NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9887, 18 November 1897, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.)

AUCKLAND, November 17. Mr Edmund Bell was elected President of the National Association.

The body found at Oratia was that ot John Halstead, aged forty-four years, who left the Costly Home on the 6th inst. Some injuries are said to be on his throat.

An application will be made to the Board of Conciliation on Wednesday next by the Auckland branch of the Federated Seamen _ Union to show cause why the Board's decision in the matter of the recent industrial dispute between that Union and the Northern Steamship Company and other local steamship owners had not been complied with.

At the Supreme Court, in banco, in the case of the Mayor, Councillors and citizens of Auckland v W. J. Speight, an appeal from tho Magistrate's Court, Auckland, re the valuation of the Government Insurance Office, Mr Cotter appeared for the appellant and Mr Cooper for the defendant, his Honour ordered the case to be heard at the first sitting in banco after the criminal session. The evidence taken on commission iv Wellington is to be admitted. Patrick Carroll was committed for trial at Dargaville on a charge of stealing *»urn and breaking and entering the jeweller's shop of Alexander Henry Keesing and stealing jewellery therefrom.

Frederick Pearson was arrested at Rotorua on a charge of forging at the Thames.

Mr W. R. Vines, of Vines, Utting and Perston, Island traders, is dead, aged eighty-one.

NELSON, November 17. In the divorce case Ingram v Ingram and Bowman a decree absolute was granted. WE LLINGTON, November 17.

The report upon the water and drainage scheme for Masterton estimates the coat at £26,875.

A deputation waited on the Minister of Public Works this morning to press the claims of the East Coast of this island to railway communication. In reply, Mr HallJones said he was hardly favourable to the narrow gauge, but he thought the same gauge as at present was required with linos of lighter construction. He balieved the deputation under-estimated tho cost, which would be near a million and a half. He thought the Government might have surveys made, and though the coat of this, even, would be heavy, he would do his best to get them put in hand, so that he might have some ini'-rmat.ion for next session. DUNEDIN, November 17. Owing to lack of interest the attempt- to form an Industrial Association of Otago has been abandoned for the present. The Education B-ard to-day resolved, owing to the drain on the funds, to grant no more subsidies for gymnasiums during the present financial year. The Board has already expended £695, and has promised to grant £1150. Tenders were opened to-day by the City Sinking Fund Commissioners for fifteen New Zealand Government 4 per Cent. Immigration and Public Work- Loan Debentures of £100 each, payable in 1913. Four tenders were received for the full amount, ranging from £100 Is 6d to £104, and one for £300 at £105 Is. The latter tender was accepted, and £1290 was allotted to the tenderer at £104.