TELEGRAMS

Southland Times, Issue 14840, 17 January 1901, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

New Zealand. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 16. John McDonald, an elderly man, arrested yesterday on a charge of drunkenness and taken to the hospital as he had sustained injuries to his head, died last night. At an inquest a witness deposed to seeing McDonald leaning against a window’and falling backwards on his head on the pavement. Death was due to fracture of the base of the skull. WELLINGTON, Jan. 16. The Acting-Premier has cabled to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, through the Deputy-Governor, suggesting that the Imperial troops, when visiting New Zealand, should travel by rail as far as possible between the chief centres, so as to enable them to view the country, and also afford opportunity to the people of towns on the railways to catch a glimpse of the military visitors. If Mr Ward’s - suggestion is adopted arrangements will be made to receive tho t roops at the Bluff on 3rd February. They will rejoin the ship at Lyttelton, coming on to Wellington. Mr Ward does not expect the duration of tho stay of the troops in any one town to exceed two days. Mr Ward will ask the mayors and commanding officers in the districts through which the Imperial troops will pass to give them a fitting reception. Tho local cavalry/ corp will also be asked to place horses at the disposal of the visitors. Probably a review of volunteers will be held at each centre. The Wellington Racing Club having determined to cut telegraph communication off with the course for the meeting next week, Mr Ward says that the Department having established a service which is used by the public and newspapers he will take steps to have communication with the course maintained. The returns of the Registrar-General’s office show that in December last_27sB persons arrived in the colony and 1576 left as against 2200 and 1236 respectively in December 1899. Arrangements are being madoby the Government to bring into the market the lands of the Midland authorised area, six million acres in all. These will bo open for selection after Ist February, and the Commissioners of Crown Lands for Nelson and Westland are hearing applications from persons already in occupation under temporary license or under any arrangement with the Midland Co., on whoso cases reports will be made to the Minister of Lands. The Tadmor block of 6000 acres will bo placed on the market about the middle of March, and a survey is being made of a block at Wataroa, south of Ross, and several other blocks.

The census of New Zealand will be taken on the night of Sunday, March 31st. Amongst the passengers to-day from Sydney were Sergt. Lostrange, Corporal Shepherd and Trooper Smythe, .of tho First Contingent, who return to "South Africa with the Sixth, and Corporal Jones, Second Contingent, invalided. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 16. James Kirk, a middle aged man, has been committed for trial on a charge of stealing £295 from G. L. Beath and Co , by whom he was employed as canvasser. The alleged defalcations began in January, 1900, and gradually grew larger. They were discovered when the books were investigated. DUNEDIN, Jan. 16. During the second week of the year 79,475 letters were posted at Dunedin as against 67,584 in the corresponding period of last year. The increase is accounted for by the penny rate and the greater volume of business. | (At a sale runs in the Tuapeka and Clutha districts realised the upsets.