LATE WIRES.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 14, 9 February 1906, Page 3

LATE WIRES.

—o-o — GENERAL. The Pall Mall Gazette states that British and Japanese commissioners are about to consider the terms of a new commercial treaty, expected to become operative in July. The London Court of Appeal declined to compel a newspaper to reveal the name of a person supplying a statement whereon an action for alleged libel was founded. The death is announced of James Bonwick, historian. During Sir Joseph Ward’s absence from the colony, his portfolios will be assumed by other members of the Ministry as followsßailways, Postmaster-General, Colonial Secretary, Hon A. Pitt; Industries and Commerce and Tourists, Hon J. Carroll; Public Health, Hon J. McGowan. Sir Joseph Ward, who leaves tomorrow for Rome, was entertained ata complimentary banquet at Wellington last night, the mayor presiding. A deliberate attempt to wreck the second express train to Invercargill was made on Wednesday night. Just before reaching a small bridge about a mile from Waiwera, the passengers were startled by a heavy jolt. The brakes were applied, bnt before the train stopped another jolt was felt. Examination showed that the first jolt was caused by a fish plate being stuck end up between two lengths of rails. The second was caused by a milepost being laid across the rails. This became jammed in the bogie wheels of the engine, and it took some 15 minutes to extricate it. Rut for the promptitude of the driver in pulling up, it is probable that the second obstruction would have thrown the train off the rails. At the Hamilton annual sheep fair 16,000 were yarded. Eat lambs brought to 14s *6d, a rise. There was also a rise in price of breeding ewes.