NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1908, 6 April 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

WELLINGTON, April 6, Criminal SessionsAt the Supreme Court this morning Frank Hooke, for false pretences, was sentenced (• nine months ; James Harris, for larceny, to two years ; Alexander McGregor, for forgery, to eighteen months. The charge against J. Thompson, for stealing a cash-box and £3O, is still proceeding. Magisterial. —There were two cases disposed of this morning in the Lyttelton Court, Mr Joseph Boswick, R.M., presiding. Henry White, for larceny of a watch from Thomas Stoddurt, was further remanded until tomorrow (Wednesday). George Drury and John Conway, for fighting in a public place, were fined 20s each. Vocal Music. —As will be seen by advertisement, Mr A. A. North is forming an Elementary Tonic Sol-Fa Singing Class. The class will be formed to morrow at 7.30 p.m., in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street, opposite the Gas Office. This will be an excellent opportunity for those desirous of forming a thorough knowledge of the subject. DUNEDIN, April 6. Criminal Sessions. Butler this morning applied for a change of venue, on the ground that the public mind was prejudiced against him. The Judge refused to grant the application, considering such prejudice did not exist, but he granted a postponement of the trial till Thursday week, to enable tha prisoner to prepare his defence. INVERCARGILL, April 6. Sir G. GreyAt a meeting of the Reform Association, a letter was read from Sir George Grey to the effect that as soon as he recovered, he will visit Christchurch, and come on, if the Association wish, to Invercargill. AUCKLAND, April i. Large Sale. The Piako Swamp Company have sold Eureka station to Mr B. Sutton, of New South Wales. The area sold is 20,000 acres. About 30,000 acres of drained and reclaimed land will be placed before the public in small lots for sale on easy terms. Pedestrianism. Scott left for the Thames this afternoon, where he will essay to repeat his Auckland performance, commencing on Friday night. Introduction of the CrabAt a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society a letter was received from Mr Manning, of New Caledonia, suggesting the desirability of introducing the crab fish into New Zealand. The society deferred consideration of the letter till funds wore in hand. Found Drowned. The body of the man Jukes, who was drowned at Newcastle on March 30th, was found yesterday three miles from the scene of the accident. P leur o-pneumonia-Inspector Runciman and veterinary surgeon Nante, accompanied by Messrs Fentham, Storey, Dimsdale, Burke and others, proceeded on Sunday morning to the Woodlands Station of the Swamp Company, for the purpose of slaughtering cattle supposed to be infected. Two were killed and found to be badly infected. The same party proceed to Eureka Station to slaughter and inspect some more. Inspector Runciman has ordered that no cattle are to be allowed to cross the bridge at Hamilton from the Waikato country, and will probably declare the whole of the country an infected distinct. Criminal Sessions.

The Supreme Court was opened to-day by Mr Justice Richmond, who in charging the Grand Jury regretted the heaviness of the calendar, on which there are twenty-six persons for trial, excluding five Natives charged with misdemeanor. Referring to the charge of rape against a Fijian, his Honor commented upon the absurdity of the law which permitted an abstruse question relative to the religious opinions of a girl witness five years old. S. Beetham for breaking and entering, Frank Foxton for embezzlement of the funds of the Bank of Now South Wales, Auckland branch, pleaded guilty, and sentence was deferred till to-morrow. John Dodds, for an unnatural offence, was sentenced to six years. GRAHAMSTOWN, April 5. An Obstructionist RepentantTukukuni, the Romata obstructionist, has signified to the County Council through the Police Department his willingness to allow the road to be made. The Government will grant the county £3OOO for the construction of the road. TALRANGA, April 5. FireA destructive fire occurred here early this morring, the residence of Mr A. Gilmore being totally destroyed. The loss is estimated at £4OO, and is partly covered by insurance. GISBORNE, April 5. Judge Rogan to the Front. It is rumored here that his Honor Judge Rogan is about to institute legal proceedings against Mr J. A. Wilson, late Land Purchase Commissioner, for an alleged slanderous statement contained in his official report forwarded to the Government some two years ago, which ultimately led to a Royal Commission of Inquiry being held into Judge Ragan's judicial conduct in regard to land matters along the Bast Coast, and which terminated in Mr Wilson’s retirement from the public service. It is said that the decision in the Native Lands Court, recently given by hie Honor Judge Halse in the remaining case of Waingaroma No. 2, in relation to which land the alleged slanderarose, supplies thepriwu facie evidence, because that decision upheld the judgment given by Judge Rogan. WELLINGTON, April 5. Heavy Deficiency in Revenue. The “Post” to-night says: —“Although the exact figures have not yet transpired, wo believe that the actual receipts from the Customs revenue during the period quoted amount to about £003,000. As the estimate was £950,000, it will be seen that it has not been reached by nearly £50,000. The stamp revenue, we understand, has reached about £112,000, or £13,000 under the estimate of £123,000. To the deficiency under this head must bo added the refund of nearly £20,000 on account of the duty wrongly levied on the estate of the late Mr W. B. Rhodes. The practical deficiency of these two sources is therefore about £BO 000. The land revenue is understood to be about £90,000 short, and the railway receipts about £85,000 under the estimate. On these four items alone, therefore the revenue has fallen short of the estimate by over a quarter of a million.” Sunday Trading. The police are taking active steps in connection with Sunday trading, and have laid several informations against publicans for breaches of the Act. The Fire at the Awahnri HotelCharles Marson was the man who lost his life .at the fire at the Awahuri Hotel last night. A servant girl who jumped from the window, had her leg broken by the fall. Of the £ISOO insured in the Colonial office, £SOO is re-insured in the Transatlantic, £250 in the Victoria aud £SOO in other offices out of the colony. Fire. A stable and barn, the property of Mr Thomas Benton, Carterton, were destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The loss was £IOO, which was insured. The Loss of Rosannah RoseA preliminary enquiry into the circumstances of the loss of the schooner Rosannah Rose was held before the Collector of Customs this afternoon. The captain’s statement was a repetition of the particulars already telegraphed, with the exception that the vessel was now a total wreck. During the investigation it transpired that while the

cre w were absent from the vessel, a portion of the cargo, consisting of two boxes tobacco, was stolon. BLENHEIM, April 5. Blenheim and Picton RailwayRailway communication between Blenheim and Picton was restored to-day. DUNEDIN, April 5. Civil Service CommissionThe Civil Service Commission held a sitting in Dunedin to day, ond will continue taking evidence for several days. INVERCARGILL, April 5. Naughty John Hughes. John Hughes, of the Carriers’ Arms, was fined £5 for permitting dancing in his licensed house during prohibited hours. Railway Commission. The Commission on Railways, which arrived on Saturday, has been busy with local matters. They remain in the Southland district until Thursday, when they proceed to Queenstown, thence to Cromwell, which they will reach on Friday, April 9th. In order to inspect the country to be traversed by the Otago central railway, the Commissionera will drive to Lake Wanaka from Cromwell on Saturday, returning to Dunedin about April 15th, via Clyde, Kyeburn, Hyde, Mcßae’s, and Palmerston. Railway Management. At the Chamber of Commerce to-day, attention was drawn to the irregular running of the trains, and the president was requested to wire to the Minister for Public Works regarding the matter, at the same time drawing his attention to the fact that when here recently, he promised that the length of time occupied in the journey between Invercargill and Dunedin should bo lessened. Sir G- Grey. Sir G. Grey, in a letter to the Reform Association, intimates his willingness to visit Invercargill and address the electors before Parliament meets.