NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 9, 5 October 1907, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

H [by telegraph. — TRESS association.] NAUTICAL'INQUIRY. A WITNESS DISAPPEARS^ Auckland, October 4. A nautical inquiry was begun this afternoon into tho circumstances attending a collision"between the Clansman, steamer, and the scow Herald on September 2 in Tiritiri passage.' Mr. Karl, who appeared for the master of tho scow Herald, pointed out that an important witness, M'Pberson, who was on tho scow,',aiid whoso evidence was important'to his.client, had disappeared. It was of the utmost importance that his evidence should be obtained if possible, and he and the captain of tho scow wero the only two men on deck at the time of the" accident. M'Phersoii, tie said, came ashore with the captain tor tho purpose of making a report to ; the "Collector •of Customs. They had io wait some timo before they could bo attended to, and in the meantime M'Pherson had wandered away and had not lnado his reappearance. The polico had a subpoena for him, but could not find bim. Tho inquiry was adjourned till tomorrow. DEATH OF ANVOLD.COLONIST, Auckland, October 4. Mrs. Elizabeth Somerville, widow of the late Mr. Hendry Somerville, died at an early hour this morning, aged eighty-eight years: Deceased, was Que of the hardy band of. pioneers who arxived in Auckland in the Janei Giffprd as far back as 1842. ' Sho was a very liberal supporter of 'the"cause of Presbyteriaaism, and some years ago founded the Somervillo bursaries : for the assistance of. students in tho Presbyterian ministry," and the Somerville memorial church' at Remriera' is the result of her generosity. Soinc years ago she presented £1000 to what was known as'thc lat;o-3irs. Cov/io's homo, which has since' beoir* merged into St. Mary's ITo'niQ, • Otahuhu. • Deceased is survived by Iter throe daughters, Mrs. A. R. Hay,*'of Southland, Mrs. W. Culpan, aud Mrs. Ireland, of Parnell. A BETTING DEBT. COURT ENTERS .IjP. A NONSUIT. bune'tlin, October 4. A betting case occupied the attention of Mr. AViddowsou, S.M., yesterday afternoon. . Arthur Geddes sued Lewis Curtis for £S2 145., the amount of a dishonoured., promissory note. A cheque was given as the result of monoys won ,in„ wagering over the Christchurch '.;;races,. : but payment was stopped. • Under cross-examination, defendant said ho had i: previously won money from plaintiff, and bad been paid. He denied any partnership with Ben Curtis, his father,-.whoso' clerk he was. Mr. M'Dortald, .defendant's solicitor, submitted that the money was irreeoverablo at law, tis it was clearly given for gambling purposes. Mr. Burnside characterised the plea as contemptible. Defendant bad taken plaintiff's money at different times, and as soon as he lost declined to pay up. He must, accept a nonsuit, but ho submitted that as, the defendant was both alleging his own' wrong and committing a breach of morals, both of the turf and tho world,' no costs ought to be allowed. •■'■'■•. A nonsuit was' entered, without costs. THE TARANAKI SENSATION. THE GRAND JURY'S POSITION. New piyniputh, October 4. Commenting on ..what it describes as unmerited strictures by the "press upon the grand'jury in the tarring and feathering case,.tho • "Taranaki Herald" states '.that the jury had no evidence to warrant it-in finding v a true bill. Only -four;-witnesses wero named on the victim of the assault,, tho' woman at .whose house it occurred,'her daughter; and tho arresting constable., Tho latter arrived ou the scene after the assault had been committed; and could not swear that any of. the accused wero actually concerned in tho assault, though all were ; present when ■he arrived. The 1 others would not, or could not, swear to the identity of. any .of the accused, or.that'.thqy took part in tho assault,'lieuce : therp was nothing to connect-them'.with the assault. The Judge, of course, had read the depositions of tho Lower Court,,where positive evidence, had been given by tho .victim- and' the but tho jury had no knowledge of .this, or, if they had, woro'bound to disregard it, and decide upon.the evidence at their disposal. The accused wore only a few of a considerable .crowd assembled on. tho occasion. The, general opinion now is that the jury could scarcely, under tho circumstances, have brought in a true bill. KOTES MOM OTHER . CENTRES. (From Our Own Correspondents.) DUNEDIN. , ' / /Dunedin, Oct. 3. Tho case of.Mr!,J. A. .M'Cullough was considered at .last, nights, meeting of the Labour Day Association, when it was decided: "That this Association expresses its sincere sympathy with Mr M'Cullough in his,suspension from tho,. railway service, and that tho delegates, pledge themselves to do all iiilfclioir power, to have all civil and. political • disabilities . re moved." .',. ,'. ... ..... At Cimmerburn,! on.the Mariiotpto Plain, in Central Qtago, tho drought still holds, and the sheep farmers arp in despair about their ewes dying. Only fivo miles away from this valley plentiful rains .havo refreshed.,, tho parched earth. \ ~; ' ~, . , ' CHRISTCHURCH. ."""''. Ghrtstchurch, Oct. 3. In talking over tho Y.M.C.A. campaign to-day, Mr. Holmes, secretary of the Wellington Y.M.C.A., said: "To run an up-to-date institution such'as you will havo in Christchurch will cost about £2000 per annum. This amount includes the .salaries of -the secretary, physical instructor, boys' secretary, also < lighting, etc. The minimum membership of tho Association in a city liko Christchurch. should bo 1500 if'tbero is a modern building." It "appears that before long Wellingtonlis'to be the scene of another Y.M.C.A: collecting campaign, the object being ; to raise £7000 in six days for-the completion and furnishing of the Institution.