NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 956, 25 October 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press AMoclatlon.) "STRANGE STATEMENTS," MADE DURING A CHIMIN At CASE.' Christchurch, October. 24. ' A case which presented. some peculiar , ■ features, and in -.connection with, which some strange statements were made by the: defending 'counsel, cams before the - Supreme Court to-day, when John- I'arkj a youth of nineteen* appeared for sentence for breaking, and. entering and theft. The 'offences were committed at' Glenavy, and. concerned the Glenavy Railway Station. 'Mr. -Alpers appeared for the prisoner, and -Mr.- Wright for the' Crown. -In-', reply. to " ,an application forprobation his-,Honour-said that,'.if,.the matter- had* stood ,by itself, there, would have, been .probation, but as there was another case, he did not think, that the. Court should deal with the matter at- all'just now. Referring to ' the case pending against, the prisoner, • counsel for the defcnce said that ■it also was connected with tho Glenavy Hailway Station. .'lt' seemed that the station was a sort of lounge'for the young-men of the district and they were allowed'to * go behind-the counter and change' pound ) notes - for themselves.' Prisoner's father, who was a storekeeper, practically. had tho run • of tho station, • and the' whole .system was so lax that, breaking and entering was (in such a case) a crime of tho,' imost technical ' character. His Honour naid that if-an application was made for : ; an alteration of the place of trial in the; second case, ho would make the noces. ■ isary order. Tho prisoner was. admitted; to bail, and ordered to appear for sentence after the hearing of the further ; charge against him.* ->• ■ A GIFT'TO AUCKLAND.- ," Auckland, October 24. ! The. executors of the late Mr. ■' J. : M. IfLachlan to-day conveyed to the city; orAuckland the Cormvallis Estate of ISCO acres on Mahukau, Harbour, -as' a-public. 1 park; The site was the scene of the settlement of the. immigrants by the ship Brilliant in 1841, among wnOm ; 'was 'ilri.. ITLaGhlan's father. " , FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION. ' > ' : Auckland, October 24. ; i The secretary of the. New-Zealand Fire . Brigades'' Association state's 1 that : 'tlio executive has 'decided to''hold-the''next conference and tournament at Hokitika. * . STATE SERVANT'S LAPSE.. ' Christchureh,October24. . James Girdwood M'Kcilfcie, a young mat of very .respectable appearance, came-up/ for sentence in the Supreme .Court on two , charges of theft to-day. , The thffts Tvere ; , committed by prisoner yhile he ,was clerk■, in the employ of the, State Firs liisur-; ance Office, and the money misappropriat-; ed by him! was, the property of tho- Do- . partment. Sentenco was deferred. ; PRISONER. SENTENCED^. Christchurch,-October 24. At the Supreme Court this morning - Charles Johnston,-who'had pleaded guilty- 1 to two charges of breakih^- and'entering, appeared-for sentence.- Prisoner, who aa- .- -mitted: several previous) convictions, 1 was ; 1 ! .sentenced' to : twelve ■ months'- • r .imprisonment with' hard labour von each chargo, • i the sentenoes to'.- be 'concurrent.' ; REMANDED ON SERIOUS CHARGE. , ■ ' - Mastcrton, Ootober 24. A. man named John Taylor; • arrested on a charge of b'h'a; girl'aged'' eight years,', whs' remanded for a - week. Bail was 'allowed—prisoner, in his own recognisance of ">£2s and two sureties of . £25 each. ' '' ■ ■ -