N.Z. TELEGRAMS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9039, 24 January 1908, Page 5

N.Z. TELEGRAMS.

BY TELEGRAPH rEBSS ASSOCIATION. Fire at Blenheim, HOTEL AND OTHER BUILDINGS DESTROYED. BLENHEIM, January 23. A fire at 5 a.m. destroyed the Masonic Hotel and other buildings. The hotel was about 33 years old and was owned by Mr G. Houldsworth. The former licensee, Jas. Penny, who only last month sold out to George Newport, of Wairarapa, had seven years of his lease to run, with a purchasing clause at about £4,000. This hotel was the subject of a test case when Judge Cooper held that the licensing committee could not order it to be rebuilt after it had been repairedjin accordance with their requirements. The premises of Madden, fruiterer, and Sowman, tobacconist, were gutted; The other buildings destroyed were Young's bakery, old sample rooms belonging to Banning, and the premises of Anstice and Co., drapers. DESTKUCTION OF GLENAVY RAILWAY STATION. TIMARU, January 23. Additional particulars are to hand concerning the destruction of the Glenavy Railway Station by fire. All the station books, telegraph instruments, etc., post office material, including stamps, and newly-arrived mail, were burnt, while about £BO in cash was lost. A cadet's bicycle, watch and coat were also destroyed. Nothing but a few tickets were saved. Telegraphic communication was interrupted for a time, but is now restored. The main line was buckled by the heat from the burning building, and the trains had to use the side line. Weight of Grain Sacks. WELLINGTON, January 23. A notics in the Gazette fixes the weight of grain sacks at 2001bs.

Legislative Council. RE-APPOINTMENT OP MR LOUISSON. WELLINGTON, January 23. The re-appointment of Mr Charles Louisson, of Christchurch, to the Legislative Council is gazetted. Export of Gold. WELLINGTON, January 23. The gold entered for export during last year amounted to 508,210 ounces, valued at £2,027,490. The figures for 1906 are: 563,843 ounces, valued at £2,270,90,4. Importation of Grapss, WELLINGTON, January 23. By proclamation in tonight's Gazette, the importation of grapes is prohibited, except from Australia. Every shipment of grapes from Australia must be accompanied by a certificate, signed by an officer of the Department of Agriculture in the State from which the grapes are shipped, certifying that such grapss were grown in that State, that no phylloxera is known to exist in or within one mile of the vineyard which such grapes were grown, and that no grape vine, foliage, or wood is attached to such grapes. Valedictory. PRESENTATION TO REV. E. WARD. WANGANUI, January 23. The Rev. E. Ward, who has been acting-vicar, at Christ Church during the past year, and who is leaving for the Gisborne district, was presented by the parishioners, to-night, with a purse of sovereigns and an address. The Young Men's Club presented him with a combination clock, barometer and thermometer, and alsa an illuminated address. Lyell Bay Drowning Accident. WELLINGTON, January 23. The body of the man who was drowned, yesterday, was identified as that of John Clarke, 28 years of age. He is not known to have had relatives in New Zealand.

An inquest was held to-day, and a verdict of found drowned was returned. Seaman Falls Overboard. PROBABLY DEVOURED BY SHARKS. WELLINGTON, January 23. During the passage of the Warrimoo from Sydney to Wellington, a seaman named Angus McKinnon, aged 28, a single man, fell overboard, and, though a boat was lowered, all efforts to find the man were fruitless. It appears that the deceased was painting at the time, and the accident was not seen by any of the ship's officers or the crew. Most of the passengers were at lunch, but a few remained about the decks. The alarm appears to have first been given by a littls girl who screamed out that a ! man had fallen overboard, and then a young man, one of the passengers, reported the matter to the officer on the bridge. Tlio officer in charge of the boats ,crew said there were several sharks in the vicinity, one a tremendous fellow, as long as the boat itself. From this it would seem probable that the unfortunate seaman, who could not swim, had probably been devoured by these sea monsters.