NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1411, 23 March 1905, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night,

A five-roomed house at To Arohs, owned Dy Thomas Stanley, was destroyed by fire. At one time (it looked as though the old Masonic Hall would oatob, but tbe fire brigade managed to prevent the fire spreading. The cause of the fire is a mystery. The building was insured in the Law, Union, and Grown Company for j£lso. Tbe Land Purchase Board have decided to purohase 162,000 acres in Patatero dis. triot, Piako County, from the Thames Valley Land Company, in liquidation. Stratford, last night. A settler here was fined 20s and costs nnder the Noxious Weeds Act for failing to elear his lond of ragwort, ox-eye daisy, blackberry and burdock. Wellington, last night. The gross earnings of the Wellington and Mauawatu Railway Company for the year endmg February 28 wore £127,732, being £5550 greater than last year. Land was sold during the year to the value of £4319. The actual traffic receipts for the year were £125,249. Tbe total receipts amounted to £153,238. The expenditure included : Traffic £43,139, debenture interest £34,000, stores £24,000, rolling stock and maohinery £15,727, dividend £11,894, rates and taxes £5839, directors' fees £2728, construction £2476, land £9OB. The liabilities show : Debentures, £680,000 ; maintenance of line, insurance and contingencies, £24,500. On the railway acoount the net profit for the year is £10,389, and on the land account there is a net profit of £5484. The Chief Justioe this morning sentenced several prisoners. Victor William Edward Ellis, for forgery and breaking and entetiag, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment ; Donald Cameron for false pretences, two sentences of nine months each, to be cumulative ; Jas. Cameron and Hy. MorrisoD, breaking and entering, 18 months each ; Herbert Pyke theft from his employer, 15 months. In the Magistrate’s Court the charges of perjury against Constables Gibson and Howloy were adjourned.

Christchurch, last night. At a meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association it was announced that the estimated net profit in connection with the recent Australian matoh here was £l2O.

Mr James Morton, Chairman of tbe Natal Land Board, is at present touring the colony, ’’ and has arrived here. He has visited Edendale, Waikakahi and other estates resumed under the Land for Settlement Act. He states that it is tbe intention' of the Natal Government to follow as olosely as possible New Zealand legislation dealing with closer settlement of the land. Mr Morton visited Lincoln College to-day, and intends going to Cheviot to-morrow.

Westport, last night. The schooner Emma Sims, ashore at Karamea, is in a better position, and there re prospects of getting her off. Dunedin, last night. Captain , Neville, commanding tho s.s. Moeraki, goes Home shortly to bring out tbe b.s. Maheno, while Captain Lambert will also leave to bring out tho Arabura, the new steamer the Union Company had built for tho West Coast trade. Constables McDonald and Moses were again before the Police Court this morning, charged with breaking into the D.I.C. warehouse, and wore remanded tiU Thursday, the 30th, the police evidence not being ready. Mrs J. McAdil), a widow, aged 58, living at South Dunedin, died suddenly of heart disease.