LATE TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 32

LATE TELEGRAPHIC.

AUCKLAND, February 25. Four life-belts, three tied together, marked '‘Britannic," have been picked up at Ocean Beach, Whangarei Heads, also a trooper’s blue silk cape, with gold band an inch wide. The Customs authorities think it was merely washed overboard, as the vessel did not signal the loss of any one at Cape Maria or Cape Otway. It is just possible that a deserter took this means of leaving the vessel • AUCKLAND, February 28. At Kaipara Heads yesterday, while the schooner Lady St. Aubyn was beating in, she ran ashore on the North Spit. The vessel is not likely to get off. The crew are all safe, At about six o’clock this evening, after the men had left, a fire broke out in the Waihi Goldmininp- Company’s smelting house. The company’s splendid fire service quenched the flames before any serioqs damage was done. PALMERSTON, February 25. A special general meeting of the local branch of the Amalgamated Societv of Railway Servants was held 3 7 esterday to consider the replies from the General Manager to the requests made bv the v conference; of April last year. The opinion was expressed _ that the replies on the following questions were inadequate and unsatisfactory:—(l) Classification; (2) failure of the department to recognise a stated week’s work for certain divisions of traffic hands; (3) the demand made that the bridge bands should be paid for wet and dry days; (4) failure of the department to grant eight hours off betweenj shifts. Regarding the latter clause, the men consider that where the exigencies of the service are opposed to it a time equivalent to three hours shall he allowed. The meeting was the largest held for years. Another meeting will be held to decide what course of action shall be taken. NAPIER, February 25. Harry Dunn, the well-known wrestler, was brought up at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, charged with assaulting an elderly man named George Beverage, oook at the Caledonian Hotel. The evidence disclosed that Drain and his brother were skylarking in the hotel rather loudly, and the plaintiff, thinking there was a row on, interfered, with the result that lie was hurt. Dunn swore that the plaintiff was the aggressor, and that if any injury had been inflicted, it had been done in self-defence. The case was dismissed. On Thursday evening an elderly man nameid Edward Malley, formerly belonging to the 65th Regiment, was found in a half-demented state wandering amongst the sand-hills at Porangahau. When found he had been without food for five or six days, and had been drinking sea water. He was taken to the Pcrangahau Hotel, and well cared for. The police wore communicated with. He was taken to Waipawa and medically examined. Being found to be of weak intellect, he was committed to Wellington Asylum. GISBORNE, February 25. Search parties have been scouring the Nnhaka district for the missing man Robert Clifford, gardener at Mr Ormond’s Mahia station, but without reh SUlt GISBORNE, February 26. Mr Barton, S.M., has ordered a fresh election for the borough representatives on the Harbour Board, oh the ground-of irregularities in that the returning officer voted, and that he added votes which had not been deposited in the proper ballot-box. At the Harbour Board meeting today there was no seconder to a motion by the chairman that steps be taken to change the name Poverty Bay to Victoria Bay. Mr Chrisp was appointed as the Board’s solicitor, and Mr T. T. Coleman as special auditor. NAPIER, February 26. At a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board to-day it was resolved, “That with the view; of introducing technical education into the Hawke’s Bay education district, this Board make application to the Government for grants --' of money to enable the Boat'd to erect buildings and supply materials for the establishment of technical schools in terms ef the Education Act, 1900.” A selection committee was appointed to consult with the inspector as to the methods of working the Act to the best advantage in Hawke’s Bay. A motion was carried to make the school hooks uniform, subject to the revision of the liirt. every three years. WANGANUI, February 26. At a meeting of ratepayers to-night authority was given for the taking of a poll on the question of raising a loan of

£30,000 for the purpose of purchasing and municipalising the local gas works. GREYMOUTH,. February 25. John Klenen was to-day charged with committing perjury in the Lawson salting case, and was committed for NELSON, February 26. The Government has appointed Mr J. Graham, M.H.R., Mr R. McKenzie, M.H.R., and Mr M. Webster, to be members of the Nelson Harbour Board, which will meet to elect a chairman tomorrow. CHRISTCHURCH, February 25. A meeting of the Council of the League of Wheelmen was held to-night. F. Hunt, a New Zealand cyclist, now in Australia, wrote thanking the league for its invitation to him to compete at the championship meeting, but regretting that his engagements for the remainder of the season prevented an acceptance. A letter was received from Chapman and Ivor Lawson. American cyclists now in Australia, with reference to riding in New Zealand. The league secretary had written asking for particulars. The .Aonateur Athletic Association wrote notifying the appointment of a committee to confer with the league on a matter of mutual interest. The City Council resolved to-night that a special committee consider what arrangements can be made for disposing of blood and offal at the abattoirs, and that if the arrangements are satisfactory the committee be empowered to complete the purchase of the approved site at Sockburn. CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. Mr F. Waymouth has been elected chairman of the Lyttelton Haroour Board. At a meeting of the Canterbury Employers’ Association to-night it was resolved, “That whilst the association must act as a counterpoise to the Trades and Labour Council, it fully *ecognises the legitimate object of trade organisations; that the association is further of opinion that if the Trades and Labour Council would agree to bring ' disputed, trade questions before a joint council of the two organisations many differences could be satisfactorily disposed of without reference to the Court of Arbitration ; and that the association strongly recommended that no empku;er should engage any unbound apprentice without first consulting his former employer.” A meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Educational Institute was held to-night to consider the salary question. It was resolved to urge the Board of Education to secure the special grant passed, by the Government- last session in aid of salaries before the grant lapses. DUNEDIN, February 25. The Union Steam Ship Company has abandoned the idea of running a special excursion to the South Sea Islands during the winter, in view of the visit of the Duke of Cornwall. It is expected that the steamer Waikare will be required for the intercolonial trade. Mr John Rogers, city engineer, of Brisbane, was to-night selected for the position of engineer for Dunedin. Tenders were opened to-night for a tramway loan of £50,000, bearing 4 per cent., invited by the City Council. The money is required te- complete the purchase of the tramways. The loan was oversubscribed by £39,300. The A.M.P. Society tendered for the whole loan at par, but only received £11,700, the rest going to tenderers above par. The average will he about £IOO 15s. At a meeting to-night, it was decided to form- a Young Men’s Christian Association. A constitution was adopted. An association of a similar kind died many years ago. DUNEDIN, February 26. A meeting of Dunedin Shetlanders last night resolved to invite subscriptions throughout the colony towards a fund to- alleviate the distress among the widows and children left destitute through the loss of so many breadwinners by the recent appalling fishing disaster in the Shetland group. INVERCARGILL, February 25. The harvest is coming on, and the weather is now exceptionally fine and bright. Reports of the oat crop vary, some- being that it will be an average crop, and others that it will be light-