NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 22

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, January 4. Mr Townshend, Government grader, states that the usual fortnightly shipment of butter, which left Auckland by the Rotoiti on January Ist for transhipment into the Gothic at Wellington, consisted of 10,555 boxes, an increase of 2611 boxes on the corresponding shipment of last year. This shipment required 52 trucks to carry it from the cool stores in Auckland to the steamer's side at Onehunga. The substantial increase of 2611 boxes on a fortnight’s supply is likely to be exceeded this mouth. The average increase this season over last year’s output has been over 1000 boxes per fortnight. The return of births, marriages and deaths registered in the district of Auckland during the past year show a decided improvement in all three classes on the figures for the previous year. The number of births registered for 1904 was 2540, as against 2375 for the year 1903; the number of deaths last year was less than that for 1903, being 1015, as against 1190. In marriages there was an increase in number, being 955, as compared with 898 for 1903. The year 1903 showed an increase in births and a decrease in deaths as compared with 1902, for which the totals were 2280 births and 1290 deaths. The marriages in 1902 numbered 946. AUCKLAND, January 5. The Hon. J. McGowan has been inspecting the tree planting work by prisoners near Rotorua and is satisfied with the progress made and the conduct of the prisoners. Information has been received that at a general meeting of the New Zealand and River Plate Land and Mortgage Company, Limited held in London on the 3rd inst., the shareholders adopted the recommendations of the directors, particulars of which were recently published. AUCKLAND, January 5. In connection with the recently-dis-covered deficits at Tonga, the High Commissioner, Sir H. M. Jackson, addressing the Tonga King and chiefs on December 28th, said certain things had been put before Mm —he did not say they were hidden from him or were cinder hand —but things would be straightened and put on the right path. The Treasury ..books showed that during the last part Of the year there was a sum of <£looo in hand. But it was not so, as there were about <£6ooo due to traders and others. He proposed to lend the Government money to pay its indebtedness, at 3 per cent. The Premier had been deposed with the King’s consent, and would not be allowed to return to Nga till things were settled, or to hold a Government appointment. The Commissioner intimated that changes would he made in the laws, and Europeans would be appointed to the police and Magistracy. He added that drinking amougst the natives mufct be stopped. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 5.

The butter shipped from New Plymouth last month totalled 27,767 boxes, and cheese 817 cases. At the end of December 17,034 boxes of butter and 435 cases of cheese remained in the Moturoa works, but since then 13,848 boxes of butter and 434 cases cheese have been shipped on the Gothic for the Home markets. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 4. To-day was an off-day at the Exhibition though a large number of people visited it. The sports attracted a good attendance and were successful. The principal events resulted: —Half-mile Handicap—Arnott, 30yds, 1; Bowler, 45yds, 2; Watters, 45yds, 3. Time, lmin 57sec. 120 Yards Handicap—(H. L. Ab-

bott, 7^yds, 1; J. Murray, 7yds, 2, C. Marsh, 10yds, S. Time, 12sec. Mile Bicycle—Anderson, syds, 1; Brunette, 12yds, 2; Ward, 99yds, 3. Time, 2min 41s©0. 120 Yards Hurdles—H. L. Abbott, Iyd, 1; B. Murray, 2yds, 2; VV. Morgan, 3yds, 3. Time, 17sec. 220 Yards Handicap—Murray, 14yds, 1; Gladding, 12yds, 2; Egan, 17yds, 3. Time, 23 2-ssec. One Mile Handicap—O. Wilson Bl)yds, 1; P. Bellshaw, 90yds, 2; L. Ward, 50yds, 8. Time, 4min 28sec. 440 Yards Amateur Handicap— A. V. Stohr, 25yd8, 1; L. B. Webster, sc, 2. Time, 53 l-ssec. TAIHAPE, January 5. A nian named T. 'Smith was found in his whare at Turangarere this morning with hie throat cut. BLENHEIM, January 4. .The difficulties of the Blenheim Hospital Board in connection with its medical staff have increased. Within the last three months three doctors have resigned from the position of medical officer and the consultant has also thrown up his post. An appeal was made to the Inspector-General of Hospitals, and he came across, but failed to calm the troubled waters. Feeling has run high at meetings of the Board, which is divided as to what should be the constitution and relative duties of the staff. Applications are now being called for the positions. At the present time the hospital is without an official medical staff of any kind, and no more patients are admitted. An inquest on the death of an old man named Thomas Drew, who died at the hospital after an operation there, was opened last week, and after sharp passages between the doctor who performed the operation and the one who administered the anaesthetic, w’as adjourned till next Friday to enable the former to secure counsel. Mr Myers, of Wellington, and other counsel ai*e engaged to attend the adjourned proceedings. WANGANUI, January 8. Albert B. William®, eldest son of Mr T. B. Williams, was drowned at Kaiiwi Beach to-day. A party were diving off rocks, and Williams struck his head. NELSON, January 5. The Burton Butter Factory was totally destroyed by fire at Motueka last night. The building was owned by Mr F. W. Thorpe (Mayor), and leased by Messrs Rankin and Sons. There was a large stock of blitter in store. The insurance® total £4OO on the building and plant, but Messrs Rankin and Sons were not insured. CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. William James Booth, forty-two years of age, a farmer at Sefton, was killed through a horse bolting. He was carting hay, and took the bit out of the horse’s mouth to feed the animal. The horse was startled through the blinkers dropping. Booth was knocked down, -and the dray passed over his head. He leaves a widow and six children. CHRISTCHURCH, January 6. The Mayor has received the following letter from the Inspector-General of Asylums in reply to a letter enclosing copies of the resolutions passed at the recent public meeting in regard to Sunnyside Asylum : —“By direction of the Hon the Minister in charge of this department, I have the honour, in reply to your letter, to inform you that the resolutions passed at the meeting of Christchurch citizens will receive most careful consideration. The Hon the Minister has in his place in the House of Representatives fully explained his resolution that every case of alleged injustice shall be fully investigated by him, and in every case that has occurred since this declaration ~he has in the letter, and in the spirit, carried it out. Under the circumstances I must deny positively that any attendant has been either arbitrarily or unfairly treated or left in ignorance of the charges against him. Those who have been transferred have been removed on departmental grounds as seemed best in the interests of all concerned.” The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association decided to-night to invite two athletes —the best sprinter and distance runner obtainable in Australia —to compete against Shrubb and Duffey at the New Zealand championship meeting in March, and at the meetings in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin if desired by the local centres. Thomas P, Burke and William J. Lopdell, who were proved to have competed at an amateur meeting after forfeiting their amateur status, were disqualified for life. DUNEDIN, January 5. After an unprecedented spell for this season of cold weather, with high southerly gales and rain, there was an agreeable change to-dajq the sun shining out brightly with little or no wind. At a meeting of the New Zealand Bowling Association to-night, the bowl testing committee reported that they were unanimously of opinion that the best results had been obtained by the. Dalis machine, and further that they were of opinion, this machine was capable of doing all necessary bowl testing in connection with the association. The matter of appointing a testing officer and fixing a standard was left in the hands of the executive with instructions that the officer in charge of bowl testing should be precluded from making alterations in bowls. The body of George Stephens, yachtsman, who was washed overboard from the Anoyma last month, was found near the Heads this morning. An inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death returned. DUNEDIN, January 8. Albert Brown, aged three and a half years, fell into a can of boiling water at Ivaitangata and was so badly scalded that he died. INVERCARGILL, January 5. As showing the activity in the flax business in Southland, 4536 bales weighing 900 tons were received in the Bluff stores during December. INVERCARGILL, January 6. Shearing has been greatly hindered in the back country by snow, Jiail, and bitter cold rain. Shearers have been scarce. A country correspondent says that in his district only the largest sheds are being worked under the Arbitration Court’s award. Shearers demand £1 per 100 for flocks up to a thousand, and 16s Sd for flocks to five thousand. There has been the usual trouble with wet sheen, and the men care no more for the award than if it wias so much waste paper.