TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1997, 5 February 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

.Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. Mr. Justice Demiistoii. in Ins choigo to tho grand jury at the Supremo Court, said tho calendar was nii ordinary one, except tor the largo number of sexual cases, nearly oliothird of tho 22 cases being of this description. lie made special reference to two cases against boys, and expressed the opinion that fuels case.) should be dealt with by a Children’s Court, and not sent for trial to tho Supremo Court. At tho annual meeting of tho Auckland Gas Company, it was reported that of the profits £27,815 had boon absorbed in dividends, tho reserve fund totalled £SOOO, and depreciation fund £IO,OOO. The gas sold was increased by 9.1 per cent, on tho previous year. At the Supreme Court Tube Hokaia for forgery, was sentenced to six months: Mabel Cooper, for househi caking, three months, and Georg-' Kiwai, forgery, to three months. tVKI.I.IXGTOX. yesterday.

In the concluding match against tho Svduov bowlers AYellington won by 105 to 90.

The quantity of gold exported from the colony last month was 27... ounces, valued at £104,117, as compared with 61,701 ounces, of tho value of £219,828 in the corresponding month of last year. The export of silver last month was 189,552 ounces, valued at £21,575. In charging tho Grand Jury at the (supremo Court Criminal Sitting, which opened to-day, Judge Cooper expressed regret at the number of persons charged, and the character of many of the offences was exceptional. I’liere woto twentv-fivc charges against thirty persons involved, 'those charges were practically all for the more serious offenc.es known to the criminal law. There were offences against the person charged against seventeen different persons, in some cases several cases against the same person, besides several offences of a sexual nature. There was also a charge of murder against a Maori, a charge of manslaughter against two persons, in u hieh a firebrigade motor engine killed Mrs. Kensington, two charges of assault and robbery, a charge of shooting with intent to do bodl" harm, offences against property, four charges of breaking and entering, three cases of theft, one charge of aiding and ahettin" enbezzlement, two cases ot using rooms for betting purpose?, one charge against a person for attempting to extort money hv threatening to”accuse the person of a criminal offence. Regarding sexual offences, his Honor said it was a hlot on our civilisation that there never is.ii sitting of the Criminal Court without one or more of these charges and m a majority of cases tho offences were against young girls. CHI!ISTCHURCH, yesterday. Obituary: Mr. P. Duncan, of the firm of P. and I). Duncan, implement makers, aged 68. . The Australian howlers arrived yesterday An official reception was held at 10 o’clock his morning by the Deputy-Mayor at the _ City Counci, Chambers. The visitors play.' on Christchurch green this afternoon, and to-morrow afternoon play on the Canterbury green. They will ho "nests of tho Christchurch players at the Exhibition in the evening. On "Wednesday they play at St. Albans. Thursday's match has not been arranged. ' They leave for Dunedin on Friday. . The largest grass fire near Christchurch for sixteen years occurred on Sunday, and the largest ever known on the Cashmere hills. In twelve hours two thousand acres of grass and tussock country was swept by fire, leaving a blackened waste, ilie" fire concerned two owners ol property, tho Cnslimero Estate and G. Moon. No buildings were burnt, and only' a few sheep wore burnt. llio loss of feed was very great. At the Exhibition the aggregate attendance is 1,073,514, the daily average being 13,253, and Saturday s 12,050. Nearly all the cocksfoot crop on Banks Peninsula has been gathered in Tho crop is very small, but the sample is the best for years. Sales have been effected at 3jd. The drought is serious on tne Peninsula. The German Bay factory has gono down to half the original ynilk supply, and a rurther decrease is feared. The percentage of butter fat is very low, milk being poor. Harvesting is progressing in North Canterbury . The gram is in prime condition. The threshing returns to the present are very' satisfactory', considering the season. Many of the results are far better than was expected. The chief anxiety of fanners is as to the diminishing prospers of winter feed. Turnips are nialvi :g a poor show. Not a blade of grey.i grass is to be seen citlicr oil i-iie plains or upland.

PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS. WELLINGTON, last night. Dr. Mason states that all precautions are being taken to prevent tins introduction of plague into the colony. BURGLARY. MASTERTON, last night. It has been reported to the police that the residence of Mrs Tredar was broken into on Saturday afternoon, and £2O in notes and silver stolen. SUPREME COURTS. WELLINGTON, last night. At the Supremo Court to-day the Grand Jury threw out bi Is against Motliania Ropoima, on charges of murder and manslaughter and Arthur H. Read, indecent assault. Alex. McLean, convicted of breaking and entering, was sentenced to five years; Joseph Kelly, breaking and enterin", twelve months; Jas. ±>oyie, theft of a bicycle, and dray, harness and horse, twelve months; -Roderick McKenzie, burglary, three years. His Honor declared McKenzie to he an habitual criminal. He has many convictions recorded against' him, including seven years with two floggings for indecent assault. AUCKLAND, last night. The following aro additional Supreme Court criminal sentences: Karl Hellstrom, theft of jewellery,was sentenced to -six months.; John Hammond, forgery, four years; William Thompson, thoft of portmanteau, three years.

AN OLD MAN’S DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, last night A man named Richard Leonard Jordan, 77 years of age, of Springfield, fell off the Cave creek bridge on Saturday, and was killed instantly. EIRE AT EXHIBITION.CHRISTCHURCH, last night A liro broke out in Sargood, Son and Ewon’s stall at the Exhibition this afternoon, and before it was extinguished had destroyed a quantity of decorative material and a valuable mechanical advertising picture. The outbreak was caused by the fusing of two electric wires, forming I art of a system installed by the propiietors for the purpose of working the picture. A permanent artilleryman on duty subdued the flames with four of the portable chemical extinguishers placed throughout the building, and the fire was finally extinguished by one of the chemical fire engines at the Exhibition.

RESULT OF DROUGHT. ASHBURTON, last night, One of the results of the dry season ill this district is that many farmers'are thinning down their flocks by sending lines to freezing works for the purpose of being boiled down, and some agents are offering 2s 6d per head for such lots. The Fairfield freezing works are at present' very brisk, the average number of sheep dealt with being 3-700 per day. Although large lines have been booked for boiling down purposes, boilers have not been handled to any quantity as yet. GRASS EIRE. ASHBURTON, last night. In tlio big grass lire on Friday, near Hinds, Arthur Pawsoy’s house and sheep yards were destroyed. The buildings, which were not insured, are valued at £IBO. He also lo .t fifty sheep by fire. Another farmer had eight miles of fencing besides pasture destroyed, and another estimates his loss, of pasture at £l5O. A SUDDEN DEATH. ASHBURTON, last night, While driving out with his wile and niece on Sunday afternoon, John William Parker, farmer, of Willowby, leant over and died. Ho was aged 61 years, and having lately been attended by a doctor for heart disease, a certificate of death was given accordingly. BEQUESTS. DUNEDIN, last night. The Presbyterian Church benefits handsomely under the will of the late Mr Sainrel Wilson. Aft«r providing for a few small legocie lie residue of the estate is divided i.„o four por lions, two of which go to the Presbyterian 'Church, and two to the Salvation Army. It is estimated that the residential college erection fund and aged and infirm ministers UJnd wi.l Ctich hope‘if. to tlio extent of *SOOO.

THE BARQUE WAI-ITI. AUCKLAND, last night. The nautical court of "inquiry into the wreck of the barque AVai-iti on January 2Sth found that Captain Cormaek showed an error of .judgment in unmooring the vessel from the wharf without tho aid of a tug, and was guilty of negligence in not taking steps to keep the barque upright when she took the ground. The errors were not considered sufficient to warrant tho retention of file master’s certificate, hut he was ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry. THE ELINGAMITE TREASURE. AUCKLAND, last, night. The Huia expedition will resume the search for the remainder of tho treasure lost in the wreck of tho Eingamito at tho Three Kings. A lu w diver named Potts lias boon engaged. and in company with Captain L> McKenzie, of tho Huia, and Captain Willis, Lloyd’s representative, left for Mangomii by the Clansman this evening to join llio lluia. A SAD CASE. AUCKLAND, last night. Tho hearing of proceedings by Gertie Alangau, formerly a prisoner in Alt. Eden gaol, against Georgo Stevenson Wrack, a warder, claiming maintenance for tho support of his illegitimate child, was concluded to-day. After a hearing extending over several days, Wrack was ordered to pay 7s (id a week for the support of tho child and costs. When the decision had been given counsel for the complainant made the announcement that the child had died four hours before under what’ lie described as extraordinary circumstances. An inquest will be held to-morrow on tho child, which was hoarded out.

ARBITR ATION COURT. DUNEDIN, last night. The hearing of the goldminers’ dispute was continued at a sitting of the Arbitration Court at Alexandra. After evidence had been given on behalf of Louth workers and employers, the president (Air Justice Sim) suggested a conference between the representatives of the employers and employees. This took place in tho evening, and an amicable settlement was arrived at, the terms of which will be reported in the Court at Cromwell. GAS AND ELECTRICITY. NAPIER, last night. The Napier Gas Company at its annual meeting' to-day passed a resolution giving power to amend the Articles of Association to enable the company if necessary to supply electric energy for lighting and motive power. COACH. ACCIDENT. BABY KILLED AND ITS AIOTHER BADLY INJURED. Press Associatios, CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Information was received here tonight that tho coach from Otira to Springfield, oil tho West Coast route, was capsized in the Otira Gorge today. A five months old child was killed and its mother, Airs. Scott, of Greymouth, severelv injured. Three other women and two men were also injured. The body of the child .and Airs Scott were taken back to Greymoutli, but the other injured passengers were brought on to the Bealey, and will reach Christchurch at about 10 in the morning.

GREYAIOUTH, last night. Quite a sensation was caused in town to-day when word was received that one of the Christchurch-Otira conches bad capsized and the infant son of Mr. and Airs. Scott had been killed, and the other passengers injured . As eighty passengers left in the morning by train, relatives were eager for news, but none of an authentic- nature could be obtained. Word was received that a special train would arrive from Otira at 1 p.m., and the station was lined with people. It was found that only Mrs Scott, Aliss Kellar, and the dead child were passengers, the others in the coach proceeding to Christchurch by special coach. Aliss Kellar, on being interviewed, stated that the passengers were Air., Airs., and Aliss Con, Aliss Alussen, Miss Schaef and child, Air. Meyers, Airs. Scott and child, Aliss Kellar, Air. Davis and Air and Airs. Homer. The passengers had just taken their seats on the coach aftor climbing the Otira Gorge when the coach started down the hill. They rounded the first turn safely, but at the second the kingbolt broke and the coach capsized. The horses were going very fast. All the passengers were thrown out of the coach, except Airs. Scott, who clung to the coach and held her child. She got caught, and was dragged fully 200 yards, the child getting the back of its head knocked in. Airs. Scott was badly injured internally. The coach broke right in half, and the horses bolted with part of the coach. The driver, S. Eastgate, escaped without injury. The passengers were more or loss bruised, but not seriously, and v.ere able to proceed on their journey. Mrs. Scott and the little dead child were convoyed from the. station tc Airs Kellar’s in a stretcher! Tho sad affair has cast a gloom over the town. The infant was five months old, and an inquest will be held tomorrow.

THE BRIGADES BILL. IMPORTANT - CHANGES. PROPOSED. Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. Interviewed respecting the Fire Brigades Act the Hon. Dr. Findlay states that when regulations are framed they will he submitted to experts, and while this is being done the Government will consider the question of appointing members of Fire Boards for each district. The Act provides that there is to be a fire district for each of the cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and any other place-may be declared by the Governor-in-Colin-ed to be a fire district. Each hoard is to consist of sevon members, one appointed by the Government, three by the insurance companies, and three by the local authority for the district. The Act, Dr. Findlay continued, marks a cardinal change in the control of fire brigades in this colony. By section 31 brigades pass under the control of the now boards with all land and plant. The price, to bo paid for the plant is to be agreed to between the board and municipality concerned, and if an amicable arrangement cannot be arrived as to the amount it is to ho settled by arbitration. _As to the financial aspect, Dr. Findlay says that on or before the 30th of June in every year the board will have to submit" to the Minister for his approval an estimate of the. probable expenditure necessary for administration of the Act in its district for the following year, and when approved the amount will be paid in tlio following proportion:—Government will contribute a share based cm the assumption that its property in tlio district is subject to the payment of rates. Tlio remainder will ho contributed ill equal proportions by insurance companies insuring property within the fire district and by the local authority. The amount payable by each insurance company will he pro" rata to its gross premium receipts for the previous year.