NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By TelecraDh—Press Association.^

"A TRYING SCENE/' THE MAGISTRATE AND ■ THE, MANj Dunedin, February 24. At the Police Court, George Austin, who defied the Court, refusing absolutely to obey a maintenance order m, respect to ,his illegitimate child, was' sentenced to sis months' imprisonment. Tho magistrate (Mr. Widdowson) ex-. bibited tho utmost patience in what was' a trying scene. • THE SOLICITOR AND HIS WIFE. Ashburton, February 24. Walter Wilkies, who stated that, lis was a solicitor practising in a Taranaki• town, appeared on. a charge of having deserted his wife at New Plymouth. Wilkies, who was remanded to appear in New Plymouth on Tuesday, protested, that somo great mistake had been made in the issue of a warrant, as he had only, been away from home for seven days. Bail was allowed. EMPIRE PRESS UNION. Quesnstown, February 24. The first meetingof the New Zealand branch' of the Empire Press Union was held to-day. Mr.; G. ; Fenwick, acting-chairman, explained that - it. was tho outcome of the Imperial Press Con- , fererico in 1909, and the . membership already compared favourably with that in other places. . ! Mr. Fenwick was elected; chairman,-: and,a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. H. Brett,. H. Horton,'L. Blundell, JL Selig, W. C. Weston,, and tho Hon. G. Jones. Resolutions were passed expressing: gratification at the establishment of the union and the desire, of the branch to assist tho council in its efforts to promote the- welfare of newspapers throughout tho -Empire ;• also urging a reduction in the • subscription. The meeting considered that broader membership was-, moro. likely to' be -secured at a loweu rate, say two-guineas.' : HELENSVILLE MURDER CHARGE* / Auckland, February 24. Albert Alfred Cash, charged in .tha Supreme Court with the murder of. his : wife at Helensville on Christmas' Day,; was led into the box sobbing uncontrollably, and frequently succumbed.to renewed outbursts of, wbeping.' The casei will last tho whole, day. , : r DOWNFALL OF WANGANUI BAND,

SUPPORTERS OF THE JUDGE. v Helensville, Pebrnary 23'.'. : Several Auckland and North- Auckland musical enthusiasts who have returned ,from the band contest are : unanimous .that , the contest ■ was most-faithfully judged. They assert that the Waiiganui ißand's downfall can be attributed: (1). jln .being too- sanguine and - holding, doughty opponents too cheaply; (2) that, in tho second test some of the soloists failed, which detracted from the merits of the general performance. One of the pleasurable surprises was the markedly improved form of the Waihi'. Band, its leading place in the contest being -meri.: toriously deserved/:

WHAT FIRED THE MOTOR? INTERESTING KSUKANCECASE.;' Napier, February 23. A writ has teen served on the Phoenix Insurance Company by . J.' H. Holder, ■ c&iming £300 insurance on a motor-ear by fire. The policy states the .company is not liable'if'a'firo is started through - the machinery, >; and the ■ point for-btbo! how the to •fire started.' • ■ ;■ .. '■ CANTERBURY RUNS. ; ; Timaru, February 23. .• Two hundred and thirty-five applies . tions far Canterbury runs . have,"been lodged at the Timaru Land Office,' but there are many duplications, some put- ' tins in for ten sections.' Some" South Canterbury men lodged their applications at Christchurch. The examination and ballot will be held at /Timaru on Monday. Fifteen • other runs, containing existing homesteads, will be-auctioned on Tuesday. Bemark has been made that there are no conditions requiring the. runs to - be stocked, and that. it* w;ould pay to hold them idle for future goodwill. . ; ; WESTPORT ITEMS. : Westport, February 23. i : The Westport Harbour Board under the, ■ legislation of last session has decided to . make an allowance of ,£2OO a year, irrespective of travelling allowance, to its . chairman. ; ' : ' , ' - ■The'engineer.of the Westport Harbour Board, reporting to the board, stated that, the latest sounding' on February : 16 gave 19' feet on the bar. at low water sprins tides, equal to 29 feet at high water, spring tides, i\nd 17 feet 1 inch ,in the ■ Tiver, equal to 27 feet high water spring, tides, all on the line of beacons. These. are the best soundings on the bar: ever recorded. • ■ ' '

ALLOWANCE OF £200. Dunedin, February 23. . At a meeting of the Harbour .Board to-day, it was decided to make an allowance "of. JC2OO' to the ; chairman. , Mr. Belcher was the only dissentient. ,THE BANKRUPTCY ACT. •" Auckland. February. 23.' In the case against- Walter Francis Darby, ■ found guilty of breaches of . tho Bankruptcy Ac|, the Supreme Court reserved various points raised by the defence for the. .Court - .of - Appeal,, and granted permission to move for a _ newtrial. Accused was admitted to bail in the amount of JEGOO. GISBORNE TO PAY OVER £5000. Gisborne,' February 23. . The Borough Council last : night confirmed its legal adviser's'- settlement of the Spiral Pipe Company's claim against tho council, regarding the ' waterworks contract. The council pays >£5491-in full settlement. A resolution .expressing .thanks to Mr. H. D. Bell, K.C., ; was passed in connection with tho settlement, - GISBORNE LAND BALLOT. Gisborne, February 23. ■ Examination, is proceeding of tho ajK plicants (numbering C7l) for sections in liim 47, .Otoko. The ballot is to take place to-morrow. The applications are 'from all parts of the Dominion. . 'COMPENSATION FOR SON'S DEATH. : Greymouth,.February 22. ■ f The Arbitration Court awarded Robert Glen w£l7l as compensation for the-loss of his son iWilliani, who was drowned OiT'the' No town Gold Dredgo last. June,, .when repairing machinery. TYPHOID Dargaville. February z2. DrJ 3?omare, of the Health partment, has been paying an official visit to Northern "Wauoa in connection with the typhoid outbreak among tho Maoris. Be found ■ the-reports greatly exaggerated. The cases are all ■ doing well. Ho attributes the second, outbreak to the communistic method of living us .the part of the Maoris. - ; , OIL INVESTIGATIONS. Gisborne. February 22.. Interviewed respecting the L'nmo Minister's statement that he would have an independent report on the; oil-fields of New Zealand, Mr. J. D. Henry said he had beeu : formally requested to undertake the work. A report will be sent to the Department of-Mines before next session. On completion of his investigations, Mr. Henry leaves, for the oil-fields of California and North-west Canada. He