THE WHITELEY MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2039, 26 March 1907, Page 2

THE WHITELEY MURDER.

THE CONDEAINED AIAN’S STATEMENT.

LONDON, Alareh 23.

At Rayner’s trial for tho murder of Whiteley, Rayner’s aunt, Louisa Turner (Whitoloy’s mistress) testified that Whiteley did not know Rayner s mother until Rayner was four years Raynor’s testimony failed to establish that ho was Whiteloy’s soil. Though ho had seen Whiteley at his mother’s house in childhood, Rayner had never visited him until tho day of tho murder. He then claimed sonship,which Whiteley neither admitted nor denied. Rayner asked for assistance, and threatened to commit suicide. Whiteley went outside tho office, and when invited to return, declined, saying, “I have sent ior a policeman.” Raynor declared that ho remembered no more.

NEW HEBRIDES. lAIPORTATION OF LIQUOR. LONDON, March 23. In tho House of Commons Air. Churchill stated that Government had asked Franco whether it was not possible to check the import of French gin and other prohibited goods futo tho Now Hebrides. SOUTH AFRICA. THE LABOR QUESTION. PRETORIA, Alareh 23. In the Transvaal Assembly Air. Smuts said he considered the proposposed commission of enquiry into the labor question likely to lead to procrastination, which he believed was the object of the Opposition. The statement was received with ar.gry protests. Air. Smuts added that the Government would afford the mines the promptest and most effective help. Ho intended to tackle the question, and hoped to have a definite policy ready by June. The Legislative Council passed the Asiatic Registration Bill. Lord Selborne reserved it for the King’s approval. The Legislature adjourned until June 14th. THE METRIC SYSTEM. WEIGHTS AND AIEASURES. LONDON, Alareh 23. In the House of Commons the Compulsory Aletric AVeights and Aleasures Bill was negatived by 150 to 118. Air. Lloyd George emphasised tho danger of alteration of the system when the bulk of our trade was with non-metric countries. COLLISION OFF PORTLAND. LONDON, Alareh 23. The battleship Africa collided with the steamer Ormuz off Portland. Both were slightly injured. Tho Ormuz reached Plymouth and the Africa Portland. The Ormuz was practically undamaged, and sailed again the same evening.

HOME RULE. AIR, O’BRIEN’S DECISION. LONDON, Alareh 23. Air. AVilliam O’Brien, in a letter to his constituents, declares that he will not participate in the present Session of Parliament. The Irish party had now accepted Devolution and University Bills,, which but for 1 their opposition they might have had in 1904. His own position having 1 been triumphantly vindicated, and he and his libellers now occupying common ground, he did not desire to eu- > gage in a controversy before the English Parliament which would enable lii.3 libellers to attribute to him any i of the untoward consequences of their • own folly. i AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA. ’ THE PREAUER’S DECLARATION. ST. PETERSBURG, Alareh 23. i Al. Stolypin, the Premier, created - the profoundest sensation in the . Douma, by accepting a resolution of 1 AL Roditcheff, a Constitutional Dei inocrat,for the appointment' of a committee for the investigation and audit of the famine fund, i The resolution was adopted largely against a Social Democratic amendment. The latter proposed to send delegates to villages to take charge of relief, but in reality to foment strife. LONDON, Alareh 23. Reuter reports that Al. Stolypin told the powers that he was determined to co-operate with the Douma to secure peace. This led to the resumption of the negotiations with Britain which were interrupted in October. Reactionaries, who form the majority of the Council of tbo Empire, are organising systematic opposition to the Government. COMMERCIAL. LONDON, Alareh 24. North Island sheep 3jd, best brands 3jd; lambs, Canterbury, medium heavy s£d, North Island 4 11-16tli; Nw Zealand beef, 180 to 200 lbs, fair average quality, ox fores 21 d; ox hinds 3!d: River Plate fores 2.9-lGthsd, hinds 3.3-lGthd lb; rest unchanged . The wool sales arc animated. Prices were fully maintained. The following prices were realised for the fleece portions of the clips named: Petane 13Jd, Pukitoi 12Jd, Atoawliango lljd. They have been cata logued to date 137,691 bales and sold 132,559 bales. Hemp is depressed. Alareh to May shipments are at C3G. Wheat: 13.000 quarters of Victorian wheat, " South Australian cargoes sold at 3ls January shipment sold at 30s 3d; lid Copper: Spot is' at 1061, three months 107 j ; Tin: Spot 186, three months 181 ; Silver 30 -510 d. Press Association. \Y ELLIN GTON, yesterday. The Department of Industries and Commerce lias received the following cable from the High Commissioner, dated London, 23rd iust.;—The mutton market is slightly weaker, with loss demand. Supplies are increasing, but there is a scarcity of prime quality. Canterbury mutton is quoted at -Id per lb. North Island brands 3Jd. The lamb market is dull. Stocks on band are heavy. The demand is expected in increase. The average price of Canterbury lamb is 5d per lb; other than Canterbury brands 42d. The beef market is dull, :uid tbo supply exceeds the demand. The average prices are 4gd and 2Jd per bind and forequarters respectively. The butter market is steady, the pi ice well maintained for choicest quality, owing to short supply. Tho market is dull for second-class quality , as the supply exceeds the demand. Current quotations arc: Choicest New Zealand 101 s, Argentine 100 s, Victorian 995, Danish 11s per ewt. Cheese market: Prices are slightly weaker, with less demand, at Cos per ewe. The bump market uoiikor. Good fair grade, on spot; is unsettled. Prices are sliglitjy is quoted at £37, April shipments C 36, and fair current Alaniia", oil spot, £39. Tbo cocksfoot seed maybet is firm, but buyers are not keen to do business. There is, however, no pressure pi sell. The current quotation is 52s per ewt. of 171 b bright, clean-dressed seed. AYool : The current quotations for cross breds) Is 6Jdj ,40’s (low crossbreds) Is Gd, 44’s (medium crossbreds) is Gjd, 50’s (halfbreds) Is 10 Rl 56’s (quarterbreds) 2s 2Jd, GO’s (merinos) 2s 4,jd. The hop market is dull and likely to continue so. There >s a moderate demand for Californians, but stocks are heavy: The price in London is 60s per ewt. for - English aud 56s for Californians,