NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 902, 28 May 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

£Fcr Press Association^ NAPIER, last night. A curious case came before the Magistrate to-day in connection with a young man, charged with theft. It appeared from the evidence that accused went into a second-hand dealer’s shop and deliberately picked up a portmanteau and walked out. Meeting a constable, he told him what lie had done, stating that • it was for the purpose of getting arrested in order to receive medical treatment. Accused was remanded. WELLINGTON, last night.

The linotype dispute was called on in the Arbitration Court this morning. The Union’s representative stated that they desired to attach the Napier Telegraph and the Palmerston Standard to the list of parties cited. The Court denied that the usual course would have to he followed and notice given to the employers in question. Mr Fenwick, on behalf of the Wellington papers, filed counter demands to the Union’s demands, and as the Union had no notice ol' these the ease was adjourned till the next sitting of the Court j a Wellington.

TIMARU, last n'ight. The South Canterbury, Acclimatisation Society prosecuted eight persons, including a Christchurch publican, a commercial traveller, a police constable of Dunedin, and several residents of Temuka on a charge of illegal capture of trout, the party being accused of using dynamite in the Ophii: river. After hearing a little evidence, the case fell through, counsel for the Society stating that they had been misled with regard to thq evidence. Costs amounting to about Ulo were allowed against the Society. The case excited considerable interest.

DUNEDIN, last night. Richard Jones, aged 40, supposed to he a widower, was found dead on the beach at Blanket Bay, Otago Harbor. He was last seen yesterday, when lie left the house where he worked as a gardener. He then Went out for a walk. THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT PALMERSTON. PALMERSTON N., last night. The Minister of Lands, speaking at a banquet tendered by the Palmerston branch to the Farmer’s Union delegates last night, expressed a desire to assist the Union, lie sympathised with their aims, and eulogised the late Air Rolleston and the late Sir J. McKenzie. The promised Land Bill will deal with the varied conditions of tenure. lie. complimented Mr Ritchie, Mr Gilruth, and Air Kinsella. Jle said the Land for Settlement Act was rapidly absorbing the Crown lands, and probably all of any value would he settled within the year. lie commended the delegates lor their moderation of tone and reasonable demands, lie believed that it was the right thing for farmers to speak plainly. They would do good thereby. It was not a sin or crime for fanners to touch politics. lie complimented the Union on the absence of party feeling. The Conference resumed at nine to-day, with a discussion upon land valuations and the constitution of Assessment Courts. The ValuerGeneral was eulogised, but exception taken to the overloading of this officer with multifarious duties, resulting possibly in faulty administration As to the subscription question, a graduated scale was advocated, proportionate to the values of holdings. THE PUBLIC FUNDS. WELLINGTON, last night. Several members of Parliament, re-

plying to a circular issued by the local society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, express sympathy with the society’s objects, and promise to secure a Government subsidy of pound for pound. Mr Massey, the member for Franklyn, in expressing

iiis sympathy, said that he could not give any pledge to support the proposal, as he believed the time was rapidly approaching when it would he necessary to reduce expenditure, except for most urgent purposes. IMPUDENT BURGLARS. WELLINGTON, last night. There appears to be a large number of undesirable characters frequenting Wellington at present, and burglaries chiefly of a minor character, are reported almost daily, and remain undetected. During the temporary absence from town of the occupier, the residence of Mr Abercrombie manager of the North Queensland Insurance Company, was taken possession of ily a number of individuals, who played havoc with the premises, sleeping in the beds, helping themselves to food and wines, and generally behaving in a hilarious and reckless manner. A remarkable APPEAL. PALMERSTON N., last night. As a result of the sitting of the North Island Railway Appeal Board on April 29th, when Driver IT. Livingston and Fireman R. R. Clark appealed against the decision of the Department, in disrating them for a slight collision at Longburn. the Minister has confirmed the decision of the Board of Appeal to reinstate the men and refund the pay deducted. A peculiar part of the case was that tJiret* months the men had been disrated several leading officials made extensive tests at l lie locality of the accident, and all reported stronHy against the men, but the evidence at the sitting of the Board was overwhelmingly against these officials, and the members of the Board conducted a test themselves, with a result favorable to the men ""“‘"UCENSTNO CASES.

CHRISTCHURCH, last night. A couple of appeals by hotelkeepers against decisions of Stipendiary Magistrates for Sunday trading were before Mr .Justice Deunistou this morning in Banco. Questions as to what is meant by “ arriving irom a iournev,” and what is a bona fide traveller, were again argued, without any definite decision being arrival a i. 11 is Honor suggested that it, would be more satisfactory to go k> the Court of Appeal, and meanwhile reserved judgment.