NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 154, 24 March 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

<nr TELEGR.M'U —PRESS ASSOCIATION,}

- RICH GOLD DEPOSIT. REPORTED DISCOVERY •AT RUSSELL u . . Auckland, March 23. lu is reported that a rich gold deposit has noon discovered at Russell.' According to tho somewhat roeagro details to hand, it N appears that a well-known Russell firm has been engaged in clearing some vacant land guite closo to the town itself. Vliilo clearing operations were, in progress the uprooting or some gorso led to tho discovery of highlycoloured stone, which, upon analysis, proved to bo rich m mineral. Further investiga. tion led to the realisation i of the. fact that a spur running down almost to. the se< trontago possesses a wonderfully rich reef. oomo oxcitoment prevails, over the: reportec discovery, and, according to a gentlemai who has seen tlio locality, it is the richest • , "Jr m tj lo . Dominion. The land or w hic.i the. reef is situated is owned bj a Imso" 8 3 Byndicafco , is negotiating..foi ' MAORI WILL CASE. Auckland, March 23. At the last sitting of-the. Native Court, r I SSaI? al : nI S tho 'dispute as to the will or Mihi Rnvi, a Native woman, whp ■ died tliree years ago, an adjournment was made until to-day to cnablo further evidence to be brought on behalf of Mr. Henarc Kaihau, ; . ■ T heil tho Court resumed. this morning, Judge Edgar announced; that. ho. had received a telegram from Mr. Kaihau, asking that the case stand adjourned, ho being engaged in important business at Ngaruawaliia. The importance of this business ■ being vouched for by tlio Hon. Jas. Carroll, Native Minister, it would be necessary to adjourn the further hearing' of the case until Iriday afternoon next.

POVERTY BAY OIL FIELDS,. \. - ■r. Gisborno; March 23.'' • Dr. Bell, director .of tho Geological. Survey who has been'conducting a "survey in the oil-bpnririg portions'-of this district, .loft, last night for' Wellington. The survey is not'yet complete, and-Dr. BeU ; will~retura ,in a week's time.- He expccts to. have the report ready for presentation to. Parliament, Questionedas to the indications of petroleum, Dr. Bell said the surface indications were pro- s mising, but;ho:could not say, more until lio reported on..the work'.] , ' '

OTAGO DIAMOND. 'JUBILEE. n ' .' Dunedlh, March 23., Ofcago s diamond jubilee:is being observed as a cluoo liuliuiiy. Steady rain throughout tho night and early this morning caused the abandonment of all functions except the official opening of tlio Early. Settlers'' Hall and tho regatta ,at Port Chalmers.:: The weather about 10 o'clock showed 'prospects of clearing. " • , . ■ At the opening of the' Early Settlers' Hall, Mr. , Donald Eeid, President,: occupied thechair. Soveral addresses' were delivered reminiscent of the early identities'~trials and' tribulations.. .

In connection with'the Dunedin jubilee, celebrated to-dny, tho following telegram was sent on behalf of a number of Dunedin resiidents now in Auckland to Mr. Donald Roid, President of the Early Settlers' Association, Dunedin:— •

"Wo who were boys in .Dunedin in the early fifties congratulate Ot'ago'on the great strides she has made ..since landing of the ■ first, 1 settlers' sixty' years . ago to-day. (Signed) John Mills, Cl C. Kettle, James Mackenzie,. Robert Femvick, Will Lambert, P.A.Lindsay." - . WELLINGTON MAN CHARGED. - ' Christchursh,'March 23.At tho . Police Court this morning David Whytock, a well-known Wellington man, was further remanded iintil' Friday ion'a charge of indecent assault. , : OTEKAIKE INJUNCTION CASE. . Dunedin, March 23. The Otekaike case, in which Mitchell'and M'Kellar are-seeking a mandamus and.an injunction against the Otago Land Board, 'will be- taken before Mr. Jnstico Williams tomorrow. Messrs. ELosking and White, appear for the applicants, and Messrs. Solomon and Macasseyfpr the Crown. Some interesting legal questions are involved. PROSPECTING IN THE UREWERA. Auckland, March 23. The Hon. J. Carroll, left for the TJrewers this morning to make arrangements with tho Natives to open the country for prospecting., It'has' been' stated that valuable gold reefs exist there. I ; AFTERMATH OF THE DROUGHT.

Masterton, March 23.

A somewhat serious anticipation regarding local pastures was expressed <to ■ a Wairarapa Ago " representative to-day by an experienced farmer. Ho believes that-rye-grass has been so severely affected by the drought that on a good many pastures . N it'will be found to have died right out. He states that on the Fernridge'there is'every- indication so far that such is 'the ease, though, of course, it will be some- little time before- a definito pronouncement on the matter can' be made. What rye-grass does, survive will'not be of much uso. this, season.-.-.' <-;■'