BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Evening Star, Issue 3828, 1 June 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Napier, May 31. At the Supreme Court this morning, the Chief Justice, in a brief address, congratulated the Grand Jury on the lightness of the calendar and the great improvement in the accommodation of the new Court-house. It is a commodious and well-finished building.

Auckland, Junel. Mr Reader Woad has been gazetted Provincial Secretary. There is a household tax of 20s and a bachelors’ tax of 10s levied for the ensuing year.

A Rotorua telegram states that Messrs Adams, Kemp, and Gilfillan, while on their way in a canoe to Manaperua Spring, Rotorua Lake, were capsized in a gale on the 27th inst., on Roiorua, between Ohinemutu and the island of Mokoia. John Gilfillan, of Wanganui, was drowned. The other two, by sticking to the bottom of the canoe, drifted towards Mokoia, whence the accident had been witnessed by the Natives, who made several unsuccessful attempts to launch a canoe to go to their assistance. Upon the canoe drifting within a short distance towards the island, a Native woman courageously swam to their assistance, bringing the survivors to laud, and carrying them in spite of themselves into a hot bath, which soon restored them. The state of the lake prevented communication with the main land until Saturday morning. The body of Gilfillan has not yet been recovered. The Native® and Armed Constabulary are searching for it. Quite a gloom has been cast over the district by the accident, as Gilfillan was much respected.

{From our ovm Correspondent.) Napier, June 1. The Supreme Court was opened yesterday, the Chief Justice being entertained at lunch by the Sheriff. The new court-house, in which the sittings are held, is handsomely finished, but the acoustic properties of the court room are very bad. The jury found a verdict of “ no* guilty” in the case of Joseph Johnson, charged with breaking into the Club. Stoker pleaded guilty to stealing property from the Clarendon Hotel, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Miles, for stealing a lump of greenstone, was sentenced to three monthsMmprisonment. Lawrence, June 1. A shocking accident occurred at the Nelson Company’s claim at the Blue Spur yesterday. A man named Giles was tamping a shot, when it exploded; and his face, hands, and arms were terribly bruised and shattered. He is now in the Hospital. It is reported this morning that John N. Kanaston, a miner, well known in the Teviot district, is drowned; but the particulars are not yet to hand At the Licensing Court this morning the licenses applied for were granted. The weather is splendid.

m x,,., „ . . . Baloidtha. June 1. Ihe Edith Eeid is still ashore on the bar of the Molyneux. At high water yesterday au attempt was made to get her off, but being unavailing, the deck cargo of timber was thrown overboard, when it was found that this lightening of her enabled the surf to drive her further up the beach. The remainder of the cargo was not interfered with, and no further attempt will be made till the arrival of the steamer, which is hourly expected. The cargo will then bo taken out and the schooner made fast to the steamer so as to prevent her going further up the beach. The position is not considered dangerous—the weather being fine and neap tides flowing, so that she is sure to be got off without much damage. The ketch Good Templar arrived yesterdav at the outer anchorage.

Sir Donald M‘Lean has deferred departure till to-morrow.

In the Supreme Court to-day, in the trial of Robertson, for obtaining money under false pretences, his Honor ordered the jury to find no case.