NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 998, 13 December 1910, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By TelegraDh.-Pres3 Association.) . GOOD ARTILLERY WORK. LY.TTELTON NAVALS AT THE FORTS. Christchurch, December 12., At five o'clock this morning the Lyttelton Nayals, at present in camp at Fort Jervois, .carried out service practice tiring five rounds from veil of the B.L-. guns. Tho practice was in every way a s ucce=s, every shot being recorded as a bit. a In one series from the six-inch gun the men registered ftve rounds in the record time of. 3min. Bsee. The men are working hard to mako up for the time lost 8n account of the warships, and, this morning, every man was ac his post in tho gun-pits. The final work with the BX. guns will bo held to-morrow morning- . < HE REQUIRED REFORMING. \ Auckland, December 12. , In the Supremo Court to-day Walter Henry David Scott, an old offender who f came up for sentence, was told by Mr. Justice, Edwards that the false pretence C which he had made was of a paltry despicable nature. Had not prisoner had £ a. record of sis offences of. a similar character against him,, lenient punishment would have been inflicted, but, evidently,, prisoner, was one of itho young men in need of reformatory treatment; Ho was , sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment and declared a habitual criminal, f —; £ • CRIMINAL CASES. ■ Dunedin, December 12. . At the Supremo Court to-day Henry t Pollock, in whose case the jury failed to agree at the recent sittings, was acquit- c ted on a charge of attempting, to commit , an unnatural oiTence, and on a charge of 1 assault. On a charge of receiving stolen ; property he was sentenced to twelve ;. months' imprisonment. Joseph Living, i who pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to a chargo of theft of a watch was sen- ' tenced to six mouths' imprisonment. , CONSTABLE ON HIS TRIAL. f Gi'e'ymouth, December 12. , ! The Supreme Court is sitting to-day ( under the presidency .of Mr. Justice j Chapman. The grand jury is still- considering the perjury charge' against Con- J stable Martin, of Otira, in ■ connection with the licensing prosecution against' ' Moynihan, proprietor of the Otira Accommodation House. BOY SCOUTS' CAMP. j Christchurch, December. 12.. The district secretary of 'the Dominion Boy. Scouts has been advised by the Railway Department; that the request for concessions for boys attending the camp of instruction to be . held at Christchurch farly next month are now under consideration by the Minister. EVENTS AT V/AIMATE.' Waimats, December 12. Monday, December :?fi, having been , proclaimed a close holifi.-.y u:idar the new Act, the Caledonian Society here has decided to postpone its..annual sports to Tuesday, December 27. A splendid rain fell to-day, and will do much good. TRIP TO CLQiJDLAND. ' BALLOON ALIGHTS ON TREE-TOP.*' Christchurch, December 10. A.balloon asceut war. made-from the A. and' P. Association's show.-ground's at Addington to-day, and was witnessed by.a.. very large crowd. The balloonist purposed descending by. a parachute,. but, probably owing to the strong: wind that was blowing, lie did .not carry out this . idea,.and descended with the balloon on the top of a tree- in the Shirley district.' CHRISTCHURCH DOWNPOUR. Christchurch, December 10. Since Wednesday till noon to-day a total of .747 inch of rain has fallen, much to the satisfaction of farmers. To-day_ there- was a southerly blowing,- accompanied by fairly heavy rain. ' In "consequence some, of the fixtures for th« day had to be nosbioned,' notably the street collection in aid of the St. John Ambulance Association. TERRIFIC STQRM. Stratford, December 10. News has been received- in Stratford that-a terrific storm over an area of only four miles occurred at Puniwhakau on Thursday. Large hailstones fell, and fences and telegraph poles were blown down'in all directions. N'EWS'IN BRIEF. . Groymouth, December 12. The export of coal from the.State mine. it-Dunollie last week form's.'a-record; totalling Gl4O- tons. -~ , . Kokitika, December 12. • . The Anglican Mission commenced at Ross on. Saturday lost. There have-been large attendances at the services. .-.'- Dunedin, December 12._ . Heavy rains are falling, throughout [)tago "to-day. ■' : ■■ Oamaru,. December 12. A fine rain fell to-day in' one portion if the North Otago district.. Two inches lave- fallen since Thursday last.