INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1375, 20 October 1886, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Wanganui, October 19. A. E. Wood, the prisoner who pleaded guilty to forgery and was remanded, pend* ing enquiries of the Probation Officer, was brought up this morning, and sentenced to twelve months’ hard laborThe Chief Justice wts satisfied that prisoner was not one entitled to the benefit of the First Offenders Act. He remarked that it was almost Impossible for a person continually shifting about from place to place to secure witnesses ss to good character The Act needed careful administration, and so far very few prisoners had bean brought before him proper sab* jects to be allowed probation. The Oonrt Is now sitting as a Compensation Conrt in Hammond v Public Works. Two Maori oases are still unfinished. Wellington, October 19.

Reports received here from the Wood* vllle police authorities state that the search for the missing engineer, O. H. Webber, has p'ove - fruitless, and he la now believed to have been drowned in the Matakahl River.

DUnedik, October 19. A deputation of coal merchants walled on the Hon. Mr Ltrnach regarding the proposal o: the Railway Department to do away with sidings, which had been made by the Provincial Government, which they said would seriously handle>p their business. A member of one firm said during the past nine years they must have paid £60,000 to £BO,OOO. The Minister asked if the matter had been referred to the Minister for Public Works. Thedepntatiou stated it bad, and the answer was that there was a hard and fast rale which could not be altered. If the Government insisted on each firm having a siding and paying a rent of £SO per annum, coal would be carted, aad the Railway Department would lose revenue, which from the four firms represented was estimated at £7509 per annum. The Minister promised to represent the matter to Mr Richardson. At the Inquest on the body of John Russell, one of the party of four recently drowned at Taieri month, no new facts were elicited, and a verdict of " Accidental death” was returned.