LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10528, 1 December 1905, Page 4

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

iPer Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Tho Rev. F. W. lsitt has telegraphed withdrawal of his candidature for Motueka, as on account of Mr O'Kelly going to the poll there is no necessity for the New Zealand Alliance to take steps to ensure a licensing vote being taken. A poll on the proposal to adopt rating on unimproved values m Miramar borough was taken to-day. The voting was, lor 117, against 45. As less than a third of the olectors recorded their votes the poll was abortive WESTPORT, last night. Captain Leech, ex-harbormaster at Westport, passed away to-night, at the age of 69. Deceased took the first vessel, a litte steamer named the Nelson, across the Hokitika bar. He was harbormaster at Westport for about oo* years. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. At about 1.30 o'clock this morning an 11 roomed house m Carlyle street, Sydenham, occupied by Mr G. E. Christensen, and owned by Mrs Pope, was destroyed by fire. The house was used as a boarding house, and there were three or four j boarders m it at the time. Nothing ■ was savod, and several of the occupants ; had to escape by the windows. The furniture was insured m the Manchester office for £150, and Mr Christensen estimated his loss at £70 over the insur- ' anee. The building was insured m the Manchester oflice for £300. A crowd estimated at about 5000 filled the Colosseum Skating Rink to-night, when Mr T. E. Taylor replied to the speech delivered by the Premier the previous evening. The proceedings were very lively, and the earlier part of the meeting was noisy, but became more orderly as the speech proceeded.