NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 241, 19 October 1901, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Napier, last night.

A four-roomed cottage in Swan street, owned by P. Barry, and occupied by two young men named Bennett and Cameron, was totally destroyed by tire shortly after eight 8 o’clock this morning. The building was insured for £2OO in the lloyal, while Bennett and Cameron had insured their effects for £SO each.

At a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to consider the Federal tariff the following resolution was carried : ’• That, notwithstanding that the Federal

tariff may to some extent prejudicially affect the exports to Australia of New Zealand products, this Chamber does not think it would be a wise expedient or statesmanlike to adopt any retaliatory measure by imposing prohibitory duties against the Commonwealth, but is of opinion that the Federal tariff should be met by New Zealand seeking fresh and permanent markets for her produce.” The Chamber could not see its way to adopt the suggestion of the Dunedin Chamber relative to subsidising steamers. Christchurch, last night. It lias been ascertained that an old couple have been living in a cave on the road from Sumner to Lyttelton for the past six months in a state of filthiness. The police state that they are powless to take action unless the inmates break

the law in some way. The local press has taken up the matter. Wellington, last night.

A Chinaman named Joe Quick has been fined jG2S as keeper of a common gambling house, and 18 other Celestials were fined .£1 each or 14 days’ imprisonment for playing there. Mr Fergusson, engineer to the Wellington Harbor Board, as a rosult of his trip to England and America, has presented a comprehensive report on the dock question. He submits a plan of a concrete graving dock with a maximum length of 050 feet and width of 84 feet at the caisson

stop, and depth of 2(51 feet at low water, estimated to cost £’200,000, also a tracing

from Messrs Clark and Stanfield for one of their self-propelling floating doublesided docks, with a length of 480 feet, clear width of 75 feet, capable of lifting a vessel of 10,000 tons dead weight, and draught 25 feet, the cost to be about £225,000. Mr Fergusson indicates his preference for a concrete graving dock. The Wellington Trades Council has adopted a resolution condemning as a

“ dastardly retrograde action ” on the part of the Government the proposed amendment of the Workmen’s Compensation Act allowing mortgages to remain secured and exempting the casual laborers from the operation of the Act, as it tends to “ perpetuate the existing injustices and relieve capitalists from their moral responsibilities.” A deputation has been appointed to wait on the Premier on the subject

Waihi, last night,

A minor named James Carter, contracting at the Waihi mine, was accidentally killed by the collapse of ground while working at the Empire Lode. Death was instantaneous.