INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1367, 11 October 1886, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Auckland, October 9.

At the Supreme Court to day, a prisoner named Held, indicted for an indecent assault on a child acred eleven, was acquitted by direction of Mr Justice Ward, owing to the child not understanding the nature of an oath. Another prisoner, named Johnson, for an Indecent assault on his own daughter, was sentenced to five years and two floggings of twenty-five Isshee each.

A letter was read from Bishop Cowie at the meeting of the Board of Education to-day as follows : -In June last the Hev E. J. Phillips, of Mount Roskill, wrote to the Chairman of the Mount Eden School Committee, asking perm ssion to give religious ins f ru tion in the school buildings of that district on two days of each week after school hours Two months afterwards Mr Phillips received the following answer to his I- tter:— 1 Your application was duly laid before the Committee of the Mount Eden district school at a meeting of the o'>mmi>tse. The Committee request me to inform yon they cannot see their way to grant your request, having already granted permission for nndennmb ational Bible reading after school hours ’ May I trouble you to inform me whether it is in acco-danoe with the prorvistons of the Education Act for a School Oommi tee to grant permission for undenominational B ble reading to one person and to refuse permission to another to give religious instruction ?” It was reaolvec—“ That the Bishop be informed that tbe decision in the matter rested entirely with the School Committee ” Wellington, October 9.

The Native Minister leaves for Masterton to-morrow morning to interview Natives re Walmarlno block, lately purchased by him, aad to enquire into the Special Settlements these. Previons to leaving he will make arrangements for the sitting of a Native Laqd Court on the Writ Coast to enquire into the causes of the troubles which have lately reached in the arrest and conviction of Te Whiti aud some of his followers. The Court will be presided over by Judge Wilson, who is well known on theSast Coast, and who has never been concerned in any of the West Coast confiscations. Judge Wilson will be also appointed a Royal fiemmissiorer under the West Coast Settlements Reserves Act, and have full poverapf enquiry. Those Natives who come before the Court and prove their claims will have an individual Crown Grant given to each. Those who remain obstinately aloof, and who interfere with the just rights of the settlers, and throw themselves open to the action of the civil law of the colony, will be dealt with according .to the laws they offend Bgainstl Every opportunity will be given to Natives to bring forward their grievances, the Court being instructed to sit continuously on the confiscated territory between Waitotara and White Cliffs until some definite settlement is arrived at. A monolith representing gold obtained in the colony has been erected ia the New Zealand Court at the Exhibition. It ia said to look very well, and adds to the attraction of the Court. December Ist will be fixed as the date for receiving applications for loans from local bodies under the Acta of last session. A circular will shortly be issued containing a precis of the statues under which the proceedings must be initiated. It is stated that the Evening Bell, Auckland, has changed hands at £6i)j27. The

property, including the Observer and Sell, 1 1 -ut a bul diKt.B w.s. ffsied by fc&der. Ihe nstne of the purchase is not known, but Mr toeymoar George has been mentioned.

Sir Julias Vogel underwent an operation i^ 9 |[ n 0 n i, for a tt,,nonr at the black >f tne Head The opera; ion was success fully performed by Drs Grace and Collins. A Chinaman a store in Manners atres was burglariously entered some time today during the absence of the proprietor, wad goods, value £lO, were carried away. An entrance waa creeled by cutting oat a pine of glass at the roar of the premises.