NEW ZEALAND

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 813, 30 January 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND

'(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Six labourers excavating the foundations of a new store in Custom-hou-se street found thirty sovereigns a few feet below the surface. The spot was reclaimed land. How the coin got there is a mystery. The sovereigns dated among the fifties. Two boys, James Henry Sargeant and Arthur Ruddle, undergoing a seutancc of nineteen charges of arson, have signed a written confession admitting they set fire to Roberts’ biscuit factory in Stanley street some months ago, when several pounds' damage was done. NAPIER, las o night.

Judgment in the Milbourne compensation case was given this morning. Claimant was awarded£l-11,862 for 28,85.' acres, and allowed to retain the dOt) acres specified. Claimant was also awarded £2OO costs. Mr C. F. Elgar, one of the assessors, dissented from the judgment. The award is equal to £1 8s per acre. The Govermen! offered £4.

Maera Hauita, remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence for horsestealing, was brought before the Chief Justice to-day, and admitted to twelve months’ probation. MASTERTON, last night. Messrs Lowes and Irons report that at their stock sale there was an improved demand for sheep all round, wita more life in the bidding than a fortnight ago. The business done in cattle was fully up to recent quotations. WELLINGTON, last night. The Government propose to take Flaxtournc estate under the Land for Settlement Act. With a view to furthering the policy of placing men employed on co-oper-ative works on land, the Government have instructed Mr Marsh, who has been connected with village settlements under the Land Act to proceed to the various railway and road works, and assist workmen employed thereon to apply for land under the blocksystem -or otherwise, as provided ,by the Act.

Prior to leaving for England Mr Seadon was entertained at Dunedin, when a draft address was presented, Yesterday the Mayor of Dunedin waited on tile Premier and presented the address in illuminated form. The souvenir, which is signed by the Mayor and Councillors of Dunedin, is very handsome. Advices from Home state that at a meeting of the British' Empire League on December 11 a resolution was passed expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the recent conference between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Prime Ministers of the self-governing colonies as a substantial and practical contribution towards closer union of the Empire. Several matters which t-lie League had recommended to the notice of the conference were satisfactorily dealt with, these including a resolution to hold periodical conferences and form co'cnial branches of the Royal Naval Reserve • in a report to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Douglas Daly., Trade Commissioner for New Zealand in the Argent ne, states that enormous crops are anticipated, and the Republic hopes to do a large business with South Africa in the immediate future. There are promising prospects of getting South American people to tour this colony if the New Zealand Shipping Company will arrange a round trip. The Hon. J. V. O’Loughlin, commissioned by the South Australian Government to report on the agricultural and dairying methods of this

colony, arrived yesterday, and after a tour of the North Island will go South. The Government are lacilitating his tour. Dunedin, Wellington, Wanganui, Gisborne, and Napier have been nom> inated as ports of call of the steamer Kent, the next steamer to sail for South Africa under the subsidised service,. The Newton local option enquiry was continued to-day. Mr Skerrctt, for petitioners, applied to he allowed to call the clerk of the Court to produce the voting papers, and asked that a scrutiny be held for the purpose oE striking off the votes of those found to be illegally on the roll, and subject to this scrutiny he closed his case. Argument on the point then

iroceeded. The Minister of Public Warks has promised to increase the pay of Government carpenters, if he is satisfied they are entitled to it under the ruling market rates. . , BLENHEIM, last night. The recent heavy Hoods are considerably hampering the harvest operations. A heavy fall of snow occurred on the ranges and low-lying bills durinu the night. . , The Hon. Mr Mills is on a visit to the district. . , The Government have decided to take the Flaxbourne estate under the compulsory provisions of the Land for Settlement Act. • CHRISTCHURCH, last night. At the inquest on Peter Boag, killed in a shooting fatality at Leeston, the jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death by a bullet wound caused by Trooper Ireland, and that the said Trooper Ireland showed great carelessness in the use of firearms..

TIMARU, last night. At the Court to-day, Major Keddell S M . cave judgment in the case Watson v the Railway Department, beinir a claim for £lfi lor damages to a coal cart crushed between a moving train and a truck from which it was taking coal. The Magistrate found that the carter had permission to be there that the engine-driver failed to o-fve sufficient warning of approach to enable the carter to shift, and also that the usual and necessary care was* not exercised by the officials. Judgment was given for petitioner, with costs, £3 IPS;