TELEGRAMS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2048, 8 April 1907, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

A FOOLISH GIRL. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday'. A most painful incident occurred last evening, when a young girl named Eva AYilliams, 20 years of age, a resident of Ackmans road, l’apanui, attempted, apparently in a lit of desperation, to drown ‘herself by jumping into tlio river from the Victoria street bridge. A lady who was passing at the time heard the splash and gavo the alarm, and after difficulty the girl was brought ashore despite her protestations and appeals to bo allowed to drown. A doctor was called, and the girl was taken ,to the Hospital, where she progressed favorably towards recovery. The girl Eva AVilliams, who attempted suicide yesterday, was before the Court this morning. She stated that her father was very religious and objected to her going to the music hall and theatre. She suffered from asthma, and was miserable. Her father said there was no friction between him and his daughter. The magistrate remanded the girl for a wee'k, with a caution.

COURT CASES. AUCKLAND, yesterday. The criminal cases heard in Auckland Police Court have risen from 3685 in the financial year 1903-4 to 5215 in 1906-7. The fees collected from convicted persons for the same period have risen from £1065 in 1903 to £2539 in the year just ended. On the civil side the amount sued for in 1903 “was £27,487, while during tlie past year it lias risen t0£45,262. The amounts recovered were £15,454 in 1903 and £25,702 in 1906-7. The work of the Court has-greatly increased, the number of sittings last year being 584, as against 511 in 1905.

CUSTOMS REVENUE. AUCKLAND, last night, The quarterly Customs returns for the period ended March 31st show that the total receipts amounted to £215,826, as compared with £199,642 for the corresponding quarter of last year, an increase of £16,184. The Customs duties amounted to £197,767, against £152,438, an increase of £15,329. A sum of £274 was collected under the excise duty clause, as against £162. The consolidated revenue yielded £209,293. For the corresponding, quarter the local revenue was £6532, against £6279. Under the consolidated revenue, in addition to the Customs revenue given above, £5974 was collected under the beer duty Act, against £5516 and £315 under the Tobacco Duty Act, compared with £376. The total duties under the general tariff amounted to £192,975, and under preferential tariff to £4870, compared with £178,174 and £4261 respectively

CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIPS. AUCKLAND, last night. The cricket district championships were concluded yesterday. North shore, who scored 335 against Parnell’s 136, won the senior grade competition. Batting for North Shore L. Prime made 115. Parnell are second on the premiership list, with Grafton third. Grafton won the second grade competition.

TENNIS. AUCKLAND, last night. Dr. Keith yesterday won the Ancknd tennis championship singles.

EGG-LAYING. BLENHEIM, last night. The results of the 47th week oi

the egg-laying competition is 1054. Grand total, 94,031. Highest pens for the week: Walden 31, Wandcn 28, Bary 28, Hawk 28, all silver wyandottes; Brookes, white leghorns, 28; Miss Murphy, silver wyandottes, 27. The leading pens to date are : Brookes 1334, A. and P. Association 1243,. Thomson 1188, Servagin 1988, Mrs. Hodson 1147. RISK ~OF FIRE. WELLINGTON, last night. In consequence of an uneasy feeling among the insurance companies as to the risk of fire at the Exhibition, Government arc moving in tlic matter of providing more firemen. A NEW THEATRE. WELLINGTON, last night. Fullers arc negotiating for a lease of tlic Theatre Royal and a number of adjoining properties fronting Lambtou Quay, with the view of erecting a new theatre. It is understood the transaction is practically completed.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. WELLINGTON, last night. During February last 3610 persons arrived in. New Zealand, as compared with 3227 for the corresponding month of last year. The departures in February totalled 3176, as against 2275 in February, 1906.

W AIM ARAM A BLOCK. NAPIER, last' niglit

At tlic sittings of the Assessment Court in connection with the objections to the present valuation of the Waimarama block as being too high, the Court, after hearing the evidence, sustained Mr. Griffin’s valua-

BANKRUPTCIES. INVERCARGILL, last night.

The number of bankruptcies in the Invercargill district during the quarter just ended was four, two less than in tlio March quarter of 1906.

AN EARTHQUAKE. DUNEDIN, Saturday. The Dunedin Star states that an informant writes as follows: “There was a somewhat disturbing shock oi earthquake this morning. It started at thirteen and a-half minutes past twelve and continued for a minute and a quarter, the movement being from east to west.” GOOD BUSINESS. INVERCARGILL, last night. The rent from the municipal theatre since opened is £468 6s 4d. The Mayor estimates that if things go on as prosperously as they now appear the undertaking will cost the ratepayers practically nothing next year, when the revenue from the Victoria Hall, municipal offices, and Market reserve are taken into account.

SPEED OF MOTOR CARS. DUNEDIN, last night. A conference of delegates Irom the AYaihomo, Waikouaiti, and AVaitakl County Councils was held yesterday at Palmerston to consider motor bylaws to he submitted to each Council for approval. There is provided a speed restriction of six miles per hour at all indicated dangerous places and drivers of cars may he called on to stop altogether when mooting or passing drovers, vehicular or horse traffic. This will all'oet running considerably between Dunedin and Christchurch. The by-law will probably he confirmed by tlio Councils.

CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY

Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. A tragedy occurred in tlio vicinity of Moorhousc Avenue last night, the actors being James Smithies, a man of about 30 years, and Nellie Jackson, an unmarried woman aged 33. Tlio affair occurred at half-past ten, when Smithies, in saying good-byo to the woman, brutally attacked hoi. Aftor pursuing her clown Antigua street to the South Bolt he overtook her and indicted a jagged wound across her throat with a razor, after which ho attempted to commit suicide with the same weapon. The attack attracted several persons in the vicinity,' and the police wore telephoned for. AATien they arrived tlio

man and woman were taken in a collapsed condition to the hospital, where they wore attended to.

It appears that Smithies, who belonged to Melbourne, had been living in Durham street, and Jackson was living not far away in Antigua street. They had been keeping company for some, time, but latterly not without bickering. On Thursday evening Jackson sent a complaint to the police that Smithers was qii.poying her and would not leave her

alone. On this information Smithers was arrested, hut being brought to the wateldiouso was released, as no charge had been laid. He was not sober, and was said to have present-

ed the appearance of a ‘-‘ne’er-do-well.” Apparently the quarrel was patched up, for the pair went to Lyttelton together, and the tragedy is supposed to have occurred shortly after their return to Christchurch. Smithers accompanied Jackson to the

gate of her residence, and there she said good-bye, as she intended to sever her intimacy with him. Then be knocked her down, and producing a razor attempted to take her life after chasing her as far as Moorliouse Avenue.

At the hospital, Dr. Cooke discovered that the woman’s injury was b’kely to prove fatal, and Mr. Bishop, S.M., the coroner, was summoned, and depositions wore taken, in which Jackson made a definite statement as

Smithers’ act. She was operated

upon, and now lies in a very critical qondition. Smithers was taken to the hospital in custody. He refused to say anything. He was operated upon between one and two o’clock this morning, hut ho is in no danger. The woman’s wound was a deep, jagged cut on the left side of the neck, three inches long. She did not lose consciousness on her way to the hospital, hut appeared to ho sinking during the taking of the depositions. Smithers inflicted three cuts on his own throat, none very severe, though he bled a great deal. The assailant is said to have been under the influence of liquor. The detectives searched for the razor, and found the

handle, but no blade. Neither Smithers nor Jackson show any change in condition. The woman is very low. In her depositions she said she was a married woman and came from Melbourne in August. She had been living with Smithers here, and was in a delicate state of health. She had been to Lyttelton in the morning with Smithers and Sumner in the evening. The attack was made when the woman bade him good night. She believed the cause of the attack was jealousy. There had been no row previously. The razor blade was found to-day. There are two witnesses to the assault. Later.—AA r hen enquiries were made at the hospital to-day in connection with the attempted murder and suicide tragedy which occurred last night, a reporter was informed that though Mrs. Jackson’s condition was still critical, she was progressing as well as could be expected. Further details show that Mrs. Jackson had been hoarding for some time at a cottage in Antigua street, and had been going to woi'k by the day. The people of the house saw, nothing of her after she went out yesterday morning, and they supposed that she was going to. work ns usual. She had frequently complained both to other people and the police of the behavior of Smithers,

who had waylaid her in the street. He had often asked her for money, and she is believed to have given him money to pay his hoard at different

times. Smithers find been living at a boarding bouse in Durham street for nearly three weeks, and was supposed to be looking for work. He

s alleged not to have paid for his loard. He is a blacksmith by trade,

and was at one time in the employ

of Messrs Scott Bros., Christchurch. He is said to bo a native of Sydney. When the tragedy occurred last night the shrieks of the woman aroused the people of the neighboring bouses, but so quickly did tlic police reach tlic scone that the residents realising that there was no need for

their services, contented themselves for the most part with watching tlic proceedings from their doors and windows. The blade of the razor used by Smithers broke in bis hand, and he threw away a portion. This was the object of a long and cardul search, and it was found this morning by Detective Wald. CAPSIZE OF OIL LAUNCH.

TWO MEN DROWNED. Press Association. HO KITIKA, Saturday. The police have . received advice that two men named Claud Webb and Alfred May were drowned yesterday afternoon when crossing the KaranF arua bar, South Westland, in Chin’s oil launch, used in connection with the flax-milling industry, owing to the boat capsizing. Both victims are young men, Webb’s parents residing in Christchurch, while May is not long from England. The body of Webb lias been recovered.

ARBITRATION ACT. OPINION OF LABOR CONFERENCE. Press Association DUNEDIN, Saturday. At the Trades and Labor Conference the report of the Conference on the principle and working of tlic Arbitration Act was received. After referring to the relation of wages to tlio cost of living the report stated that the Act was not even a partial solution of the economic and social troubles of the wage-earning class, nor could it even touch tile matter unless the Court were given power to adjudicate on matters of interest and profit at the same time as it deals with wages. “We recommend that for the present councils and unions be advised to adhere to the Act with the hope of its being improved upon, so that a working modus may be sustained until the economical basis of society is altered. Instead of relying on the Act as the principal means of economic email cipatiou, wo strongly urge that workers should seek relief along the lines of direct represent it? an in Parliament and on the local councils of the colony, and the grain'll fficialising of the industries of i.l.ie country.

NEW STEAMERS. Press Association. DUNEDIN, Saturday. The laying down and building ol lour now steamers for the Union Company, tlio Mamma, Maori, AVai--I,„ni, and Konmta, together with a tug, wero nil announced some timo ago. Sinco then it was mentioned that a fifth now steamer was projected. Recently the 'Company placed two palatial steamers, (lie Aina ami the Navua, in the Island trade, hut now they apparently intend to go one hotter, for the new steamer is to he of 4000 tons gross register. She will „embody many improvements. AY lien the new steamer lias boon completed she and the Atua will carry out regular monthly trips to various ports in the Tougan, Navigator, and Fijian Islands trade, while the Navua will run between Auckland ami Fiji direct. The new ships will 1,0 completed and in commission early next year. , For Bronchial Coughs take AVoods’ Great Peppermint Cure. Is Od and 2s 6d .