YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2089, 15 January 1908, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. A-. \ NELSON. Serious bush'fires and grass fires are raging hr various parts or tlio province. At Tadinor tea miles oi bush lias been destroyed, together with much, fencing, in the Sherry, Wangapeka, and Motupiko districts serious outbreaks are reported. Miles of fencing and over IOUO sheep have so far been destroyed. A sawmill, dwelling, and sheds belonging to Mr. Drew were destroyed with all contents. Spooner’s it an go', near Tadmor, was on firo last night. A firo broke out yesterday nftornoon in a two-story shop and dwelling in Dridg'c-street, owned and occupied by Will. Moves, tailor. Most of the stock and furnituro was saved, bub .the .building was gutted. Tho hitter was insured lor £2OO in tho .State Oflico, but the contents were uninsured. ; Tho reported discovery of gold on the: mud-hut near tho town, turns out to havo boon tho result of a practical Joke, a quantity of brass filings having been scattered over tho ground where tho drainage works Wore being carried on. Before tho story w.as exploded sovoral claims wore pegged oil, and prospecting licenses were issued to two woll-known residents. WESTPORT. Information is to hand from London of thev-flotation there of the Westport Naval and Railway Coal Company to develop a valuable coal area in "this district. The now Westport Stockton Coal Company expects to bo getting out- coal in J uly. Electric traction will bo employed at this mine. A considerable nuinher of colliers are arriving to work in the Westport Coal Company’s miiuw. A!uny uro new arrivals from Ne.v South Wales. CIIKISTCII UitCH. There is another blistering hot day following the nromiso of rain last evening, but the clouds dispersed and hopes were disappointed. 1 hero are many reports from country districts of grass fires, but as yet there is nothing very serious. In spite of tho exceptionally dry weather everywhere reported- some heavy yields of oats have beeni reaped. Two at Southbridge were very heavy, one being 67 bushels and another 71 bushels to the acre. There will be a good deal of threshing from the stook this your. lid-gar Neale was to-day committed for trial to the Supreme Court on a charge o; keeping a tote shop in High-street during the November carnival. Neale elected to bo tried by jury. Bail was allowed in £4O and one sure tv of £SO. DUNEDIN.

Astrakhan will not be an acceptor for tho Wellington Cup, but Petrovna will completo her Trentham engagements. .Several members of tho Primitive Methodist Conference had expressed their intention, owing to Saturday I *- sitting, of handing in their resignations, owing to what they regarded as the undemocratic action of the majority of the Conference in applying the closure to the 'union debate on Friday but on the Conference resuming this morning the storm had apparently all blown over, and members settled down calmly to business. A deputation was received from the Methodist Church of Australasia, consisting of Revs. Slade (president), C. Laws, 8.A., J. Ward, and Mr. Caldwell. Tho deputation was welcomed by tho president. The Rev. Mr. Slade, in -referring to Methodist union, pointed out that in his church tliero was room for every variety of Christian effort. The union had been successful in Australia, as evidenced by the words of tho president of the New South Wales Conference, who had stated that tho union was complete and tho fusion perfect. He stated that while the population of the Dominion was 900,000, there was church accommodation for only 375,000, and there wero only 225, UUu in church attendance. Hence, he urged that the churches present a united front. Rev, W. Hay represented the Council of Churches, and pointed out that the Christian church was the one power that made for good. The true genius of Christianity was to bo in harmony with all that would help on tho causo of God. The Rev. C. E. Ward and the Hon. C. M. Luko replied on behalf of tho Conference. A deputation from tho temperance organisations was received. Mr. J. D. Adams urged that much practical effort had accomplished the objects of the party. The Rev. J. Dawson,) 'chairman of tho Executive'of, the -New Zealand Alliance, -showed that much needed to be done. The aftoruioon session was taken up in considering .reports of the Executive. HASTINGS.

Tho insurances on last night’s fires are:—Buildings, owned by J. Blake, occupied by Hartshorn and Wellwood (accountants), £9O in the Alliance; contents, £SO in the Standard. G. Ebbett, solicitor (owner and occupier), building £l2O. NAPIER.

George Adams has been committed for trial on a charge, of assaulting Frederick Edmonds, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The evidenco showed that after a few words between the pair at the rear of the Criterion Hotel Adams seized on axe and endeavored to - strike Edmonds, missing his neck by a couple of inches. AUCKLAND. A meeting of the Political Labor League—-held last evening to consider tho policy of the paper tho New Zealand Worker —carried tho following resolution: —‘‘That in the opinion of this League the New Zealand Worker cannot any longer be regarded as the official organ of the League, seeing that a body of directors and head manager have entered into an alliance with the party which puts forth as its sole -issue tho prohibition of the liquor traffic, an issue which has always been left open by the Labor party. The second wool sale of the season opens to-morrow morning. The total number of bales catalogued constitutes a record, -and is d-n excess of the amount offered at the opening sale :n November. A great many small -lots are included in the catalogue, the. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile’s total of 2321 bales including no less than 796 lots.' Altogether 5055 bales will bo offered at to-morrow’s sale. A boy named Corbett was playing in a timber yard last evening, when s stack of heavy timber fell on him. He sustained a broken leg, cut head, and numerous bruises, and was taken to the hospital. A telegram from Owhata, near Mongonui, states that A. Ballentyne, who only arrived here a few days ago, was drowned while bathing. A brilliant meteor appeared over tho citv about 10 o’clock last night. The bursting was followed by two loud reports resembling thunder. A boy named Crighton Riddle, no-cd 8, was' drowned in the river Ongaru'he.

ROTORUA. Two pronounced earth tremors occurred this morning, ut 3.7 arm. and tho second- at 4.18 arm., the last one being fairly sharp. WANGANUI. The exports from Wanganui last year were valued at £468,207, of which wool contributed £335,194, tho quantity of wool being 7,833,6451b5. Frozen meat accounted for £77,038, rim output being 61,211 cwt; tallow, 878 tons, valued at £23,224; sheep skins, 732,869, valued at £22,<81. The export of white pine timber to Sydney totalled 1,460,162 superficial feet, assessed at £4615. At the present time thro are three sailing vessels in port loading white pine for Sydney, and it is estimated they will ship over three-quarters of a million feet. No butter or cheese has been sent through tho port during the'' year, tlio output being shipped from Ratea, and consequently these products do- not enter unto exports. Tlio Rev. J. A. Jacob and tho Rev. J. E. Holloway were last night inducted as vicar and assistant curate respectively of tho parish of Wanganui. Tho Bishop of Wellington officiated. TAIHAPE. John Harvey, aged 23, a mill hand at Mangaonoho, was drowned whilo bathing in the llangitikei River. PALMERSTON. N. Two little Maori girls, aged two years, wero drowned in tile Manawatn River at Rungitano on iSaturday. Tho body of one was found floating down the river by spine .Maoris, but the other has not yet been recovered. An inquest on the on ot found was hold yesterday, when a verdict of accidental drowning was ■ returned. STRATFORD. At the Police Court this morning, George William Perrott, charged with resisting tile police and assaulting a woman, was lined £5 on the first charge, in default one month’s imprisonment, and £2 on the second charge. WELLINGTON. Owing to the continued dry weather the city authorities .are carefully conserving the water resources. The use of water through hoses for gardening purposes except such water as passed through a meter. Las been forbidden for some weeks, and in connection with this some prosecutions are mentioned as likely. ’The latest indication of scarcity of water is the determination of tlio authorities to issue no permits for the present for burning rubbish. The shortage of water lias become aggravated by an accident. The pressure gauges in the city Just nightindicated- that there was a break in the main, which carries water from the municipal reservoir to the city. Men have been sent to locale the injury and effect repairs as speedily as possible. An election to fill the vacancy on the Senate of the New Zealand University, caused by the resignation of Mr. McLaurin, resulted in the return of Mr. Von Haast. The voting was ‘ as follows: —Mr. Von Haast, 143 ; Professor Easterfiold, 49. HASTINGS. The insurances on last night’s fire aro:—Buildings, owned by J. Blake, occupied by Hartshorn and Wellwood (accountants), £9O in tho Alliance; contents, £SO in the Standard. G. Ebbett, solicitor (owner and occupier), building • £l2O in Yorkshire, contents £35. Silver Grid, owned by Mr. W. A. Beecroft, occupied by M. Johnston, £l5O ini Alliance and £SO in Victoria. Building owned by Sowensly, £350 in the North Queensland; occupied by E. Lewis, watchmaker, stock £2OO in tho Sun. Wooster and Co., pastrycooks, Fagan and Fraser, Fitzpatrick, billiard saloon, uninsured. H. Christian, stock £IOO in Alliance; building owned by W. G. MaddisOn, £350 in Atlas ; occupied by Reynolds aiid Co., stock £450 in Alliance. ' T. Robertson, stock £SO in Standard. A. Hyde, billiard saloon, £250 in Alliance.' DUNEDIN. At 'the Primitive Methodist Conference Treasurer Froggctt presented the report of tlio superannuated ministers’, widows’, and orphans’ fund. Tho income for the year'was £439 8s sd; profits for the year £274 12s; total value, £3621. A bequest of £2OO was received. It is proposed to raise the capital to £IO,OOO at the earliest possible date. Second reading of stations was fixed for.-Wednesday evening. A young people’s rally took place at Dundas Hall, the president being in the chair. Ho urged greater attention to the claims of children. Tho Rev. E. Drake delivered an address on “Moral Heroism.” Mr. Varney (Wanganui) spoke of “Spiritual Knighthood” by many historical references, especially tlio Crusaders, to show that similar equalities were required to-day in sport, in religion, and in every walk of life. Mr. Holland (Christchurch), Sunday School Union Secretary, spoke re the “Cradle Roll.” He asked all circuits to institute the system. The Rev. James Flanaghan announced tho subject of “Tit-hits,” which referred to a visit to Amorim, the color question, and the serious developments possible. He contrasted the conduct under the constitution “all men equal.” Ho spoke of the magnificent Sunday-school organisation. He had. visited General Waunaker’s school. He referred to tlio complete‘efficiency of tho youngest and oldest. . There were moil of 70 in the school visited. In the school every scholar, >a negro, was an influence for the unity of the races. He closed with a powerful appeal to care for the children. The hall was full. There was a large choir, and the choruses were rendered by the scholars. It was an enthusiastic meeting.