NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 22

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, January 20. The schooner Lark has been successfully floated off Tory Shoal, Kaipara Heads, where she grounded yesterday. AUCKLAND, January 21. In presenting certificates to tne St. John Ambulance Society to-day, the Governor urged the necessity of more classes being held in mining, sawmilling, and other districts where medical attendance was not instantly available, and he expressed his admiration for the whole work being done by the society. The Mayor of Auckland said the local society should take into consideration a scheme for the proper nursing of the sick poor, as was done in some of the Southern centres. NAPIER, January 20. Yesterday four seamen of the steamer South Australian were charged with deserting from the vessel. They stated they left the vessel because they failed to obtain extra assistance- at Napier aa promised, but that they were willing to return to the ship if this was done. They were ordered to return to _ the steamer and pay costs of prosecution. To-day, however, they procured one of the ship's boats and left the vessel. They pulled to the Petane beach, before they landed, leaving the boat on the beach. The police are searching for the men, but so far have not succeeded in tracing them. MASTERTON, January 20. At a meeting to-night an amateur athletic club was formed to be called the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Association About thirty names were handed in of those desiring to join. A number of trophies have already been given, including one from Mr Harry Goodwin, ex-champion, amateur walker of Wellington and New Zealand. EKETAHtINA, January 19. While a young man named William Longhurst was -working at Albertsen's sawmill, Nireaha, yesterday, one of his hands came in contact with a circular saw, three fingers being severed, and a thumb and another finger badly cut. Matt Gundersen, a settler at Newman, was rushed by a bull on Tuesday evening, and severely injured about the body. Gundersen went to attend the bull, which had broken a leg through fighting another animal. HOKITIKA, January 18. The first statutory meeting of the West Coast Steam Shipping Company, which recently acquired the steamer Torgauten, was held here to-day. Representatives from Greymouth, Westport, Nelson and Tiinaru were present. Captain McArthur, formerly on the Mapourika, and now in charge of the Torgauten, was elected chairman of directors. A largely-attended indignation meeting was held at Kumara last evening to protest against the action of the Government in suing for arrears due by the miners of the district, including Goldsborougli and Stafford, for water supplied from the Government water races, and also to oppose the proposal that future water should be paid for in advance. Resolutions condemnatory of the action, of the Government were carried. The speakers pointed out that the proposed procedure was most detrimental to the .mining industry, and impossible of performance owing to the poor nature of the claims. Strict enforcement of the charge would mean the closing down of the whole of the goldfield. The Mayor, in the course of his remarks, declared that if the proposal to pay an advance were enforced he would have no hesitation in leading a mob and forcibly opening the gauge box of the dam. The feeling of opposition runs high throughout the affected districts. CHRISTCHURCH, January 19.

The body of a man who had apparently been dead some days was found this afternoon in Ion" grass in an unfrequented part of Hagley Park. A revolver lay near by, and there was a bullet wound in the body. The body was identified a* that of Arthur George White, chimney sweep, who had been missing for some time,

At the Primitive Methodist Conference the final reading of stations was as follows:—New Plymouth, J. Nixon, H. Daniels (candidate); Wellington 11., J. Dawson, B. Metson; Wellington 111., J. Cocker; Auckland 1., W. IS. Potter, E. Warburton; Auckland 11., G. Clement, W. Harris, C. M., supernumery; Auckland 111. G. W. Smailes; Invercargill 1., It. Rain; Invercargill 11., T. A. Pybus; Thames, S. Henderson; Greendale, T. H. Lyon; Christchurch, J. uuy, D. Albert, 11. M.; Ashburton, It. T. Hall; Feild.'ng, J. Olphert, C. It. Sims, P. W. Jones, supernumeray; Dunedin, W. Laycock, S. Bailey, one to be obtained; Waikouaiti T. Coatsworth; Wellington 1., C. E. Yi'ard, R. J. Liddell, W. J. Dean supernumeray; J. Dunbell, supernumery. Missions Timaru, P. J. Cossum; Geraldine G. H. Mann; Poston, J. Featherston; Halcombe, B. Dudley; Stratford and Eltham, J. Clover, J. Benning; Waimate and Oamaru, J. Sharp; West Coast Mission, T. R. B. Woolaxall, J. Harriss; Inglewood (branch of New Plymouth), in hands of missionary committee; Bluff, G. P. Hunt; Waihi J. Southern; Wanganui, E. Drake; East Egmont, A. Armstrong (candidate); Tenuka (branch of Geraldine), D. Campbell; Edendale (branch of Invercargill I.), P. J. Mail's, H.M.; Waikato Mission (under care of missionary committee), J. R. Fow, H.M. DUNEDIN, January ID. The election of three members of the Drainage Board took place yesterday. Messrs Christie, Small, and Arkle (the latter the nominee of the Ratepayers* Association) were returned. Two of the retiring members who stood were defeated. The return of the Ratepayers’ Association ticket is an emphatic protest against the manner in which the drainage scheme for Dunedin suburbs is being carried out. Previously the Engineer’s (Mr Noble Anderson) party had a majority of six to three on the Board. The future voting will be six to three against Dr Coughtrey the engineer, and party. Only eighteen informal votes were recorded, though it was the first election conducted under the new system of recording votes by Tracing a cross opposite the name of the candidate intended to be supported, instead of striking out the names of the candidates for whom the elector does not intend to record his vote