WELLINGTON NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 908, 5 June 1903, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

POOR REPORT OF ISLANDS. Per Press Association* Wellington, last night. The Mapourika arrived to-day from Auckland. Dr Mason, Chief of the Health Department, who accompanied the steamer on the trip, said that ho found the islands reeking with disease originaliy introduced by Europeans. Their condition generally was insanitary, and they were anything but ideal places for a white man to live. There was very little useful land upon the islands, and practically no animals. A few starved cattle, almost too thin and languid to go on living, were seen on the islands, but their very existence was a reproach.

A circular has been issued by tho Lands Department announcing that 8,487,542 acres of Crown land are now available for purchase. The Otaki Licensing Committee to-day granted all old licenses with the exception of Porirua and Pahautanui hotels and the Central Hotel, Porirua, which wore granted licenses for three months pending repairs to premises. Applications for new licenses at Waikanae and Titahi Bay were withdrawn.

An Order-in-Council will be made providing for the payment of school teachers in the higher grade for four months in cases where, through lack of attendance, a school falls from a higher to a lower grade.