DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2411, 28 January 1909, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

THE AUCKLAND CUSTOMS defalcations.

[Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, Jan. 27. Philip ißarry, Customs collector, plea dec! guilty to receiving between May 1908 and December 1908 vark.tr,s moneys, totalling about £BOO, which lie converted to liis own' use. In a ! written confession bo stated that he was in the habit of detaining cheques ■for duos, obtaining cash from the shier, and giving a. receipt from duplicate books. He was committed for sentence, bail being renewed in £BOO. -‘Accused’s fidelity was guaranteed to the extent, while the total , of tho abstractions was £833 17s sd. 4 ' _ . * . ‘5 | ELY GROG SELLING. | Harry Evans tand William Dallziell, connected with sly grog selling, at the Police Court, were each sentenced to six months’ hard lubor. Both accused had previously been guilty of the same offence. THE OHINEMURJ. LICENSING PETITION. | WAIHI, Jan. 27. f The hearing of the evidence in the . OLhiemuri licensing petition is being continued. Five witnesses gave corroborative evidence as to the .overcrowding of the booth, the inadequate facilities for voters, and the absence of secrecy of the ballot.

EEILDING WATER SUPPLY. DELUDING, Jan. 27. At the Borough Council meeting last night, Dr. Magilll sent a report showing that the town water was of excellent quality, and that there was no bacillus in the water after passing through tho filters at the reservoir. HASTINGS' SEi WEIR AGE LOAN REJECTED. HASTINGS. Jan. 27. The proposal of the Hastings Borough Council to raise a Joan ol £BO,000 for sewerage extension purposes was to-day rejected at the poll by SU) votes to 278. WANG AXU 1 G A SWOP ICS LOA X CARRIED. WAXGAXI’I. Jan. 27. A poll was taken to-day on the prouosal to raise a loan of £12.000 for gasworks extension. Little interest was mauile-sted, the proposal being carried by 11.0 to 21. WELLIXGTOX' H A L k-HOLLO A Y. WELLINGTON. Jan. 27. At the statutory meeting of local bodies to-day, Wednesday was selected as the day for the weekly half-holi-day for shop assistants. A. petition is in circulation in favor of Saturay, and if ia sufficient number of signatures are obtained, which is doubt!ul, tho question will be settled at a poll of the electors.

A DETERMINED SfICIDI

OHRISTOHUROII. Jan. 27

The body of Henry Bennett, a farmer, residing at the Styx, near Christchurch, was to-day foulid in a three-feet wide drain, in which the water was about three feet deep. Tied by a piece of rope round his neck was an old plough-share. .1 he deceased left a note stating that lie intended committing suicide. AN OLD HOTEL BURNED. .ASHBURTON, Jan. 27.

A large unoccupied boarding-hou.se at Winslow, known as the V inslow Hotel, was totally destroyed by fire last night. The property \\lis owned by the estate of :|he late, Thomas Dalv, of Christchurch,. and it is holie'ved it is not insured. of fli<' lire -is a mystery. A TE.yi OF HORSES DROWNED 1 nforinatioiphas 'been received that a team of fou> horses, valued at about £2OO, and ibchmging to the Mount Possession station, were drowned while endeavoring to cross the Upper Ashburton' river, which ad is much swollen with recent rams. THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS. DUNIEDIN, Jan. 27. The Hon. J. A. Millar is to be publicly entertained on February 19, in honor of bis appointment as .Minister of Railways. DUNEDIN CITY LOAN. It is 'understood that the City Council’s loan', now offered in London, has been underwritten at a minimum of 98. FIRE IN UNION COMPANY’S WORKSHOPS. Damage estimated at about £4OO was done by a fire in the Union Company’s workshops at lort Chalmeis this'morning. Tho lire 'was suppressed soon, after discovery. The plumbers’ shop suffered considerably, while the. electrical shop suffered from heat and water.

A Ml SC H IE VO US SC! A 4 IP. INVERCARGILL, Jan. 27, A young man, Charles Coodwimie. pleaded guilty to three charges of breaking into bouses at Riverton and frightening women and children, .lie was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. S'OUTHL AND FATALITIES. The police are advised from Clinton that tho much-decomposed body ch an unknown man had been found m the Pomahaka river. , , The Wymlbam police, .report that a farmer named Donald Fraser has been found drowned m n lagoon near liis homo at Fortrose. Tho deceased was about 62 years oldLIQUOR SEIZURES IN INVERCARGILL. To-night the police again , raided Poff’s Carriers’ Arms hotel in Deo Street, : and seized a quantity ot liquor. About the same tune another posse made a similar search ;.l Mis. McAuliffe’s '.Shamrock hotel, in ...pea Street, and there also liquor u seized. Prosecutions will probably follow.