NEW ZEALAND NEWS,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 767, 16 March 1910, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS,

(By Telejrranh.—Fresa Association.! ■« * ' THE WESTPORT COAL CO. NEW LEASE APPLIED FOE. Westport, March 15. • At a .sitting.of thie Warden's Court , to. day, the application of the Westport Goal Company for the lease of what is generally known as "Cook's" coal lease, which adjoins the company's Denniston property, was .considered, an objection being heard from a Mr. Wilson, on. behalf of a Mr. Wcstenra, of Akaroa— a member of a syndicate, formerly interested in the lease. The objection was made that granting the lease would.g'ive the Westport Coal Company; a monopoly of the first-class bituminous coal in. the district. The warden decided to Tecommend the Minister to grant the application. Ho disagreed with the statement that H meant creating.a monopoly, and stated that.there was.no guarantee' that if the . application were refused the money, could otherwise be raised to develop the lease. Mr. Dixon, superintendent of the Westport Coal Company, said that his,company could be; producing coal from the lease in three weeks, as their present tram-lines were now right on the Doundary of the lease. TATTERSALL'S SWEEP .CASE. THE. WINNERS OP JE2300. ... Auckland, March 15. • In' the Polico Conrt to-day; Joseph William Kneebono,' of Waihi, was charged with obtaining vE77I 9s.' 3d. from' a bank at Waihi by false pretences. Detective M'Mahon stated that accused and two others were winners of. a prize of JE2300 in Tattersall's. sweep on the Launceston Cup, and that accused had left with the whole proceeds, in company with one of his partners. The parmer, Pennell, is offering to go bail. Kneebone said that all the money had been forwarded to Australia, whither both were going on a holiday ,tnp.\ He. stated that two others who claimed, to be interested in the ticket had mutually agreed to "come, in," but had not paid anything. The magistrate remanded Sneebone to Waihi. Ail application for. bail was refused. ......

MAGISTRATE' AND DEPARTMENT. VEXATIOUS PROSECUTIONS. Christchurch, March 15. A numboT of 1 ' w-chardists were each fined £1 ajid costs tokiaj" for failing to keep codlin moth in check. .The' magistrate . commented adversely on the action of the Department in' prosecuting a fenpeople, causing expense and . irritation, when the. authorities had. the power to order the treatment of the trees, at the expense, of the owners. . He said that the moth' was not .likely to be stamped out by proseikKons. ' The .inspector stated that the , prosecutions were intended, to i. let people know'that the Act had to be observed. ' . . FLOODS IN NELSON. Nelson, March 15. There is a_ heavy northerly gale and torrential rain at Takaka Tie wharf is three inches' under: water, and the tide is the Highest on repord. The ketch Venture broke* from hetr moorings /and drifted,on to-a mudbank, where ene wa£ safely anchored. The flooded rivers are expected to be in high tide, to-night. The Nelron flood'has subsided. Considerable* damage has. .been done; principally on- the ■ Port. Boad ; and at Stoke. There is" a wash-out three-quarters of a mile long on'the railway'at Stoke. The Bowing Club's boat-landing ■at Lukra's Wharf, is 'flooded to a .depth-of, eighteen ■inches. In Trafalgar Street North and: Wainui 'Street water is still . lying in gardens, without outlet. ; LORD PLUNKET'S TOUR. ! < Hokitika, March 15. _ His Exoellenicy'the Governor and party, including the Hoi Geo. Fowlds, visiteS Lake Hahinapna to-day. .• On returning in the evening, the • Governor was officially received by -the representatives of the local bodies, who are entertaining him, at. .a' banquet here to-night.

POLO: SAVILE CUP. '. CHristchurch, March 15. The Savile Cup polo tournament was continued to-day. Results: Christchurch A,: 14 goals, heat Christchurch B, one goal;. Hawke's.Bsy, - 8 goals,, beat Pareora, 2 goals.:- The: .final-- will be played tomorrow between Ha wke's Bay and Christchurch. A. ; LAND BALLOT. 15. For the Ngatapa Estate, ishich' is to be balloted to-morrow, there are 127 applicants, with... 435 ■ a-pplicatioois.