WELLINGTON NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 85, 18 April 1901, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

BAD WEATHER. 1 By Telegraph—Press Association. | Wellington, last night. Owing to the wet and boisterous weather the Club’s meeting was postponed from to-day to Saturday and Wednesday next. CONCILIATION BOARD. J Tho failure of the Wellington Amalga- , mated Society of Cooks and Waiters to ■ insert a provision as to board and lodging in February last was rectified in tho new proceedings instituted before the Conciliation Board this morning. Tho de- ! mand upon the employers as now framed, l provides for an extra 10s 6d per week • where no board is provided, 15s Cd where i neither board nor lodging is provided, and 5s where no lodging is provided. FORGERY. Tho Chief Justice to-day sentenced '• Henry Jeffries, who pleaded guilty of • forgery, to six months’ imprisonment. PARLIAMENT PROROGUED. 1 A gazette extraordinary issued to-night r further prorogues Parliament to May 11. ; It is understood, however, that the ( legislature will not meet until the end of Juno, proceeding to business on July 2nd or 3rd. A MIXED AFFAIR. Mr Justice Edwards was to-day asked, at tho instance of the Public Trustee, to apportion the estate of the late Thomas Banks, a farmer, of Brookside, Canterbury, valued at about £I4OO. Banks was originally married in England, and had children by that marriage. There was a separation, Banks coming to the colony, and his former partner remaining in England, where she re-married. Banks also re-married with a woman who, by a singular coincidence, was of the same name as his first wife, in that her Christian name was Eleanor, and who had been twice previously married, her second husband being of tho name Banks. These marriages and inter-marriages have produced a crop of claimants, and the Court is asked, on tho construction of the will, to decide whether the residue is to be divided into two equal parts, tho grandchildren to take one share and tho children of tho first Eleanor Banks’ the other. His Honor reserved judgment. A PECULIAR CASE. Judgment in the case of Johanna Flockton v. George Leonard, a suit for specific performance, which • contained some very unusual features, was delivered by Mr Jusjrfce 'Cooper this morning. The plaintiff claimed the performance of an agreement for sale by defendant to her of a piece of land in Dixon street for £7OO. The case was tried in March, and the defence set up was that the agreement was not sufficient to satisfy the statute of frauds, and that defendant was so drunk at the time he executed the agreement as to be incapable of understanding its nature and effect. His Honor was of opinion as regards the first point thatthere was a sufficient agreement within the statute. As to the other, defendant’s .witnesses had, in his Honor’s opinion, greatly exaggerated Leonard’s condition. INSURANCE RATES. At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, the intention of the Insurance Companies to raise the rate of premiums was discussed, and it was decided to forward a protest, as far as Wellington is concerned, against the proposal. BUILDING TRADE. The industrial dispute between tho Wellington Building Traders Laborers’ j Union and the employers has been referred to the Conciliation Board. Tho Union demands that the week’s work shall be 51 hours, and the minimum s wages Is 3d per hour, with usual increases , and ouertiine. Thirty-three employers . employers are joined in the dispute. J