LATE NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11817, 2 April 1909, Page 6

LATE NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Per Press AseociAtion.) AUCKLAND, this day. Tli3 Customs duties at the port of Auckland for the year ended March 31st totalled £652,936, less by £115,312 thijii m the preceding year, but m 1908 £70.000 was collected frcm sugar duties .-tionc. This sum disappears under the new tariff, making the actual shrinkage about £45,0C0. WELLINGTON, this day. It is understood that the pdsition ol Government meteorologist^ vacant by the letirement of Captain Edwin, will he lilted by the appointment of the Rev. 1). E. Bates, who has been oh the office •staff for .soir.. 3 time past. The Cu*»tonis returns for the port oj Wellington fof the pant month show a g-euerul increase ifl value and quantities of; exports, compared with', those for the corresponding month of last year. The total value was £524,272, as against / £333,436 for last year. For the quartei th? valu<* was £1,585,07a, as againat :£1,298,660 for the same period m lfeOS. DUNEDIN, this day. At the Timber Commission, Robert . Crawford, builder and contractor, said that m his experience it was quite impofsible to get seasoned timber m Dunedin. He didi not use much kauri, its price m Dunedin being prohibitive. He would not advise Oregon being admitted free. A. R. Wallnce, sawmiller, Invercurgill. denied there was any understanding among "outside" mills aR to prices. Dic<sed timber' was far dearer to-day than 20 years ago. .^n inquest *vas held this morning on the body of Albert Edward Burden,

who died suddenly yesterday, when clearing out a gas holder. After hearing tho evidence, the coroner said : '"I have no hesitation m coming to the conclusion that death was solaly due to the effect of gas poisoning ; also no hesitation m saying there is nothing to show that tliere was any negligence ' or want of . proper precautions. The death is purely ope of inadvertence, no blame being ■ attachable to anyone." 'A. verdict was .- given accordingly.