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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2278, 25 August 1908, Page 2

Clemency was extended to Janies Brown Atholwood, the well-known actor, who was convicted of bigamy at the May sittings of the Supreme Court and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment (says a Melbourne paper). Soon after his conviction a petition largely signed, was presented to the Acting-Attorney-General asking for a mitigation of the sentence on the ground that Athohvood’s health was suffering, and that the woman with whom he went through the bigamous marriage had not been wronged. This woman also made representations to the same effect. The petition was referred to Air Justice A’Bcckett, the presiding Judge, who said that the defence was that Atholwood believed that his first marriage was a nullity. The jury, by their verdict/ had negatived that plea,, and, in apportioning punishment, lie (Air Justice A’Beckett) had to. take into account the wrong done to the woman. As she now said she was not misled his Honor thought that Atholwood had been punished enough. The Attorney-General thereupon recommended that Atholwood should he released, and one of the first official acts of the new Governor was to give effect to that recommendation. Atholwood served practically only half his sentence.

Among the Hon. 11. AlcNab’s correspondence the other day was a letter which shows, says the Dunedin “Star,” that even minor legislation is not unheard of beyond the seas, and which incidentally throws a sidelight- on the ramifications of ministerial obligations. Last session Parliament pased an Apiaries Act, which provides, among other things, that no beekeepers shall keep bees in any hut a properly constructed frame hive. The letter came from a settler in the fruit-growing district of AVamlin, Victoria. He stated that ho lud read in a Alelbourno weekly paper an interview with Air. AlcNab on the subject of bees. The settler states that none in the AVandin district have been able to make a success of beekeeping. “They put a new swarm,” he wrote, “in a kerosene box or a gin-case, or any other box handy, and place it on a stand, and expect the poo-r little things to fill it -with honey. Then they rob them in the ■most ruthless and cold-blooded manner, and leave them ,to die, or live as best they can until the next honey season.” The settler asked if the Now Zealand Agricultural Department could furnish him with pamphlets on bee-keeping, or if the Alinister himself could give him advice on the subject, and Air. AlcNab is forwarding the seeker after knowledge full information.

The tenders for the construction of the municipal baths at Napier largely exceeded the amount authorised by tile loan (£6000), and the Council will modify the plans and invite fresh tenders.