DOMINION NEWS. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2284, 1 September 1908, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, August 31

Perhaps Auckland has been affected with American methods by the visit of the United States fleet. At all events a distinctly American proceeding" which is said to have taken place in Auckland this month has been the formation of an onion combine by some merchants of tho northern city (says to-night’s “Post”). They are reported to have booked every inch of space available for ythe carriage of onions from San Francisco to New Zealand, -and proof.of the.correctness of the statement was afforded by tho experience of a Wellington wholesale firm (Messrs Laery and- C.), wlricTl sent two cablegrams to San Francisco and received the reply, “Spate all secureU.” It is further -reported that exorbitant rates have been demanded for future supplies of onions from that quarter, and Wellington and southern merhants -rather than submit to tho demands of the Auckland ring have arranged to get over further supplies of Japanese onions', a pioneer shipment of jyhioh reached Wellington some Two weeks ago. This lot was promptly put on tho market, and they have been reported upon very favorably by consumers- Tuey are said to be milder in flavor and whiter in texture than the ordinary onion, so it seems that the action of the northern importers' will result in a distinct benefit being conferred upon tho remainder of New Zealand, whatever the case may bo so far as Auckland consumers are concerned. The following is Captain Edwin’s weather forecast to 3 p.m. to-mor-row ; —Moderate to strong easterly winds northward of Napier, Taupo, and Raglan, and from the northward at the other places with falling barometer everywhere.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 31. Applications have been received by the secretary of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand (Mr. It. Linn) for awards as in the cases of Douglas Hamilton, actor (a member of Mr. Frank Thornton’s Comedy Company), who on August 12th last saved a woman from drowning in the roadstead at Gisborne; and of Win. Jones, who on June 2nd last saved Percy Martin, from’drowning at Port Almriri, Napier. Captain Hawkes, of the Union Co.’s Tuiitea, and Mr. Frank Thornton support the application in Mr. Hamilton’s case. AUCKLAND, August 31.

Smith and Caughey, Ltd., drapers, admitted two breiches of the Poisons Act at the Police Court to-day, one of having sold a bottle containing poison (laudanum) wihout tho proper entry being made in a poisons book, and one of having sold the poison without distinctly labelling the bottle with the word “Poison.” Mr. Shorne, for defendants, said tho whole matter was a mistake. The bottles in question contained an American preparation, and although licensed to sell poisons, this was the first bottle ever vended. Air. Mays explained that the breaches were only discovered through a Chinaman who broiigTß the bottle along after having opened it, evidently under some misapprehension as to its contents. A fTii'o of 20s and costs was imposed. By the Mokoia which left for Sydney'last evening was shipped a consignment of ostrich plumes from the Helvetia ostrich farm, Pukekohe, in part execution of a cabled order for the officer's of tho American fleet of 100 two-inch white ostrich plumes. The . shipment will catch tho-fleet at Albany,' and the balance will be forwarded to meet the fleet at Manila. During the'month of August the gold returns from the Auckland disrict mines reached a total of £104,CO6 6s sd. Compared with the July output this shows a slight decrease. The yield for that period was £RW,231 153 fd. Foi' the corresponding month last year the total yield was £114,242 Os' lid. The total output from the Auckland district'for tho first eight months of the present year amounts to £792,864 5s 6d, which is £20.725 10s 8d less than the output for the first eight months of 1907. The past 'month’s returns are made up as follows: Ohinemuri £101,712 0$ 2d, Thames £2,010 6s 3d, Coromandel £BB4 12a.