AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 156, 13 July 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

SPORTING NOTES. (Special to Timks.) Auckland, last night. A great deal of interest was centred here in connection with the Gisborne Park Steeplechase Meeting, which was brought to a conclusion yesterday. During the morning Straybird for the double, Chancellor for the Hack Race, and Admiral Hawke for the Final Handicap

were telegraphed from Gisborne as good things. All were successful, except Straybird’s downfall in the Hurdles. The dolay in wiring from Gisborne was the cause of much comment by sporting enthus-

iasts here. Instead of the results coining to baud after each race as was at liirst an-

ticipated, it was not until a late hour in the evening that the results were known. ATTEMPT!-:D BFRGLARY.

News from Gisborne stating that it was expected that some ot the spoiling fraternitv who were attending the faces at Gisborne had attempted to burglarise did not come as a surprise at this end. They are a lively crowd who arrived when the Duko visited us. but of that my Gisborne readers were reminded of a few days ago. It gladdened Aucklanders’ hearts when they saw the last of them.

JESSIE’S DUE AM

It transpires that Jessie Minns, whoso sensational evidence at the Grant Hotel tire inquest has been the talk of the town for the past week or two, sought hor inspiration at the fountain head of a dime novel. The story of three men with fuse and powder who threatened to kill her if she “ breathed a word,” which provided the papers with such sensational “ copy.” was merely the creation of some imaginative penny-a-liner, whoso story so imprinted itself on the memory of the impressionable Jessie that she was able to reproduce it with much convincing detail before the Coroner’s jury. This is on the authority of Jessie's mother, who gave the whole story to a reporter this morning. Mrs Minns stated that Jessie had already admitted to the police that her story was a fabrication. " What book did site get it out of.” asked the reporter. "It was a book called • Fred the Minor,’ ” replied Mrs Minns, "one of those paper-covered books, l think. Hv. Jones, the nighi porter, brought a lot of them from Sydney, and the boarders used to leave books about. I think she found it in a drawer in the pantry.” “And all that yarn about men laving fuse and rubbing stuff on the walls, was all that out of ‘ Fred the Miner? ”

“ Yes, it was part of the story, l believe.” u And where did she get the dost riptiou of ? the throo men that she gave to the police ?" “ Oh, they wero in the book too, and j the nicknames, she got them out of ■ l’red the Minor,’ Springs, Blacks, and all of them.” “ But why should she toll such a story to mislead the police and the jury. What motive had she?" '‘Well, she was frightened of mentioning the name of a former omployeo at the Grand Llotel. She saw him and three others on the pantry stairs, and I think she wanted to shield them. She says she heard them go upstairs and start pulling things about in the dining-room. Madame (the cook) saw them on the pantry stairs.” This is the statement of the girl’s mother, and there seems no reason to doubt its genuineness. It is at least more feasible than the story told by Jessie to account for the fire, although it loaves the origin of tho lire once move a mystery. Jessie is to bo recalled at the inquest, and she will then doubtless be called upon to explain her Imilir nt*l *nKl a nviilnnfht

truly remarkable evidence. DEATH OF AN OLD IDENTITY. One of Auckland’s oldest identities, Mrs Eliza Land, aged SO years, passed away peacefully at the residence of her daughter, Mrs F. Gaudin, early this morning. The agoil and highly-respected lady was born in North Wales in ISIS, the year of the battle of Waterloo, and resided for many years in the Waikato. Airs Land leaves a large grown-up family. Mr Walter Gaudin, of Gisborne, Air Fred Gaudin, manager for Kronfeld and Co.. Auckland, and Air T. Gaudin, who recently returned invalided homo from the war, arc grandchildren of dceoased. Airs Land’s bus band was one of the earliest Waikato settlers. Much sympathy is felt for the. deceased’s relatives in their hour of tribulation. The funeral takes place to-morrow at I’urcwa. RETURNING TROOPERS.

Though absent in tho flesh from Invercargill to-day, we arc present there in spirit to welcome hack from South Africa the troopers of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents. The fact that public interest in the war has now considerably diminished, that our attention has lately been diverted from tho distant scene of hostilities to the spectacle of Royalty at our own gates, and that these gallant New Zealanders return late to receive from our lips the guerdon of ovr praise and thanks, must not lessen the warmth of their reception. Wc do not so easily forget the arduous and hazardous mission that has kept them so long from home, and great as was the enthusiasm with which the, colony bid them God-speed fifteen months ago, it is with a far deeper sense of their services that we receive them again. ALLEGED LIBEL.

A telegram from Wellington states that a writ has been issued by Mr T. Wilford against the Auckland Observer, {claiming the sum of .CSOO as damages for an alleged libel on Sergeant Cruickshank, of the Wellington police force. The alleged libel arose out of an incident which occurred during the Duke's visit to Itotorua.