TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1668, 17 February 1904, Page 30

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

AUCKLAND, February 13,

The University Council carried a resolution that- it is advisable to establish a School of Mines in Auckland, a School of Law in Wellington, a School of Engineering in Christchurch, and a School of Medicine in Dunedin, and communicate with other Universities in the colony requesting their co-operation. AUCKLAND, February 15 A series of daring burglaries has taken place at Newton, shopkeepers being victimised to the extent. of close upon £IOO. It appears this method of stealing is not the only one in vogue amongst the thieving fraternity in Auckland just now. The practice of abstracting letters from street pillars-bcxes seems to grow. The latest instance of this kind of theft occurred on Friday night, a box attached to a lamp-post at the corner of Mount Eden and Woodside roads, being broken open and its contents taken. A pillar box in Victoria street recenty had a lighted box of matches pushed into it, and most of the letters inside were more or less damaged by fire, and by water subsequently used to extinguish the flames. To-day, at the invitation of the Minister of ’Lands, representatives of local sawmdlling firms waited on Mr Dunoau to discuss matters relating to the sale of kauri timber in the Auckland district. The conference was not open to the uress. but it is understood a majority of the saiwmillers present favoured the adoption of regulations by which the Government would supply mill-owners with sufficient quantities of timber from time to time to keep their mills going, at a 'price to be fixed by Government, rather than the old system of sale, by auction to the highest bidder. They held that the latter system might lead to monopoly, through large concerns with available money securing practically the whole of the forests, the life of which is set down by experts’ at from ten to fifteen years. HAWERA, February 13.

At a preliminary meeting to-day, it was decided to organise a movement to erect a memorial to perpetuate the memory of the late Mr A. A. Fantham, the form of the memorial to be decided later. A strong committee was formed, and the sum of >£Bs subscribed in the room.

The Industrial Exhibition closes tonight. The receipts so far amount to .£I6OO, and the expenses to .£I4OO. WANGANUI, February 13. At the Police Court this morning two men were fined £5 each on a charge of giving liquor to a prohibited person. NAPIER, February 15. A team from the Manawatu Polo Club played two matches against the Hawke’s Bay Polo Club ! at Hastings on Saturday . and to-day. On Saturday the ground was in good order and the game very fast, Hawke’s Bay having much the best of it and winning by 8 goals to 3. Today the ground was sticky, and the play much slower, Manawatu winning by 5 goals to 4. PALMERSTON, February 13. Tbe Manawatu South African Returned Troopers’ Association has written to the Minister of Defence stating that should it be deemed judicious on the part of the Government to increase the defence forces within the colony in the event of serious international complications arising out of the conflict in the East, the association is prepared to offer the services of one hundred returned troopers. The association trusts that the offer will be an incentive to other colonial military institutions to strengthen the hands of the Government should it be necessary to take steps in thu direction indicated. PALMERSTON. February. 15. Tbe Manawatu Veterans’. Association has decided to offer the Government a

squadron of 125 rank and file of experienced men for immediate service wherover required in New Zealand in the event of a complication. FEILDING, February 15. Guy’s sawmill at Table Flat was destroyed by fire yesterday, resulting in a heavy loss to the owner. MASTERTON, Saturday. A young man named Albert Butcher was standing talking to two other men at the corner of Queen and Hall streets this morning, when he suddenly fell down insensible. Medical assistance was quickly obtained, but Butcher died within five minutes. Heart disease was the cause of death. Deceased was employed on the borough staff, and was a. member of the Masterton Municipal Fire Brigade. CARTERTON. Monday.

The engineer of the Featherston County Council reports that the bridges and culverts on the Rimutaka coach road are in a bad state and that in some places the road itself has slipped away to a width of nine feet. It will cost £4OO to put the road in a first-class state. The tender of Mr W. Benton (£210) has been accepted for the erection of the new County Council office at Martinborough. With timber and labour the building will cost £405.

Playing in championship cricket here on Saturday, Balfour, lat© of Hawke’s Bay, compiled 109 runs. The Catholic bazaar concluded on Saturday evening, when the gross takings amounted to £350. The net profit is estimated at £3OO. The insurance on Parr’s boardinghouse furniture, destroyed by fir© at Featherston, is £2OO. In consequence of the recent rains sheep have already risen in price. During the drought wethers and freezing ewes showed a margin of 2s and 3s respectively, the greatest for many years. The retddemte of Martinborough are agitating to have their dietrict constituted into a town district. Tno movement is being supported by Councillors A. Matthews and Martin, of the Featherston County Council. WESTPORT, February 13. The Governor ,and Premier will visit the Karamea Settlement, north of Westport. Mr Carnegie has authorised the Borough Council to draw £2OOO for a library and buildings as the work proceeds. REEFTON, February 13. A man named William Gribble, aged 27 years, a native of Nelson, committed suicide this morning at Recicgh’s Hotel by cutting his throat with a razor. He discontinued work at the Inkerman mine on Monday, and stated he was leaving for Christchurch. It is reported he was suffering from the effects of drink. He retired to his bedroom on Thursday nmht at 9.30, remaining there ail day on I riday, apparently only slightly indisposed. This'morning the proprietor of the hotel discovered him dead. REEFTON, February 15. At the inquest concerning the death of William Gribble, the jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst in a melancholy state of mind. „ _ , GEEYMOUTH, February 13. The West Coast Labour Conference elected Mr Foster ns president. It was unanimously resolved, after discussion, to oppose the sale of the freehold, and to telegraph to Mr Taylor, M.H.R., wishing the party success in its land campaign. The conference, after considerable discussion, passed a resolution endorsing the action of the Premier ja protesting against the introduction of Chinese into the Transvaal but regretting that action was not taken before. It was proposed to ask the Minister of Mines to have th*. fans kept working night and day. CHRISTCHURCH, February 15. A City Council employee named James Ward, whilst on his way to work this morning, fell down in a fainting fit when passing Dr Mickle’s house, and expired almost immediately. DUNEDIN, February 13. In a test case brought at Mosgiel before Mr Carew, Stipendiary Magistrate, a Taieri farmer was fined 40s and costs under the Noxious Weeds Act on a charge of not clearing Californian thistle off his land.

At an inquest on the body of Mary Cook, who died in the hospital on the 7th a verdict was returned that the cause of death was blood poisoning, the result of an illegal operation performed bv some person or persons unknown. DUNEDIN, February 15. Elizabeth Millsom, a widow, residing at North-east Valley, was found dead in bed to-day. Death, it is believed, was due to natural causes. The Hon. H. Gourley was to-day reelected chairman of the Harbour Board. The Dental Board of Examiners has just concluded the examination of sixteen candidates. The following seven were successful :—H. M. Coulson (Grey-, mouth), P. C. Cran (Masterton), W. R. Irwin (Christchurch), L. L. Renton (Hokitika), A. H. bchroff, M.A. (Auckland) G. L. Shaw (New Plymouth), Bessie B. Wright (Dunedin).