YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2090, 16 January 1908, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. PALMERSTON. Tho Pohunghui, valley is ablnao, and tho residents are having an anxious time. The stump fires have spread over the country between Awuhou south to beyond Konmlui. A large number of settlors had to light the Haines to save the buildings and fences, numbers being up all night mustering sheep to save them from being burnt, and otherwise protecting their properties. This is the .most destructive tiro for eight years. The danger is not yet passed, and rain is anxiously awaited by settlers. A conference ’is taking place today attended by - delegates from all local bodies whoso'districts are affected by the overflow of waters from the Manawatu and Organ rivers. The dbject'of the meeting is to endeavor to 'formulate a scheme to restrain flood whtors and prevent as far as possible the erosion of the banks. WELLINGTON.

Sir Joseph' Ward has sent the following cablegram to Sir ■ Wilfred Laurier. with regard to the cabled statement that bo bad communicated with • Now Zealand regarding tile Vancouver .contract, but lias received no reply: “Sir Wilfred Laurier, Prime Minister, Canada, —Cable from Canada published press hero to the eil'ect that you stated you had communicated'with New Zealand Govern ment upon 'renewal Canadian-Aus-tralian mail service, and so far you had not received any reply. 1 assume there is some .mistakes as no communication has bc\)n received from you, and New Zealand is not' a, party,to the contract.” l Tho'dßogistrar-Genera.l estimates the riopuliftion of the Dominion at the ond'of December hist was 988,071, made up as follows-Europeans 929,000, -Maori 47,731, Cook Islands 12,0-10. The arrivals in tho Dominion last year totalled-.36,108, tho increase of' population for tho vear being 20.200. The imports for the year were valued at .010,982.010, and export" at £20,009,000, which is a record. The value of principal exports was wool £0,370,021, frozen meat £3,438.538. butter £1,015,022, hemp £821,898, kauri gum £579,887, cheese £063,300, oats £-1081, gold £2,027,•190. CHRISTCHURCH. Reports are to band to. say that a big grass lire is raging at Hororata, covering something under 20,000 acres, including much fencing- and some stuck. Tho details are meagre. GREYMOUTIi. McLean and Sons, contractors for the Midland Railway tunnel, put on a gang of men yesterday for the first time to clear away debris from tho site of tho tunnel’s mouth. Tho operation, though equivalent in a senso to the turning of tho first sod, did not involve a. ceremony. Although a good deal .;of preparatory work has been performed there is necessarily a great deal still to be done, especially in connection with tho-supply of hydraulic p’ower. The lAits for workmen are practically finished and ready for occupation. A few visitors who-liappened to bo passing tho tunnel entrance yesterday can boast of having seen tho actual commencement at tho western mouth of the Midland Railway tunnel, a work destined to greatly figure in tho futuro history of New Zealand. DUNEDIN. "When Terry was re-captured on tho occasion of his former eseapo from 6’eacliff, he told Mr Myers, deputy inspector of mental hospitals, that it entirely depended on his health whether be would give the authorities another chase. He would make no promises. He had escaped at a protest against the Government’s attitude towards aliens. Air Myers says that unless Terry will give a reasonable asurance to abide strictly by the laws of the institution in which ho is now confined, lie should be secured in another placo. “1 shall strongly advise that,” said Mr Myers, in conclusion. i The Dunedin Painters’ Union has decided to write to the Minister foi Labor protesting aganst the employment of cheap labor by the Otago Education Board in tho painting of schools under its . control. j William Barr, of Northeast Valldy, stands as Labor Socialist candidate for Chalmers at the general election. M. Stevenson, chairman of the Otago Charitable Aid Board, will probably contest Taieri seat in tho Ministerial interest, f ; NAPIER. , •’The Conciliation Board held a brief sitting here to-day in connection with the shearers’ dispute. In view of the conference between employers and omployeces, to bo held at Palmerston North, the sitting was adjourned. T f the conference fails, the Board will arrange a fresh itinerary. ! TOLAR L.

i Obituary: Robert Kennedy, bailiff at Tiniaru for 31 years, a"cd 67. At tho Magistrate’s Court to-day reference was made by the S.M. and members of tho Bar to the Ion" and trustworthy service of deceased. Regret at his death and sympathy with the relatives was eKprcssed.