NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(nr telegram:—mess association,) ♦ CHARCE OF ASSAULT. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. Auckland, March 30. William Bannorman, manager of tho Costley Homo, was at tho Polico Court; this afternoon charged with having assaulted William Law, an inmate of tho institution. After hearing the evidence, tho magistrate said tho question wns ono of law—whether tho defendant was justified by the by-law in compulsorily bathing tho informant. "In my opinion,'* continued tho magistrate, "thoro aro questions of great importance, as they raise the question as to tho right and power of managers of thoso institutions to enforce upon inmates the regulations and by-laws witk reference to cleanliness and other mattors." He thought it would be better to get an authoritative opinion on these matters from a judge of the Supremo Court. Accordingly defendant was committed for trial, light bail being fixed. THE LIQUOR LAW. Auckland, March 30. Giving judgment in. a caso in which the mauagor of tho Northern Steamship Company was charged with,soiling liquor on tho steamer Gaol while tho vossel was moored alongside tho Wainu wharf, Mr. Kottlo, S.M., said the' steward had given tho liquor in oxchango for fowls, which were not intended for tho benefit of tho compauy. Ho did not think the defendant or his company was liable, and dismissed the information, but expressed tho opinion that tho steward should bo prosecuted. A GRAVE CHARGE. Auckland, March 30. At the Polico Court to-day, Joseph Griffiths, about 30 vears of ago, was charged with that, on March 12, ho feloniously killed and slew Benjamiu C. Mores. Sub-Inspector Hendry applied for m remand until Tuesdav, in order to allow of tho completion of trio inquest. Mr. Lnndon, who appeared for tho accused, raised no objection, and tho remand was granted accordingly. MANAWATU RUCBY UNION. Palmcrston North, March 30. The annual meeting of .the Manawatu Rugby Union was held to-night, when tho following officers were elected:—Patron, Mr. A. N. Gibbous; president. Mr. F. Pirani; vice-presidents, Messrs. Stagpoole, E. D. Hobnn, H. P. Gibbons; secretary, Mr. T. Stubbs; Management Committee, Messrs! Foote, Manning, Armstrong, Pawson, Pickett, Smith, Mansford; delegates to New Zealand Union, Messrs. Pirani and Muller; vice-president New Zealand Union, Mr. Manning. CREATING A DISTURBANCE. Dunedln, Mnroh 30. Two young men" named Douglas Russell and Samuel Hammond, who created a serious disturbance in _ a Chincso cook shop last evening, while in a drunken condition, wcro charged at tho Polico Court to-day with being drunk and disorderly. Hammond was also charged with throwing a'stone to the danger of a Chinaman. On tho first charge oaeh of tho accused was sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment, and on tho second charge Hammond was fined 60s. and costs, in default 14 days. The polico stated that Hammond came from Timaru and Russell from Tasmania. THE WEATHER. Dunedln, March 30. Rain commenced to fall here early this morning and continued almost without intermission all day and evening, being very heavy in tho afternoon. At present thero is little sign of tho weather clearing. No material damage has been done so far