CHRISTCHURCH, March 31. Colonel Francis, who went to South Africa with the Fifth Contingent, was. 'subsequently invalided to England, and then returned home to New .Zealand, died at 11 o'clock to-night. He arrived in Canterbury in 1857, and had been connected with volunteering for many years.
[Colonel Francis, whose death is an nounced among our Cliristchurch tele grams to-day, arrived in Wanganui about ten days ago, and for two or three days acted as range officer at the recent gathering of the New Zealand Rifle As sociation. Though undoubtedly suffer ing still from the effects of enteric fever contracted in the Transvaal, he felt so boncfitcd by the trip to Wanganui that be shot in one of the 500-yards ranges, niore for practice than anything cl§o, and put on a fair score. On Saturday week he ives slightly indisposed, but felt better in the morning, and visited the Putiki pa in company with the Hon James Carroll. The samo night he had a very severe relapse, and during the early hours of the morning tho services of a medical gentleman were called in. The attack had, to some extent, passed away by midday last Monday, and tho Colonel, accompanied by a friend, left Wanganui -for his home in Christ church by the- Palmerston North train. It was his intention to break tho iourney to Wellington, so it is more than likely he would only ar livo home two days before death ensued. All those who met him at the rifle meet ing report the loss of a gallant and popular officer.]

GISBORNE ROADS.
(Per United Press Association.)

GISBOKNE, April 1.
