CHRISTCHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1682, 9 July 1875, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

(Per Press Telegram Agency.} Thursday. Important Friendly Societies Decision. In the Supreme Court this morning Frederick Pavittj late steward of the church property trust, charged with the embezzlement of church funds, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. Charles James, late steward of the Oddfellows' Lodge, charged •with larceny as a bailee of lodge funds, was acquitted. Judge "Williams said the indictment could not be sustained, as no instructions had been given to the prisoner to pay the particular amount, mentioned in the indictment into the bank. He said the Crown prosecutor was not to blame for the acquittal ef the prisoner, as in the present state of the law the treasurer of a Friendly Society could rob such society without rendering himself liable to imprisonment. Provincial Abolition.—Architects Charges. Mr Evan3 Brown, M.iLR., in meeting his constituents declared in favour of provincial abolition. The Board of Governors of" Canterbury College are resisting the claim of Mr Armstrong, architect, who has claimed £275, or 2\ per cent on the lowest tender for the new public library buildings. It appears that Mr Armstrong was instructed to prepare a plan to cost at most £6,000; but the lowest tender received was £10,920, and the Board were unable to go on with the buildings, yet Mr Armstrorg Bent in a bill for 2£ per cent on the lowest tender.