LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1628, 13 May 1903, Page 32

LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

AUCKLAND. May 11

Owing to the drought in Australia. California Oregon, and Washington Territory sent to Australia and South Africa wheat and flour valued at over £2,000,000; orders, for ivhich would otherwise not have gone to-America, The exports to Australia totalled abouo one million pounds value, and to South Africa slightly over that amount. An elderly woman named Johnston attempted to commit suicide on Saturday by drinking water in which the heads of a few matches were partially dissolved. She was removed to the hospital, where she is now progressing favourably. The Magistrate has ordered the extradition of Edith Stevens, alias Stuart, charged with receiving £SO from Duncan McPhail, of Sydney, knowing they were dishonestly obtained, and of Frank Stuart charged with the theft and forgery of £lB2, with intent to defraud McPhail. The police stated that_ =634 was found on the woman, also that since hei arrival it was discovered that she had

committed bigamy. The defalcations of the male accused amounted to £I2OO. Stuart when arrested denied, but subsequently admitted his identity, and also that £llO iq his possession was part of the money stolen. A letter was found on Stuart, addressed to his parents, in which he admitted taking a thousand pounds or more of his employer's money. WAIROA, May 11.

The Waikokopu Harbour Board has finally decided to adopt Mr Napier Bell’s modified scheme for a breakwater S3oft lone:, and a wharf of 33ft, at a cost of jei0,550

PALMERSTON, May 11

The Dairy Commissioner has informed the Agricultural and Pastoral Association that Mr Cameron, the New Zealand Produce Commissioner in London, will visit the dairy conference at Palmerston in July and address the producers. DANNEVIRKE. May 12.

This morning while workmen AVer'S engaged in the erection of the roof of a building attached to the Raihvay Hotel, a high wind bIeAV over the whole of the back Avail from its junction with the ground floor. The mass of bricks crashed through the roof and ceiling of the old building into shops underneath. Mrs Burmester’s art studio and shdAvroom Avere wrecked, and the premises of the Bradford Woollen Company and a bicycle firm, also suffered.

CHRISTCHURCH. May 11

At the adjourned inquest concerning the death of E. Y. Simpson. Professor Bickerton. who made an analysis, deposed to finding a considerable quantity of arsenic in deceased’s stomach. . A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane Avas returned. The Arbitration Court this morning inflicted the folloAving penalties for bi eaclies of the bufbhers’ aAvard: — Christchurch Meat Company, fined <£3 and costs for employing men for two hours on lavo Good Fridays and last Show-day, and working employees more than 48 hours in Labour Day Aveek; James Knight, H. B. Lane and Son, and Langdon and Steel, for breaches of award regarding two Good Fridays* and STioaa*day, fined 40s and costs; James Forrester, for breach on ShoAV-day, 1902, fined 20s and costs. The union avos ordered to receive £7 7s on the Avhole balance of costs. Later Tutton and Grimmer, butchers, and Charles Mann, butcher, Avere each fined 20s and costs for breach of aAvard in regard to Labour Day Aveek! Maine Bros., bootmakers, Avere fined 20s and costs for discharging a unionist and taking on a non-unionist. C. .11. Cox, builder, Avas similarly mulcted lor the same offence. This afternoon the Court received an agreement Avhich had been come to betAveen the Gardeners’ Union and the employers. The Court Avill fix the rate of Avages, Avhich is the only point uoav in dispute. . The Court Ayill sit at Waimate on Wednesday, and resume in Christchurch on Friday morning.

BLUFF, May 11

A Magisterial inquiry into the burning of the schooner Brothers Avas held at the Bluff on Saturday. The Court found that the primary cause of the fire Avas .a leakage of benzine stowed under the cabin floor, Avhich had been put there during the afternoon of the. day the ship was burned, and consequent vaporisation, Avkereby an explosion took place; but hoAV the explosion Avas caused and Avhether it Avas wilful or accidental there was no evidence to* showHOKITTKA, May 11.

Heavy rains fell yesterday, and the rivers are in high flood. The contractor for the Hokitika river bridge has’ suffered considerable loss, an engine and derrick having been washed down the river. NELSON, May 11.

The steam trawler Doto met with a mishap off Separation Point during bad weather. Her shaft was broken, and two of the crew reached Waitapu in a boat. First reports stated that the steamer was abandoned, but that was incorrect as news has now been received from the master that he had reached Astrolabe and anchored the vessel there. INVERCARGILL, May 11.

With regard to newspaper postage, Sir Joseph Ward has cabled to the Imperial Post" Office, asking it to grant the same concession to New Zealand as is given to Canada, Meantime, arrangements have been made in New Zealand to reduce newspaper postage to Canada to one penny, irrespective of weight, commencing on 16th inst.