a loan of £BOO to_ enable the water to he brought into the town from this source. Alining throughout tlio district is at a standstill owing to the want of wafer.