CHRISTCHUCH NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 22 February 1902, Page 2

CHRISTCHUCH NEWS.

A REMARKABLE CASE

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Christchurch, last night.

In tiic maintenance case, Roper v. Roper, in which Edgar Allan Roper had been arrested in Dunedin on a warrant charging him with having left his wife in Christchurch with the intention of leaving

the colony, when called on at the Magis trato’s Court to-day, the case was withdrawn.

Mr Stringer, for Roper, before consenting to a withdrawal, stated the facts '-of the c.ase, which were that Mrs Roper was suing for divorce, and when he (Mr Stringer) found she was taking steps to have tho husband arrested for desertion, he offered to deposit £‘soo as a guarantee that Ilopc-r would not leave the colony. Tin's Mrs Roper declined to accept unless the amount was paid to her unconditionally. Recognising this as an attempt at blackmail he did not deposit the money, and hence the proceedings.

BAD BOYS.

At the Supreme Court to-day, when two Maori hoys under fourteen, who hud pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a little girl, came up for sentence, Mr Justice Dennist-on expressed a doubt as to whether he could deal with them—as minors under 14. They could only be sentenced after the jury had agreed that they were cognisant that they were doing a wrong act, although Mr Johnston, who appeared for the hoys, admitted on their behalf that they knew they had done wrong. His Honor said he would allow tho matter to stand over until he had consulted tho other Judges at the Court of Appeal, and he then discharged the hoys on recognisances of £25 each to come up for sentence if called upon. He said that if he was satisfied that they would receive corporal punishment at the hands of parents, probably nothing more would be heard of the matter. BURNHAM SCHOOL.

Tho Minister of Education visited Burnham Industrial School to-day with the view of inspecting tho water supply, which is very short, and also of inquiring into the necessity for a detention ward in view of the number of escapes from there latterly.

FATAL ACCIDENT,

Mrs Wallace, wife of a very old settler in the Leithfield district, was killed tonight by being thrown out of a trap through the horse bolting.

ATHLETICS.

At tho meeting of tho New Zealand

Amateur Athletic Association it was decided that if Simpson could got leave of absenco to tend him to England with Smith, to represent the colony.