YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2142, 18 March 1908, Page 4

YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS.

A UCKI/ANI). As the result ol recent gales a tragedy of 1900 has been discovered at Poikeatua, n»ar Hiverhead. it appears that 'in November of that year a settlor named AVil-ks gave food and accommodation to John Palikir, a wandering gum-digger, who was never again seen alive. While scorching for a new site for a house Wilks discovered Pallar’s skeleton >in a clump of. nines, 'about 301) yards from 'tho house. There were no signs of how Pa liar died and an open verdict was returned at 'the 'inquest. The Governor and staff arrived from New Plymouth this morning. To-morrow, with the Premier, ho.attends a .Maori gathering at W.iiharoa. A thirteen year old 'hoy, stepson of Air John Galloway, of Mohukaraka, has been missing since the 13th inst., an active search having tailed to iiml a trace of him

NAPIER. Mr W. Lane, cx-Mayor of •Hastings. roDomls lvis previous announ.cemeiit that ho 'will contest him Hawke’s Pay so i-t .against all comers. Hi' was not quite decided whether lio will contest Alto Mayoralty, 'although he lias been asked to come forward. The question of Bible in schools was discussed <by tho Education Board hint niglit. The matter was brought up bv the inspectors, who asked for the Board’s 'actual intentions in respect to the followuiig: “The teaching in schools shall bo for live hours daily for live days in ovory week, except that in the preparatory classes it shall >be lor 4 hours ouly. (1) Does teaching cover secular instruction only, and in the Bubjcdts enumerated in sections 135 and liO of the education compilations? (2) Would the regulation be met by takin.r out of the five hours on ono day a week half an hour for religious instruction ,say, from 9 to 9.30 a.m.. (3) As preparatory classes aro limited to a school 1 , day of four hours, is it competent for a school 'committee to extend the school day for these classes for 'religions insfructiion, and would tcachors bo justified dll ‘telling thoir pupils to attend for such instruction? The Board, after a lengthy discussion, answered tile firstquestion in the affirmative, and the second and third questions in t-lio negative. CHRISTCHURCH,

The city surveyor issued during February ‘SG 'building pcnnns for buildings of a value of £‘133,-135. _ During February it.lio .following stock was slaughtered at the (municipal abattoirs: Cattle 1031. condemned 13: sheen 7470, condemned 7; lambs 1937, condemned nil; pigs 477, condemned 3: calves 3GB, condemned nil. 0 AMARU. At the request of tlie Minister for Lands Teschcmaker’s Kauroo estate has been placed under offer to the Government for closer settlement. The acreage of freehold is approxi-. mutely 19,113 acres, and 750 acres of Crown Hands ,aml GOO acres are held from the School Commissioners. It is already subdivided into seven farms ranging from 800 to 5000 acres. PALMERSTON N. A prisoner named Edward Jones*, alias Johns, attempted to commit suicide in the prison yard at the gaol this morning by cutting liis throatwith a piece of tin. The wound is not serious. Jones was to be sentenced this morning for indecent- assult on a little girl, for which ho was convicted at the Supremo Court yesterday. _ ■ ,

. “ TAIHAPE It is expected that fully six moro sawmills will be errected around Ohakune during the next three months, and as soon-ias freights arc 'taken down on. the public works lino a num-ber-more are to be errected. Heavy freight' on the line between Ohakune and Mataroa is stopping tho sawmills from exporting. Anvonc who at all doubts the suitability of Poverty Bay climate and soil to grow grapes should have a look at Mrs G. Brown’s vines, at Mangapapa. Rich and luscious bunches of White Sherris and Black -Ambro are a treat to gladden the heart of the veriest epicure living, land Ure to be procured from Mrs Brown at a cheap rate.

CIli; ISTCHUIICH. At- the Compensation Court 10-day re Ctdverden Estate, the case for the trustees closed, and Mr. Findlay opened the case for the Government, calling Mr. I). G. Clarke, Government accountant, who give evidence as to the Government’s 'basis of valuation. Giving evidence for the trustees, one witness said the; estate was worth £144,1541, or £6 10s fin acre, and he could make 9 per cent, on that -by cultivating all plougbable kind, and using crossbreds instead of merinos. His Honor remarked, regarding the 9 per cent., “let .farmers grumble that you are basing figures on. the continuance of existing conditions?’’ Witness replied that the last two years were the worst he had seen in Canterbury. Ho would be sorry to work for less than 9 per cent.