NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 94, 30 April 1901, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Auckland, last night. A residence at Green Lane, owned and occupied by Franks, a trainer, was destroyed by fire. The inmates escaped in their night clothes. The origin is unknown. The building was insured for £350 in the New Zealand and the furniture for £2OO in the Sun. The loss is estimated at £3OO. The Hauraki return is 1440 z from 115 tons, valued at £445.

The cricket championships concluded on Saturday, the United winning. The annual meeting of the Journalists’ Institute elected Mr G. M. Main as President, Mr B. M. Hackett as secretary, and Messrs Burton, Douglas, Beid, and Bloinfield as the Council.

Wellington, last night. Hosie’s store and dwelling and four other houses at Lower Hutt were destroyed by fire this morning. Lieutenant Wall, one of the officers sent Home to receive a course of artillery training, and who has lately returned from South Africa, has been appointed to the command of the Permanent Artillery in Auckland, vice Captain McKenzie, 8.A., whose term in the colony has expired. In connection with the five days’ late arrival at London of the ’Frisco mail which left Auckland on the 24th by the Ventura, which was 18 hours late, the resident agent for New Zealand at San Francisco telegraphs : “ The late arrival of the steamer caused two days’ detention at New York, and the remaining three days are accounted for by a slow passage on the Atlantic. The postal authorities say every, effort is being made hero and in America to ensure the speedy transport of the mails, but unfortunate occurrences such as the breaking down of steamers are liable to cause loss in connection at Ne.v York, and the consequent despatch of the mails thence by slow’er steamers than usual.”

Christchurch, last night. At the inquest on Joseph Lukey, who died under chloroform at the hospital on Saturday, the house surgeon stated that the result of the post-mortem examination show’ed a thickening of the aortic valves of the heart. The patient, when placed on the operating table, was in a highly nervous state. The cause of death was shock. There were no signs of asphyxia, or indications that ho died from chloroform. The assistant house surgeon, who administered the chloroform, stated he had only given threequarters of a drachm, and six or eight times that amount was necessary to put a patient like deceased under the influence. A verdict of death by misadventure w'as returned, and the jury stated they were satisfied all that could be done had been done.

11l the bootmakers’ dispute before the Arbitration Court the employers suggested as a wav of getting over the difficulty with regard to drawing up a log and over the alleged unfair distribution of piece work, that there should be no log at all. All the manufacturers agreed to carry on the principle of minimum wages of lOd per hour, as provided by the latest award, piece work being prohibited. The Union representatives termed this a startling development, and asked time to consider. A conference will be held between the parties

l'imaru, last night. A very heavy sea yesterday and last night did a good deal of superficial damage at the harbor works, and carried away some valuable timbers. A washaway occurred on the main line south of Timaru. It was repaired before night. The sea is going down now.

Wanganui, last night.

A man named Channiug was sentenced to three months for falsely representing that he had authority to collect subscriptions for invalided troopers. He received several amounts.

The new railway-station, costing aboul J)2,500, was opened this morning.

Greymouth, last night.

Mr Seddon arrived here yesterday. He remains for a few days. His daughter is much better. It is rumored that he may address his constituents at Hokitika