LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9336, 28 December 1901, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

f {Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. This morning a fire occurred m the Northern Union Steamship Company's offices at' Helensville, and it spread to. a store adjacent, a carpenter's shop and providore's store. There was only a small insurance on the property. The damage was about £750. The cause of the fire is a mystery. In the second rouud of the Chess Tournament Jacques played an irregular | Queen's Fianchctto attack, and won an exchange early m the game, winning the game from Jowett before the luncheon adjournment. Grierson played one of Steinitry variation of Ruy Lopez with j Miles, and during the morning kept up a strong attack on the King's side, winning an exchange. In the afternoon he maac ventures of one inovo with his Queen, which gave Miles an opening and j got the white into difficulties, Miles winning the game. In the game between Edwards and Forsyth the latter declined a King's gambit with a Bishop to a Bishop's fourth, aud Edwards kept up for a considerable time an attack on the cascled King, which Forsyth successfully stared off, coming out of a tight corner with three pawns to the good. In the evening he wore down bis opponent, and won m good style. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. Of late the deaths of old settlers have been very continuous. To-day another passed away m the person of Darius ! Shuttleworth, aged 70, for many years a uuinber of the firm of Shuttleworth Bros. Deceased was director of the Gaa Company and Taranaki Building Society for many years, and a very prominent churchman. He was greatly respected and esteemed, and came here m 1856. After the war he helped to build up a large and successful business. ■A. local record score wan put up at the •rifle range to-day by Color-Sergeant Okey, who made 53 at 500, 35 at 600,

32 at- 700, and 31 at 800, at a 6ft Bin target, thus making 131 out of a possible 140. WANGANUI, last night. The Wangarrai section of the Eighth Contingent was selected to-day. Licluded m the twenty men are eight who have seen service m South Africa. NAPIER, last nightNorman George Cox, senior clerk at the Hastings Post- Office, pleaded guilty to*day, and was committed for trial, for embezzling two sums of £95 and £34 9s sd, the first amount being money paid bito the Post Office Savings Bank, and the secoud amount being land tax. Bail was allowed. WELLINGTON, last night. Lord and Lady Ranfurly, accompanied by their family, left early this morning by the Tutanekai on a trip to the Southern lighthouses. The Tutanekai ia timed to reach the Bluff on January 25th. / The Casualty Department at Capetown cables that Private Memaru, of the Seventh Contingent, is dangerously ill at Mwi river. Consequent on Mr Marchant's promotion to be Surveyor-General, the following changes will take place m the Land and Survey Department: — Mr J. Strachan, Commissioner m Taxanaki, -becomes Commissioner m Wellington district ; Mr James McKenzie, Chief Draughtsman m Wellington, succeeds Mr Strachan as Commissioner m Taranaki ; Mr W. Kensington, Chief Draughtsman at Auckland, becomes _„ Under-Seoretary for Lands and Survey, Mr L. Cussen, District Surveyor at Auckland, takes the Chief Draughtsmanship at Auckland ; Mr T. Humphries, Chief Surveyor at Nelson, becomes Chief Surveyor at Canterbury ; Mr W. G. Murtay, Chief Surveyor at Westland, is appointed to succeed Mr Humphries at Nelson; Mr G. Roberts, Chief Draughtsman at Hokitika, takes Mr Murray's place ; Mr L. Smith, Inspecting Surveyor, succeeds Mr McKenzie as Chief Draughtsman at Wellington; Mr Mueller, Auckland, is appointed • Assistant SurveyorGeneral. Colonel Porter has cabled 'to the Premier from Dundee : "Yours re the combination of the Eighth Contingent as one unit is wise and just. Composite mounted troops op column is unsatisfactory m field and camp. The New Zealajiiders admittedly do excellently." DUNEDIN, 4ast night. The applicants for the Eighth Contingent were put through riding and shooting tests to-day, the displays of horsemanship being far from good. William Taylor, a boy, was brought from. Waikouaiti to-day with a broken thigh, and suffering from concussion of the brain. He died m the hospital' this evening.