NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1756, 22 May 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Tclosraph.—l'tam Association.) $ THE BOILER LAW. CERTIFICATE NOT POSTED UP. Invercargill, May 21. At the Supremo Court to-uuy Jurvis and Fosbeuder, llaxmillers at the Nc.v River, wera charged that", being owners of a steam boiler, they neglected to exhibit in. a conspicuous place tho certificate supplied by tho Inspector of; Machinery in respect to the said boile:'. Defendants pleaded guilty.

Sergeant Simpson said that eases of this nature gave tho Department and tho polico ft great deal of trouble.

Mr. MaeDonald, for tho defendants, .submitted that the omission was :>n oversight. Jarvis generally attended to such matters, and during this period lie was aivay in tho Northisland, and did not know tho certificate had been issued. Sergeant Simpson said that on receipt of payment the certificate was granted, and was left at tho Post Ofiiee, while tho owner was notified to that effect. Jn this case notice had been sent in January, but defendants had failed to lift tho certificate. In view of tho extensive trouble which tho polico had been required to go to, ho would ask for a substantial penally.. A fine of .C 2 was inflicted, the magistrate remarking that those who owi'cd boilers must know the boiler law.

WESTPORT HARBOUR AFFAIRS. EMPLOYEES' AGREEMENTS TERMINATED. Wcstport, May 21 At a meeting of the Wcstport Harbovir Board to-night, it was decided to give tho requisite notice of the termination of their agreements with the board, as from June ], to all employee.-, including oil tho officers, and in dho meantime the board is to review all the petitions ,ftlarie.i attached thereto, and invite applications for the same. Tins present employees are to bo allowed to.rrapply for the portions. I't was also decided to ascertain from tho 11.5.5. Co. what support (hey would bo likely to give the board if a slipway to cavry vessels up to 2000 tons was constructed at Wcstport. SUPREME COURT TRIALS.' . Auckland, May 21. ,Tames Evans, charged with * manslaughter in connection with tho death of Georgo Henry Ilill on March 6, was found not guilty and discharged at the Supreme Court fo-da.v. Tho jury, after a long retirement, sitting to a law hour, announced 'their verdict. William Murray Aitken was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for incest. OPERATOR WITH CHEQUES, Invercargill, May 21. George Maxwell, with several almscs, wasisentenced to three months' impiisonmcnt for obtaining .£2 18s. from Henry Ernest Rout' by means of a valueless cheque. It was stated that the prisoner purchased a sovereign-caso from complainant, presenting a cheque for J'A 35., and received £2 18s. in change. It is said that tho prisoner has to <\nswer similar charges in Dunodin. Christcharch, Wellington, and Palmerston North. PIGEONS IN,CLOSE SEASON. Hokitika, May 21. A resident of Woodstock was fined .£2 10s. in tho Magistrate's Court for having in his possession native gamo (eight pigeons) on Sunday last.

REALISTIC LIGHTNING. Palmcrslon North, Majr 21. A terrific thunderclap startled residents about 7 o'clock this morning. It was discovered later that lightning had struck two big trees in Rangitikci Street, splintered them to matchwood, bored a big hole in the earth, ripped up the fcotpath, mid burst tho kerbing. No one was hurt. There wos a ecrerc hailstorm (luring th« night. BANKRUPT GROCERS & BOOKS. Auckland, May 21. At the Supreme Court, Francis Reginald Simmonds and Herbert Montague Herbson, bankrupt grocers, were sentenced to fourteen' davs in gaol'without hard laboui for having'failed to keep proper books AN UNUSUAL CASE. Whanoarci, May 21. Mr. Fraser, S.M., was engaged until ft late hour last night and agaiu to-day hearing a claim brought against a dentist for maintenance of an illegitimate child, of which it was claimed he was the father. The evidence of tho girl was that whuo at defendant's dental surgery having her teeth attended to, she was given a noxious drug, which reduced her to uncoiisuousness. Tho ma.gistrate in giving judgment said ho declined to believe the story on which the claim for maintenance rested. Tho medical evidence convinced him that tho evidence given by the complainant coutd not bo believed, lie dismissed the case. \

FIVE YEARS' SENTENCE. Palmcrsion North, May 2' At the Supremo Cmirt, Thomas M'on« tague, junior, for indecent nssault, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.