DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2747, 28 February 1910, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

AUCKLAND HARBOR BOARD , COMMISSION.

fPicii Press Association.l AUCKLAND, Feb. 26. Hie Auckland Harbor Board is asking the Government for the services of the Engineer-in-Chief (Mr. Holmes) as a mot her of the proposed cornmision of three experts to inquire into the circumstances of the recent collapse of a portion of the north wall of the Freeman Bay reclamation. Mr. Wash, engineer to the Sydney Harbor Trust, is also being communicated with, with a view to joining the commission. The Board’s inquiry into the matter is still proceeding.

SHIP’S FIREMEN CHARGED WITH

THEFT.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 27

On the arrival of the Maheno from Sydney this- afternoon, two firemen, J. Whitechurch and C. Campbell, were arrested oil a charge of breaking and entering No. 2 bold of the Maheno on Saturday night. They will appear at tlie Police Court on Monday.

ALLEGED THEFTS AT PALMERSTON.

PALMERSTON N., Feb. 26

For some time past a series of extraordinary house stripping thefts, have been taking place at Palmerston North, mostly from houses whose occupants have been away on holiday. Last night Detective Ouirke arrested a young man named Joseph Powelka (who was lately before the S.M. Court on a charge of attempted suicide), on five charges involving thefts of goods valued at £125. The goods taken included aiinost every form of household furniture, beadsteads, tables, wash-stands, duchess sets, carpets, linoleums, picttures, watches, and clocks; also a quantity of rubber tyres taken from Clarkson’s wholesale cycle depot. All the goods missing were found in accused’s house, together with an electric lamp, chisels, a revolver, and a box of cartridges. Powelka was brought before the S.M. this morning and remanded.

FEILDING SHEEP FAIR

FEILDING, Feb. 26

At the Feilding annual sheep fair yesterday up to one and a-quarter guineas was realised for .Southdown ewes, and Romney ewes one guinea. A total of 40,000 sheep were offered.

HOTEL DESTROYED BY FIIIE. DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 2-6. The Herbertville Hotel and adjoining billiard-room were destroyed by file yesterday. Hardly anything was saved. The origin is a mystery. The insurances are unknown.

MOTOR RELIABILITY TRIALS

WELLINGTON, Feb. 26

Following are results of the motor cycle reliability trials held on Friday and Saturday of last week:—V inner of Bidwell Barton Cup, value 40 guineas, H. B. Wood h.p. Triumph. Special [prizes: Lowest petrol consumption, N. E. Hyslop, h.p. Triumph; best hill climb, H. B. Mood, 31 h.p. Triumph. The rider experiencing the hardest luck was Willis.

NEW RAILWAY MACHINERY. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 26. The Railway Department is spending £25,000 on new machinery at Addington workshops. The Hon. J. A. Millar says the result will be an increase in the" rate of production. It will probably throw s ome men out of work.

THE WEIGHT OF CORN SACKS. Replying to a deputation re the weight of corn sacks, the Hon. J. A. Millar said that 200 pounds was quite sufficient for any man to carry. He was prepared to consider another penalty, but it would be heavy enough to leave no profit on the sack affected, and he would not permit the regulations to he ignored. He wished to get things within reasonable bounds.

FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 27

By a fir e which broke out in a twostorey block of wooden buildings on the corner of Colombo and Tuam streets shortl- after midnight on Saturday, considerable damage was done to the building and the contents. The outbreak occurred in the shop of Mr. Brown, a pork butcher, where the building was severely damaged and the contents destroyed. As the roof was open from one end of the building to the other, and as there were only lathe and plaster partitions, the fire spread to tlie adjoining shops, which were more or less damaged, as were also Their contents. The block is owned by Mrs. W. Pratt. The insurance is unasoertainable, but it is understood to be. in the Sun office. The insurances on the contents of the shops were as follows: Brown, £l3O, in the Royal; Balkinder (draper), £250, in the Guardian ; Beaumont (confectioner), £250, in the Roval Exchange : Falconer (bookseller), £SO, in tlie National; Hindle (furniture dealer), £4OO, in the National.

MORE FLOTSAM AT NEW BRIGHTON.

Some more flotsam was washed up on New Brighton beach this morning. Two vests were nicked up, one lying two hundred yards to the north of tlio pier and the other a considerable distance to the south. The articles had apparently been iu the water for a fairly * long time, as one had lost all its buttons and the other had only one remaining, and that was secured by wire. A small box, branded C.U.B. over “Beecroft” was also picked up. The presence of these articles in the water may be capable of a very simple explanation, but there may be some connection between them, and tlie recent find of lifebelts. The lettering on the lifebelts has not so far been deciphered.

FARM TOPICS IN ASHBURTON. ASHBURTON, Feb. 27. Over 100 farmers from all parts of the country met hero this afternoon to consider the advisableness of extending dairving operations in the district by erecting a factory and creameries, etc. The meeting was enthusiastic, and, after eousfuerable discussion, it was decided that it was desirable to form a company on the co-operative principle for tlie’ purpose of erecting a central butter factory or cheese factory, and that steps be taken to ascertain the financiol support and the number of cows forthcoming. A committee of 30, representing all the districts in the country, wns set up to give effect] to the resolution. A successful mihmnation of the effort is anticipated. A sale of tlie late Mr. John Small s farms, aggregating 3100 acres, with lin-

provements, resulted in a complete disposal. the total amount realised being : £35,940.

SHEARERS FINED FOR STRIKING.

DUNEDIN, Feb. 26. Five shearers were fined £5 each and costs at Queenstown on a charge of taking part in a strike at Mount Nicholas station.

SOUTHLAND DROUGHT BROKEN

INVERCARGILL, Feb. 26,

The drought in Southland lias broken. Rian set in at 9 o’clock last night, and has continued steadily ever since over the whole district.

TOWN CLERK CHARGED WITH

EMBEZZLEMENT

At the Magistrate’s Court a. sequel to the incorporation of the suburban boroughs of Invercargill into one united, local authority as Greater Invercargill was unfolded, when .Joseph "William Lanbsberry, late Town Clerk of North Invercargill, was charged with having, on January 7 last embezzled certain moneys, amounting to £39 6s 6d, the property oi the then Mayor and councillors of the borough of North Invercargill. A second charge related to sums of money to the extent of £l7 9s 9d, which it was alleged had 7>een received by the defendant between the dates of January 20, 1908, and March 2,1909, and not accounted for. The alleged discrepancies were disclosed after amalgamation when the books of th© borough were handed over. Accused was committed for trial. Bail was allowed.