LATE WIRES.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 12, 6 February 1906, Page 3

LATE WIRES.

—o-o — GENERAL. The Daily News says there is a strong probability of a Liberal contesting the City against Mr Balfour at the election caused by the retirement of Mr Gibbs, who resigned in order to give the late Premier an opportunity of securing a seat. Lord Roberts, in a letter to the press,reiterated his disappointment that only £lB6O had been subscribed in respouse to his appeal for one hundred thousand pounds for rifle clubs as part of a system of national military training. The death is announced of Lady Grey. . . Bush fires are still raging in the Avoca, Toora, and Laucefield districts, Victoria. Much grass, fencing, and a quantity of stock have been destroyed. Incendiarism is suspected in some cases. There have been splendid rains throughout the Queensland state —up to 7in in some places. Many rivers are flooded. H.M.S. Powerful, accompanied by the Challenger, Cambrian, Pegasus, and Psyche, sailed from Hobart for New Zealand on Sunday. The Rev Charles Butler, a passenger to New Zealand by the Medic, died on the voyage and was buried at sea. A great shipbuilding yard will shortly be established at Lubeck, Germany. Sir Edward Grey has generously returned to the Metropolitan Water Board £3OOO, being his portion of the fees as arbitrator under the Act of 1902. Sir Joseph Ward opened the new Palmerston N. post-office yesterday, in the presence of a large number of people. Replying to a deputation, Sir Joseph, said the time would arrive very shortly when people would have to pay for admission to New Zealand railway platforms, to prevent overcrowding. It was impossible at present to devise a scheme whereby railway tickets could be sold, like stamps, in shops. It is announced that Mr Wise, licensee of the Queen’s Hotel, the largest in Oamaru, has leased the place to a local firm of confectioners and caterers as from July next. Alexander Bennie, 59 years, single, met with an accident in the , Kaitangata coalmine by a fall of coal, and was to injured that he died three hours later. Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Government native agent, had tea at Otorohanga, near Auckland at 5.30 on Sunday and seemed in good health, \ but a few hours later he was found dead at the railway station. There were no signs of violence. The tonnage of the J apanese navy ’ will be increasrd to 400,000 in 1908.