NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 80, 28 December 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

■ (bv TELEGRAPH —ritESS ASSOCIATION.) - L — — SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION. Auckland, December 2". The members of the scientific party which will leave by the Hinonioa to-ir.orrow for tho Kermadec Islands are busily engaged putting tho finishing touches to their arrangements for a period of twelve months' rcsoarch . which they will carry out. The party consists of Messrs. T. Iredalo and C. E. Warden, of Christchurch; W. L. Wallace, of Tiniaru; W. 11. B. Oliver, of Christchurch;'arid S. I?,. Oliver, of Tauranga. Investigation of the botany and geology of tho islands will bo undertaken by Messrs. Oliver, . Iredalo, and Wallace, and they will also dovoto their attention to zoology, whilst Mr. Warden, the meteorologist of the expedition, will make the climatic conditions of the group his special study. In connection with the flora of tho islands, attontion will ..bo .given to tho ithcory in regard to ocean currents and tho carriage of seeds by birds, as well-as to the possibilities of tho islands having nt. one t,imo formed a portion, of the mainland of New Zealand. . THE GOVERNOR. Auckland, December 27; Lord and Lady -Plunket last night held a small .dinner.party at Government House, the guests being Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, Miss Waril, arid tho Hon. Dr. Tijidlay. ' Admiral and Lady Fawkes concluded their visit to Government; House to-day. The fleet will. sail to-morrow. . To-night -Lord and Lady Plunkefc dined on the flagship . Powerful.. ' To-morrow the Government . House party will, be present at the second day's races, of ..the Auckland; Racing Club's summer car.nival. ;' . ! . ' ~.. . NEW - PLYMOUTH BAND CONTEST. , Dunadiri,' December-27. . '.Upon learning that Lieut.'Herd'had be'ei} appointed judge at'the. New.Plymouth .contest,''- tho Kai-korai- Band unanimously decided uot to participate......... ; •A TOW FOR THE.NIJLROD.' : Auckland, December 27. .. Tho Prime Minister has ..arranged, on. behalf of the Government," with tho Union Company for the use of the s;s. Koonya to tow the Nimrod as far as tho ico pack when she starts on her Antarctic .expedition. DAXNEVIRKE HOSPITAL COLLKCTIQNS; !.• Dannevirke, Decembor, 27. . Tho collections taken up on Christmas Evo, iri'-aid of the Hospital; resulted, in £120 ,4s. being received. Several country returns have yet-to; como, in. ■ , ' . ' ADVENTURES OF A CHINAMAN. . ' .1 Clsborne, December 27. Somo.tipie-ago it, was. reported that. Howchovf, a;.weiilthy Chinaman, had left Gisborne on;.a visit t'o...China, and'had disappeared. It was., believed had been captured by bandits, and'.his .ivife, a European -vroman, went to China and mado, an unsuccessful search for.hiin. News,has|nqw been.received from Howchow at Hongkong stating that he had be'eiv.-hcld' for .a year for-, ransom, but is. now-free. . ;.' ... '.' 1 TAR'ANAKI ITEMS.' . / .. Mew Plymouth,,. December 27. ■. Wanganui • and -. North. Tarariaki, met -in, a cricket..-match . 'yesterday, 'the" local ... toairi winning • by. 88''runs. .-.Tho.'.scores were: .. .95 and .183 ..respectively. ' V r ■ : The' following tegni has been chosen .to represent.- North Taranaki against tho Australian ..'teachers' team on January 2:—Robertson, • Inirian, Scholefield, Hasell,Perham, Gudgeon,, Braund, King, Benlow, Nicoll, Jack; ' , One bookmaker ;took' out a / £20 license at the races, yesterday and appeared to do •a livply busiriess. . The holiday 'business was the heaviest .on.record in Taranaki, as.were also tho provincial bookings ! o'li "the.'railway. Every .attraction . rocordcd unprecedented attendances. -.No' serious accidents were "reported. MOTOR ■; RELIABILITY .CONTEST; '■ \ '• Christchurch; December, 27. ;' The' motor.'reliability' contest .from Christ-' church'.to Dunedin and back commcnced to-, day.v Tho... weather, was perfect. ' .Thirtyseven cars 'were despatched at\_ twc-mimtto intervals,- the\ first of them getting away at. 9.30 a.m., while:, tho last arid larger cars competing 'commenced... tho . long journey shortly'alter''ll : a.'m; ' y: AX INQUEST. .'V, '; '" Napier, Decomber 27. ' At the-inquest ■on . tho-body of the man G.eorgo. .Valerjtino.'Ghatterton. Johnson, tho jury returned it-lie.following That' the deceased-met his death'• from an 'aciit'o' attack; of.Bright's disease, accelerated. byV a drinking' bout:"