NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 319, 21 January 1902, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association. NAPIER, last night. A lad named Benjamin Downing was drowned whilst bathing in the river at Clive. He got out of his depth and sank, and although his body was recovered shortly afterwards, all etl'orts to resuscitate him were unavailing.

An old man named John O’Leary was found lying in a semi-unconscious condition on the road near Taratlale. He was removed to the nearest hotel, where he died before medical aid arrived. A post-mortem examination revealed the fact that death was due to syncope, caused by failure of the heart’s action, and a verdict was returned accordingly. WELLINGTON, last night. The police made a descent yesterday afternoon upon a Chinese gaminghouse in Haining-streei, and arrested seven of the occupants, who were this morning remanded till Friday. CHRISTCHURCH, lash night. Mr A. A. Brown was to-day appointed to the position of assistant pilot at Lyttelton. ASHBURTON, last night. A fire on Saturday night destroyed a six-roomed house in Moore street, occupied by JVlaeKay, barber. The fire brigade saved an adjoining house. The inmates barely escaped, but lost everything. The house was insured for £l5O in the South British. WANGANUI, last night.

The teachers’ summer school was opened this morning by the Chairman of the Education Board, who, with the Mayor, Mr Hatrick, extended a cordial welcome to the visitors. Nearly three hundred teachers were present, and the school will last ten days. The instruction to he given includes science, kindergarten, brush work, modelling, botany, and drill. The instructors included Messrs W. Gray (vice-principal of the Norma) Training College, Dunedin), J. S, Tennant (rector of the Ashburton I-ligh School), Miss Avison (mistress of the Timaru Main School), and Miss Landels (Dunedin, and late of South Kensington, London). Dr Smyth, the Chief Inspector of Wanganui, who originated the idea, explained that similar schools iiad been started in the

Old Land, and the object was that teachers might have opportunities of seeing the latest and most up-to-date methods of teaching, particularly in manual and technical instruction, The District Court commenced its sitting this morning, before Judge Kettle. Only one criminal case, perjury against Buckingham, who pleaded not guilty, was heard. WELLINGTON, last night. The Premier is advised that Private Wm, Henry Davies, of the Seventh Contingent, who belongs to Medbury, North Canterbury, was lying dangerously ill at Charlestown on the 13lli inst., from a gun-shot wound. AUCKLAND, last flight.

Lieutenant CL D. Shera, mentioned in the despatches' for gallantry by Lord Kitchener, is J. D. G. Shera, a son of Mr Shera, formerly member for Auckland City. The affair occurred on the Swaziland border. Shera reported a Boer laager in the dense bush, and was sent with 30 New Zealanders and 80 Queensland Bushmen, destroyed the laager, and made important captures.