LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9865, 6 October 1903, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

♦ (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The Grey Lynn Borough Council at a meeting to-night cWcided to abolish wards of the borough. Among the passengers for Sydney by the Sonoma, are three well-known American cyclists, Messrs Iv<?r Lawson, H. Downing, and Fnioyd McFario-ne, who have come down for the Australian racing sea-son. ' The Customs duties for Auckland during the quarter ended September 30th, reached a total of £162,211, as compared with £163,359 for the corresponding quarter last year, ami excise duties £807, as against £652. The total duties collected were only £983 less than last year, which was unusually heavy. The total beer duty was £4360, as against £4301. Gold duty realised £5848, as ngainst £4424. The total receipts for the last quarter amounted to £177,374, as against £176,161 for the corresponding period last year. Captain W. C. Dnldy, a well-known Auckland citizen of many years standing, and one of the pioneers of the province, died to-day. He was at one time member of the Provincial Council, and was also a prominent member of the Congregational Church. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. At the Land Office on Saturday 105 sections of land m the Olumi and Upper Mokau districts, comprising about 20,000 acresj were balloted for among co-opera-tive laborers. NAPIER, last night. Mr J. E. Gleadow lias been appointed secretary to the Napier Park Racing Club. There were twelve applications. WELLINGTON, fast night Samuel Taylor and John Hackett were to-day ■ committed for trial for assaulting and robbing a man of £2 Is 6d. The Wellington Education Board, having been informed that £]£00 has been passed for payment by the Treasury to the Board's account, has decided to pay the balances due to contractors about which so much has been heard Lately for certain new schoolhouses. NELSON, last night. A very long meeting of the .harbor' Board was held to-day, when the report of Mr I. H lUwson, M.1.U.E., and Mi Cyrus J. Williams, M.1.0.E., consulting engineers called m to examine and. report as to the scheme previously adopted, was considered They approve of the scheme, but propose modifications as to mole, and estimate the total cost of the work according to the modifications at £10 300 instead of £65,000 authorised. Then report was adopted. At a special meeting of the town school committee to-night, a copy of a letter to the Mucation Board was read, wherewatli the committee forwarded an estimate of their financial position at the end of the quarter, and asked assistance to meet liabilities. The Board replied, regrettmg inability to do more than at present. The committee* m the course of discussion, expressed regret that' large sums were being spent m secondary and technical education while primary schools were being starved. 1 It was resolved to give the secondary staff three months' notice, and all other persons employed a weeks notice 'of dispensing with* their services for the time being. It was re- v solved to intimate to teachers that the committee were compelled to give notice to persons employed lo clean schools, and stating that teachers must simply do the best they can until the Government provide more ample means for requirements. It was also resolved to intimate to the City Council thdt, owing to lack of funds, the committee cannot hold themselves responsible for the water rate or sanitary services until adequate funds are provided. It was also resolved, m view of the facts cited, that an appeal be made to Government to provide 'a much increased vote, so that the important work of national primary education can be carried on with the' reasonable improvements constantly necessary. CHRISTOHUROH, last night. Mr J. A. Bird, the "Father of Fire Insurance" m Canterbury, died to-day, aged 82. He was local representative of the Liverpool, London and Globe Company for many years, and for 26 years was secretary to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. In the earlier days of the province he was prominent m Masonic and volunteer circles. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has sent telegrams to the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, and local members of Parliament; protesting against any alteration m the licensee fees, as it considered that the effect will be to seriously cripple operations. The Spring Show of the United Horticultural Society, an amalgamation of the * three old societiesj was held to-day, and was a great success, At a meeting of the provisional directors and promoters of the British and New Zealand Meat and Produce Company, the prospectus and memoranda were gone through and approved and a committee appointed to make final arrangements for the issue of the prospectus. The chairman, Mr H. Recce, states that the object is to place New Zealand meat and produce before consumers at Home m the best possible way, by opening up m various centres a good class of shop, and supplying them with the best quality of goods, thus dealing direct from the producer to the consumer. TIMARU, last night. The Wanganui,^ Kaikorai, Diinedin Naval and Lyttelton. Marine Bands have arrived for the contest.. , They were, met at the station by large crowds, and much enthusiasm was shown by the townspeople. , Fine weather is promised for the garden parly reception to-morrow afternoon. The first test piece follows m the evening. Six cases of scarlet fever are reported at Burkes Pass. The first case occurred three weeks since, and the last five days ago. None of the cases were reported to the nearest doc+or at Fairlie till Saturday. The> school has been ordered to be closed. tnfection is said to liave been conveyed by a convalescent patient from Timaru.