DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2258, 1 August 1908, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

[Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 31. ,A peculiar case was referred to at a meeting of the Ohinerauri County Council yesterday afternoon. A nun named Mounts, who was in the employ of tile Council as nightman on tile 16th .March, was found on the morning of the 17th March unconscious in a stable. He was removed to the Thames Hospital, and is still lying there in ia semi-conscious condition, and unable t<> give an account of how the accident happened. He has practically been unconscious for four and a-lialf montlis.

A.t to-day’s meeting of the Auckland Harbor Board, the harbormaster reported on the subject of signalling by bells under water. He stated that few, if any. of the steamers trading to Auckland were likely to incur the heavy expense of installing the appnr--1 tus. This signalling in connection 'tli tho principal lighthouses of the ominion would be very desirable whenever the. larger steamers trading about tlie coast were equipped to ieeoivo the signals. It was decided to send a copy of tho report to the Marine Department. NAPIER, July 31.

Charges of illegal betting .arc pending against tw 0 /Hastings residents. During a recent discussion on an application for an adjournment of the cases in the Magistrate’s Court, Napier, Inspector MacDoimell said: “The defendants were business men in Hastings, and with all respect to the Hastings Justices—they were business men too—in tile interests of justice the cases should be beard by a Magistrate, and be would not have them heard by .anyone else.” At the sitting of. the Court at Hastings to-day, tbe Mayor (Mr. T. J. Thompson) and other Justices, who usually preside there, strongly protested against the Inspector’s reported remarks, and the opinion was expressed that ft.be Justice Department should bo communicated with in reference to the matter. Tho committee of the Napier Chamber of Commerce discussed the question of representation on Harbor Boards, and resolved that other Chambers in the Dominion be communicated with suggesting that a Parliamentary Committee be set up in Wellington to watcli all questions of commercial iutercst coming before the Legislature. MASTER,TON, July 31. A fairly heavy earthquake was experienced boro ,it 8.50 this evening. PALMERSTON. N., .July 31. The Munawatu Military Tournament Committee decided)to extend the King’s Birthday tournament to two days. November 7th and 9th; fifteen additional events to be put on the programme. The .prize money was increased to 6159. Andrew McEwen. one of the. early Manawatu settlers, drowned himself in the Manawatu river to-day. Deceased was a, dairy farmer, living at Lackey town. He met with an accident 6ome time ago, which is said to have affected his brain. ■WELLINGTON, July 31. George Howe, a Chinese, pleaded guilty - to-day at the Magistrate’s Court, and was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence, in respect to a charge of keeping a disorderly house, after evidence of a revolting character had been given by two European girls-. Mr. Buddie, who appeared for tbe accused, said ho found the case so bad that he would withdraw. Harry Ba'llantyne, a farm laborer, was committed for trial on a charge of attempting to commit an unnatural offence. The following is Captain Edwin’s weather forecast to 3 p.m. to-morrow : Moderate easterly winds and fine weather are probable generally. CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. At the .Magistrate’s Court to-day a man named- John Pearson was committed for trial on a charge of having performed an illegal operation. Bail was allowedj the accused in £2OO and one surety of £2OO. On the application of -Chief-Detective Bishop, the Bench, under section 15 of the Evidence Act, 1905, ordered that the evidence given in the case should not be published. Few applications for work are now being received by the Labor Bureau. Arrangements have been made to send a dozen men to tho Midland raihv-ay works next Tuesday, or as soon as the engineer in charge has advised that camp accommodation is ready. The city surveyor, who found work on behalf of the City Council for forty men, states that number cannot be continued after this week, and nine or ten will finish on Saturday. The total number would be reduced gradually, as the amount voted by tho Council for the relief works decreased. A large proportion of the men had proved thomselves capable laborers, and some of them would probably be transferred to such loan works as could he conveniently token in band at once. Tbe acute stage of scarcity of work bad passed away with the wet weather, ‘and there was every chance of rmen desiring work to get it outside the Council. DUNEDIN, July 31. The Kaikorai Band is desirous of raising about £l2O more to enable members to proceed to the contest at Ballarat, and with the object of getting the balance made application to the City Council on Wednesday for permission to hold sacred concerts on Sunday evenings. This permission was granted, but to-day a deputation of clergymen representative of il.e Council of Churches waited on the Mayor and strongly protested -against tho decision, and asking the Mayor to veto it. Exception was also taken to the fact that hands -wore paid to play on Sunday' afternoon to encourage tram traffic. The Mayor refused to take action as asked by the deputation. -but said lie would -giro instructions that the concerts should not start till 8.25 p.m.