NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1701, 2 August 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press agency.] WELLINGTON, August 2. An Impudent Accusation. Mitchell and Simmons, theatrical managers, who are now before the Bankruptcy Court, charged one of their late employees this morning, with stealing some articles from their wardrobe. The Magistrate laid it was the most impudent ease he had ever heard in a Court of law, for, notwithstanding the gross frauds they had committed within the last few days, they wore now trying to convict an innocent person to prevent him giving evidence against them. The RotomahanaThe Union Steam Company have received advices that the Rotomahana made her trial trial trip on the 15th July, and obtained a speed of fifteen and a-half knots pir hour, with all her stock of coals on board. She is now at London, on berth for Melbourne and New Zealand, and is to sail on tte sth August. She is expected to arrive at Melbourne on 24th September. [from our own correspondent.] PORT CHALMERS, August 2. Last night a girl named Isabella Aitchison, aged seventeen years, and servant to Mr Francis Smith, of Blanket Bay, while retuning home, was set upon by three lads, named William Cock, John Main, and Henry Austin, who dragged her into the bush, and, she alleges, violated her. Cook and Austin, who have been arrested, admit connection with the girl, but stated that she wes willing. Main has not yet been caught. Arrival of Maori Prisoners. Arrived—Hinemoa, from WePington, with the Maori prisoners. HOKITIKA., August 2. At the criminal sittings of the District Court, Augustus Sohaff, aged fifteen, was charged with indecently assaulting a girl aged welve. He was acquitted without calling witnesses for the defence. There weie no other cases for tiial. TIMARU, August 2. Buried under an Avalanche. News has just come in whl h pi .cei it beyond doubt that Smith and Morrison, the two men missing from the Bollesby station, Mackenzie Country, have been buried undir an avalanche. WELLINGTON, August 2. Financial. The return of the unauthorised expenditure for the financial half-year ended 30th June last, shows a total of (omitting shillings and pence) £94,997. The following are the items Miscellaneous, £601; compensation and gratuities, £1036; account* written off, £252 ; revenue restored in respect of defalcations, £279 j local bodies advance account, £3938; total services not provided for, £15,352 ; in excess of rates, £47,466 (amongst these ia one of £4O to Mr McDermott, and one of £54 to the widow of Mr Q. Cox, of Kaipara) ; expenses connected with shipping Canterbury broad guage railway plant to South Australia, £1344; Bay of Islands electoral roll commission, £348 ; R. Graham, for miners’ rights to September, £3OB ; for lands at Grahamstown, £740 ; Local Bod'ea Advance Accounts, Ashburton, £3516, Thames, 12j 3d ; paid Mr Bromhall in satisfaction of claims in connection with negotiations at the Thames, £3500; expenses of straightening tte Waiku Channel, £320; paid Bank of New Zealand in consideration of surrender of New Zealand Government, [sum omitted in telegrem] ; Hokitika and Christchurch roads, £573 6a lid. DUNEDIN, August 2. At the City Court to-day, Thomaa Chalmers Reid was charged with forging a bill of exchange in the name of J. O. Reid, his brother, at Timarn Mr Leary, the creditor's trustee, raid that the bill was found in the prisoner’s office desk. A reward for a week was granted, bail being allowed, prisoner at £3OO, and two sureties at £l5O each. Meters Driver and Baitings go to Wellington on Monday. AUCKLAND, August 1. Several seamen of the English ship Minister of Marine made an extraordinary statement of cruelty to the magistrate to-day, one alleging that he had been kept ten days in irons on bread and water, was gagged and ironed round the back, and beaten when in that condition. The magistrate ordered the police to inquire into the allegation, and if it proved true to initiate a public prosecution against the captain. The Union Sash and Door Company declared a dividend of 15 per cent., and carried £3236 to the reserve fund. The first prosecution under the compulsory clauses of the Education Act was commenced to-day at the Police Court. The Beach warned offenders that the full penalties would be imposed in future. Two seamen who had been charged with desertion made the first use of their restored liberty to severely assault their captain. They were sent to gaol for six months. A handsome new school for City West was opened to-day, Jas. Taylor had both legs fractured by a piece of railway iron falling on him while discharging from the ehip Minister of Marine. WELLINGTON, August 1. The boat belonging to the two Italian fishermen recently drowned was found at Somes Island. The following Justices of Peace are gazetted :—Ebenezer Baker of Wairoa, Wm. Booth of Carterton, Burton Boys of Taratahi, Geo. Hemy Lyster Kay of East Taratahi, Fredk. Chas. German ofPateringi, Wm, By. Grace of Bay of Islands, Bind John Kerr of Portobello. The Gazette intimates that the No. 5 (Kaiapoi) Canterbury Rifle Volunteers have been disbanded. At a meeting to-night of the standing committee of the Wellington Synod, at which Wanganui and other parts of the diocese were represented, a letter was read from the Dunedin diocese, asking the co-operation of Wellington diocese in the promotion of a Bill introduced by Mr Thomson for the incorporation of the whole Church of New Zealand. After considering the matter in all its bearings, the committee declined to entertain the proposal, on the ground that, as the question affected the whole Church of New Zealand, any such proposal should properly be initiated by the General Synod, as representing all the dioceses of the colony. This opinion was unanimously arrived at. PORT CHALMERS, August 1, A seaman belonging to the ship Benares, named Otto Brown, fell down the fore-hold a distance of 20ft., this morning. Dr. Hosting, upon examination, found he had received a scalp wound, split his nose, and severely cut his lip. Fortunately no bones were broken. DUNEDIN, August 1. The official enquiry into the stranding of the Benares took place to-day, before Mr I. N. Watt, R.M , wit'i Captains Briscoe and Thomson (Bluff) as nautical assessor*. Captain Inglis, the master of the ship, was the only witness examined. The evidence was mainly the same as that given at the preliminary examination. The enquiry was adjourned till to morrow. An accident happened to a seaman on board the Benares to-day. He was knocked down the hold while engaged in unloading the cargo and seriously injured. At Port Chalmers the election for Municipal auditors resulted in the return of Messrs Asher and Fail. The Reliance Hotel, at Otaki, was burned down, the stable only being saved. The New Zealand office had a policy of £375 on the etock and furniture (£175 of whicn was reinsured), and one for £4OO on the building. The loos is estimated at £750. At a meeting of the Taieri County Council to-day it was resolved not to accept any lender for the reconstruction of the Owhiro bridge, the cost, being 100 great.