INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1782, 6 March 1888, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

(PEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.) Aucexanp, Maroh 5, The hearing of oharges of fraud, wblch have been pending for some time against James Thos. Lee. a well-known Auckland builder, were proceeded with today at the Police Court, before Mr H. Seta Smith, R.M. The first charge was that of obtaining from W. H. Wyman, by means of false pretences the sum of £200, belonging to G. W. Wytaan. The evidence shewed that Lee represented that certain houses and allotments m drummer Road, Surrey HlUa, were hl« property, stating he had built and insured the houses. Wyman, who lent him the money, found afterward that Lac's allotment had not a house ereoted uoon It, prisoner having pointed ont lot 15 aa hh property, whereas m truth ha owned the adjoining lot IG, a blank allotment. Other charges of having m a similar manner defrauded several others are pending. The hearing of the frst oase was concluded to-day, when the Benoh reserved their decision, pending inveatlgatlon of ihe other cises. An Impudent robbery Is reported as having occurred on Saturday afternoon at a oottage. Cartm'll, the ocoupant, who had been out durina the day, returned at 5 p.m., wheo he found nutters In a disorderly condition, and on entering the house found h'mself face to face with the Ictruder. It Is hard to a^y which of the men was moat friflrhteued, but suddenly the burglar darted out and escaped. Other robberies are also reported. Archibald Douglas, an old man, was brought up at the Walpa Police Court charged with indecently ■ssaaltlnfli a yoaug woman, and attempting to effect abortion. He was remanded till Wednesday. The case is causing some excite* ment as the acccused ia well known. A great Native meeting was held at Whatlwhatlhoe last week, and attended by GOO Natives, TawhUb aad leading cbiets being present. Considerable Ulk web Indulged m respecting the disposal of land, and it was complained that under the existing system any man m a trib3 could sell a portion o£ the tribal land without the consent of the leading chief, who was formerly consulted la saoh matters. It wia resolved to place thfe grievance before the Hon Mr Mltohelson, who Is expeoted to attend the meeting m a few days' time. Manaia, March 5. The first; ascent of Mount Egraont this season was successfully made on the 26th by a party of three from Diwsons' Falls, Manaia The lest 2000 ft was over snow, aud 1b described as much easier travelling than over ecoria. The danger la very small ; ladles can easily get up. New Plymouth, March 5. A case of interest was heard In the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. The New Plymouth Harbor Board sued the Waitara Harbor Board for rates on 100 sections held by the latter Board as an endowment. The defenoe was that section 172 of the Harbor Aot did now allow the Waitara Harbor Board to nße any of its funds for the purpose of paying rates ; also that one section sued for was used as a pilot station and lighthouse, marked on the chart, which was exempted from pay. ment of rates. After hearing argument of counsel, judgment waa given for the fall amount claimed, £3 17a and costs, j Leave to appeal was granted. ] Welijngton, March 5. Detective Campbell this morning arrested a printer named Walter Wright on a charge of wife desertion. Wright, it seems, left his wife m Ohristohuroh, and when arrested had taken passage for Sydney. ■ . ♦ Hokiiika, Maroh 5. Mr John Bevan, Dißtriot Grand Master •of Westland, has been asked, and coo* sented, t* lnstal the Hon Mr H. A, Atkinson as Distriot Grand Master of Free- ( masons In Wellington under the Kngllah Constitution. The Installation will take plaoe m May. Gisbobne. Maroh 5i ! At the Police Court John Dixon, farmer, was committed for tri»l on a oharge of aggravated assault on a boy named Sha»k«y, aged 18. Sbarkpy w«b I working for D'xon and was paid off. He j then went to work for Dixon's neighbor 1 who sent him to get some vegetables from | the accared. Dixon oharged the boy with stealing some whiskey and told him to clear out. He rep'ied " not till T get the vegetables." Dlxnn then said "I'll j give you vegetables," blacking both eyes, I kicking one tooth out and jumping on him The boy was stverely injared on the chest and head from the kicks received. The Bench eaid the assault was a most brutal and ut.j ist'fiable one. Dunbdin, March 5. At the City Police Court to day, two boys were sentenced to six ntrokes with a biroh rod for stealing fruit and destroying trees m a valuable orchard. The Premier Company Macetown last crushing gives 182 ozs of retorted gold. Two stacks of Btraw and 145 bags of wheat were destroyed by fire at Taierl, It is supposed to be a case of incendiarism. At the annual meeting of the oUndard Insurance Company the report and balance sheet declaring a dividend of 7$ per cent was adopted, and the retiring directors, Meaars Maurice, Joel and James Anderson, were re eleoted. At the annual meeting of the Equitable Insurance Society the report and oalanoo sheet Bhowing a debit balance for the year of £5339 was adopted after considerable diaonaslon, and the retiring directors, Messrs J. Haztett and H. Gathrle were re-elected. The Chairman said the year had been disastrous m the matter of losses, traoeable to some extent to laxity of management supervision. The losses showed an increase of £10,000 aa compared with the previous year. The directors thought, however, they had turned the oorner, this year ao far being very satisfactory. A preliminary meetjng was held this evenlbg, tor the purpose of raising funds for the Irish National League, and it was resolved to convene a large meeting of Irish residents for a week's time to take stepa to raise funds. Innekcahcull, Marob 6, At an adjourned meeting of ratepayers to-night a resolution/ confirming the pro* posals of the Borough Council to Ufce oyet the management of the Invefcargill Hftfbor, and work It as a department of corporation work, was. dwiftred curled,