LATE HEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1382, 17 February 1905, Page 2

LATE HEW ZEALAND.

'(Per Press 'Association.) < Wellington, last nightThe North Island Representation Commission will conclude their work ot - limitating the single electorates of Auc - land and Wellington } to-night, and t now boundaries will bo (gazetted later od. Mr Kirk, Government Biologist, warns agriculturists against cultivating the plan ginseng until thero is certainty of I 8 prospects. \ - ~ Wellington, last night. Tho Australian cricketers arrived this evening from Auckland, /having travelled overland via tho Wanganui River. There was a groat crowd to welcome them at the M»n»w»tu Co.'s railway station. The weather to night is fine, but tho indications for to morrow arc doubtful. Mr W. McCutchoon, of ■ Wbangatuoana, Taranaki, has been appointed to fill the vacancy on tho Lands Commission. The business of the Empiro Hotol, Wellington, has boon floated into a limited liability company, with a capital of forty thousand pounds.

Napier, last night._ At tho Supremo Court to-day the re-trial of Charles Lassen, charged with criminal assault on a girl aged 13 years and 3 months, was proceeded with, when a verdict of not guilty was returned. In tho caße of James Percy Holroyd and Thomas Henry Gibson, charged with the theft of goods belonging to the New Zealand Giotbiug Factory, Holroyd pleaded guilty and Gibson not guilty. Counsel for the defence asked for time to consider the position, and the case was adjourned until to-morrow morning.

Auckland, last night. Some time ago a decision was given in the Supreme Court quashing the Auckland City Council’s bye-law regarding loitering in the streets. The Council has now decided to appeal against the decision 1 o the Judge. Lady Onslow arrived from Kotorua to day,

Nelson, last night. Advice has been received from England that Messrs Vernon Bout, Percy Soantlobury, and Arthur Fair have all passed the first section of the examination for the liL.B. degroe. These were the only candidates sent up by the Nelson College for that examination, but all the college undergraduates were successful in keeping the university term.

The improved water service for the city is now complete, and the addition to the main gives a splendid pressure of water. Dunedin, lest night

The Hon W. Hall Jones visited Boxburgh to day to open the fruit canning factory. On the journey from Rae’s Junction a deputation met the Minister to urge the claims of the LawrenceBoxburg railway. The Minister in reply said the question of route was for the Cabinet. He had no doubt there would be a railway up the Clutha Valley from Lawrence to Alexandra, but that would not be for a long time. In the course.of his remarks attention was directed to the destruction of excellent land, by dredging. The Minister spoke strongly on the point. When the return was such as to barely pay expenses it seemed to him wicked that suoh valuable land should be for ever destroyed. He would say straight out that he thought it a ease in which the State should interfere. At Roxburgh the Minister had a cordial reception. Mr Bennett, chairman of directors of the fruit canning company, said the factory had been started to utilise surplus fruit. Bast year more was available than could be taken by Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, and fully one hundred tons had gone to waste. The Government had given the company every assistance by sending experts along. They had received samples of Californian canned fruit, and he had no hesitation in saying that Teviot fruit oould more than hold its own with Californian. James Watson Shaw has been nominated for the Rhodes scholarship as Otago candidate. He has just passed the M,A. examination with first-class honors in English and French. Mr J. McKerrow, chairman, and a number of members of the Hand Commission, arrived from the north this evening. They hold a private meeting to-morrow to decide on varions formal matters.

Masterton, last night. At the ram fair to-day. there was a fair attendance of buyers. Leiceaters and Lincolns were offered. Linaoln studs sold up to 32 guineas, flocks 1 to 6£ guineas, English Leicester studs up to 4£ guineas, flecks up to 5 guineas. Border Leieesters sold np to similar figures.

CHRISTCHURCH, lash night, .There wag a- .very large attendance ah Lancaster Park this afternoon, when the ladies’- section of the Christchurch' branch of the NavyLeague presented a silver challenge! shield lor competition bv the whole .of the Australian eabadron. The -Governor and suite were in attend. ance. Mrs W. Reece made the presentation .to .Vice-Admiral Famsbawe. iUpwarda of 700 men were landed from the warships to take part in ithe display, and there was a brilliant parade for- inspection before the Governor, Subsequently the Governor on behalf of the Royal Humane Society presented a medal andcertificate to Misa M, Denpiston and ■a certificate to Miss G, Smith, for saving life at Sumner.

THE MAORI ROMANCE.

sequeu to; ELOPEMENT WITH A GIRL.

AUCKLAND, last night. At the Supreme Court the Puhi case, in which a young man" named Ernest Martin had pleaded guilty to a charge of the abduction of a Maori girl under the age of thirteen years, Was mentioned by Mr Mahoney, the prisoner’s counsel. The Rev, Mr Gittos Said that he

had had forty, years’-experience amongst the Maoris, It wpuld he a proper thing for. a man to marry ; Maori girl of fourteen years of age so long as he -got the consent of the girl’s parents. Children had been, and were still betrothed in their infancy. His -Honor : As I understand it, Cohabitation with - ithe.parents’ consent is l marriage fl: Witness': ,Ycs.

I-lis Honor Would iti be wrong for a young native _ man to lake away a . young- native-maiden' and. ~.- cohabit with h er. -.with opt the consent of lien parents ? Witness-: DceitletUjf' ! '‘' so, your yHjonoftr'V' \ --■■■■ i , r .His I-Ionior!'? ;t.Woiil(i it be looked upon ,asi>» riser ions oftence-according i to.n'afeve custom a * witness‘said tb'at before the parties cobid redeem them- I selves they must be punished.; If I the young man-were to blame he I would have to pay so much, to the I girls’' parents, 'anil vice versa. His Honor : If they/ do, not pay, I yvhat then iV |

Witness : . The young woman would most probably be taken away. Witness added that in this ease he believed that as the young man' could n,ot pay the girl’s parents the necessary £-25, he was working it oft With his father-im.law,; His Honor : They are married, then, when they, jjay the penalty; ?: Witness : Yes, your Honor.