NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 335, 7 February 1902, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. In the Supreme Court a Maori, Roha, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for assaulting a native woman who had been living with him as his wife. He bit the top off one of her fingers, and inflicted a severe wound on her head. Two boys named Pinson, 5 and 13 years of age respectively, were drowned at Te Kopuru when swimming. WOODVILLE, last night. On Monday the Railway Department will try the experiment of running a train from here to Napier and back on the same day. Woodville people have been agitating for this concession for years.

HAWERA, last night. In the District Court the second trial of William Holmes for indecent assault ended in an acquittal. In the Jibel case Morrissey v. Quinn the jury found for defendant, with costs against plaintiff. Defendant and his wife had for some months, at frequent intervals received anonymous letters of a filthy character, and he eventually wrote to plaintiff, accusing her or oeuig the author, following this up with a letter to her father. In the box plaintiff denied all knowledge of the anonymous letters. The publication of the libel was admitted, but the jury found that defendant had written the letter, which the Judge held to be privileged, to plaintiff’s father honestly and bona fide. WELLINGTON, last night. The Minister of Lands leaves for Lyttelton to-morrow, and after the send-off to the Southern battalion of the Eighth Contingent, will go on to Central Otago. Sentences were passed at the Supreme Court as follows J. O’Grady for indecent assault, six months ; Edward C. Ferris, indecent assault, 2J years ; Michael Rock, indecent assault, two years; Bertie Grenville, theft of a bicycle, 12 months’ probation.

The Christchurch Cycling Club have concluded arrangements for Martin, the champion cyclist, to visit New Zealand, and compete at the Club’s sports on Good Friday, Martin will bring his motor pacing tandem, which has driven a mile in lmin 20sec. At the Chambers of Commerce Conference the committee on the question of federation of Chambers reported it had not had time to go into the main question, but if the Conference considered it desirable to federate the lines of the general council of federated Chambers of Australia, with slight alterations, would prove suitable here. A resolution was passed in favor of forming a federation much on the lines of the Australian Association, and it was resolved that the Auckland Chamber be asked to take steps to give effect to the resolution. A motion by Mr Cobble (Feilding) m favor of State fire insurance was under discussion this morning. An order has been sent Home for an additional supply of foot warmers for the railway carriages, to be delivered in the colony two months’ hence. The railway Department are well pleased with the results of the experiment of running daily trains between Wellington and New Plymouth, and have decided to continue the service permanently. HOKITIKA, last night. At a meeting of the Premier’9 constituents last night it was resolved to tender Mr Seddon an official welcome on the occasion of his early visit to this district, and to entertain him at a banquet on the 17th inst. Mr Barron, of the Land Purchase Board, is now in the district in connection with the proposed purchase of Diedrich’s estate at Kokatahi. OAMARU, last night. The Council of the North Otago Rifle Association has had under consideration a change of dates of meeting, in consequence of the Dunedin Association having postponed its meeting. It has been decided not to alter the meeting, which will therefore be held on the 19th and 20th inst. In addition to the Government grant, many valuable prizes have been contributed, and competition is expected to be good. DUNEDIN, last n’glit-

The City Council has taken the initiatory steps towards uanquetting the Premier prior to his departure, in recognition of his Imperial services. Andrew Melville, a well-known resP dent of St. Clair, died suddenly yesterday afternoon. Deceased, who was aged 68, carried on the business of a fishmonger for many years in the city. At the Supreme Court, Donald Me Rae, aged 23, a sailor, was sentenced to 12 months for robbery from a dwelling. The sentence commences at the expiry of his present sentence.