INTERPROVINCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 29, 2 December 1879, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Per our Special Wire.

Auckland, Dec 1,

Fiji advices by the Hero state that the Rev, Geo. Brown, the New Guinea missionary, is to be tried at Fiji, at the instance of Chief Justice Gorrie, Commissioner for Polynesia, on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the New Guinea affair. Sir Arthur Gordon disapproves of the prosecution. Wellington, Dec. 1.

At a recent parade one of the Lieutenants of the Naval Brigade conducted himself in such a manner that his superior officer reported him, and it has been deemed necessaiy to hold a Court martial, which takes place to-morrow. Mr Edgecombe, formerly of the “ Bay of Plenty Times,” has purchased the “Waikato Times” from Mr. Whitaker, junr. Arrived—Annie Meluish, barque, from Newcastle. ' During her passage she encountered a heavy gale which carried away a portion of her bulwarks and did other damage on deck.

Nelson, Dec. 1

The funeral of the late Dr. Renwick, M.L.C. , who died on Saturday, aged 61, takes place to-morrow. Christchurch, Dec. 1.

In a muff cricket match to-dav, between the City Council and Muff Club, Mr. W. H. Smith, of the “ Press ” office, came into collision with another player, and broke his leg. Last year a similar accident happened to a player in one of these matches, while jumping over a fence after the ball.

At the ELM. Com* to-day, George Green, executor in an estate, was called upon to answer a charge of failing to send in returns to the Deputy-Commissioner of Stamps, as provided in the 108th section of the Stamp Act. Defendant did not appear, and a penalty of £lO was imposed. Other cases were set down for hearing tut were adjourned. The R. M. pointed out that a fine of £SOO could be imposed for a breach of the Act in this respect. In future cases of the kind the full penalty would be pressed for. The secretary of the Chess Club—Albert linkstbne —who has hitherto held a respectable position, was charged, under the Offences Against the Person Act, upon three charges of aggravated assaults upon females. He pleaded guilty, expressed contrition, and threw himself upon the mercy of the Bench. The R.M. said there was only one reason that he could

see why the matter should have been dealt with in a superior Court ; that was that a more appropriate punishment might ha inflicted by his Honor doaling with it and the feelings of delicate young girls would bo saved. He would send accused to gaol for the longest term allowed—viz., 6 months on each charge, to run consecutively. At the end of the time, he would have to enter into his own recognisance of £SO, and find a surety of £SO for his good behavior, or again to go to gaol for six months. These cases are becoming quite startling ; Pinkstone’s is the fifth or sixth within a month —the, defendants in several, as in this, being men of presumably good characters and the last to be suspected of such crimes.

The cable at the Heads was successfully laid by Dr. Lemon on Saturday, and telephonic communication between the Heads and the port will be establithed in about two weeks.