NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1922, 22 April 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

AUCKLAND, April 21. Mr Speight. Mr Speight hag postponed addressing his constituents to next week. Embezzling Government Funds. It is reported that the cost of the Crown prosecution of J. C. Young, will amount to £2500, owing to the expense of summoning dutant witnesses. Pleuro-Pneumonia.

Two more veterinary surgeons, as inspectors, have been appointed for the Waikato, where the pleuro-pneumouia is spreading. At the last meeting of the South Auckland Cattle Board, Veterinary Inspector Naden reported that the disease was severe in the Cambridge district. One speaker alleged that as to the cattle of the Piako Swamp Company, a great number wore iu the bush, and a rigid scrutiny of the company’s cattle should be made. WELLINGTON, April 22. A woman named McLaggan attempted suicide at noon, by throwing herself off the breastwork. She was rescued by a constable, and taken to the police station. PALMERSTON NORTH, April 22. CommittalAlexander Cameron, a settler of Ngawakarau, well known in the district, was this morning committed for trial on a charge of selling bullocks given him to graze. Another charge of embezzling money belonging to the same prosecutor, Mr. Oanevey, of Turakena, will be heard this afternoon. DUNEDIN, April 22. The Convict ButlerThis morning Butler pleaded * Guilty ’ to burglary at Stamper’s house, but ‘Not Guilty’ to stealing books from the Catholic Church, The jury, without leaving the box, found him 1 Guilty.’ On the suggestion of the bench the Crown Prosecutor entered a nolle prosequi in respect of attempting to shoot the constables. The prisoner, in answer to the usual challenge, said nothing. The judge, in passsing sentence, said, ‘ It is evident that, during the whole of your life, you have committed crime. From your earliest childhood you have been a persistent enemy of society. When the court has to deal with such habitual criminals as you are, it is absolutely necessary that such punishment should bo meted out as will prevent the danger to society which must necessarily ensue if such characters as yourself are at large. The sentence I am about to pass on you, it will distinctly be understood, is not measured in any degree by what took place recently. On that charge you wore acquitted. Such verdiet by no means exonorates you from grave supioions in respect to that charge. I "concur in that verdict, not because I am convinced of your innocence, but because, in my opinion, the evidence brought against you was not sufficient to justify a verdict of guilty. I particularly wish you to understand that the suspicion which must weigh on the mind of everybody in respect to that transaction does not affect in the least the sentence I am going to pronounce. The sentence I pronounce is based on your previour career and on the circumstance that, immediately ufteryou were let out of gaol, you commenced again a career of crime. Larceny and burglary, the latter accompanied in ail probability —though that is not put against you—by arson. The sentence of the Court is in respect to the burglary, that jou bo kept in penal servitune for 18 years, and for the larceny, after previous conviction, for 10 years. The sentence to run concurrently. This is practically 18 years. Mr Ungsitt intimated that he would consult with the At-torney-General as to whothar the other indictments for murder should be proceeded with. INVERCARGILL, April 23. Acclimatisation. At the annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, it was resolved to increase the bonus for killing shsgs from threepence to one shilling ; to petition Parliament for a general shooting license in the colony; to impo;-e a gun tax of ten shillings; also, on account of the rabbit pest, to recommend and encourage the introduction of woaeles, foxes, and stoats. The last resolution to be fully ventilated by the committee before being given effect to.

AUCKLAND, April 21. Opening up New Country. The Minister for Public Works has recognised the importance of opening the road leading from Pokeno railway station to Miranda by authorising the expenditure of £SOO. This is an important district, having large deposits of coal and ironstone. There is still a considerable quantity of government land on the line. Coal Deposits. Coal deposits have been discovered at Maharangi. Messrs Whitaker and Palmer are endeavoring to induce the settlers owning the lands to join in the deposits being worked by a strong joint stock company, paying a royalty to the owners of lands on "which seams may be worked. Training CollegeThe new training college for junior teachers has been completed in Wellesley street at a cost of £2890. In addition, it will afford school accommodation for 400 children. Tampering with JuriesSummonses have been issued against two well known citizens for alleged tampering with grand and petty jurors in the case of S. E. Hughes, charged with indecent assault. The cases come on for hearing on Saturday, FireA fire at Coromandel destroyed Leon’s Hotel. Nothing was saved. The insurance was for £250, and the fire is supposed to have been accidental. Embezzling Government Funds. J. O. Young’s case has been adjourned until to-morrow, owing to the non-arrival of important documents from Tauranga. The TotalisatorMr Franck offered to work the totalisator at the ensuing meeting on the racecourse on condition of dividing the profits with the Racing Club. The offer was rejected, and the Club said that they would permit him admission with his instrument on the payment of £6O for the privilege. This offer Franck declined. SportingJudging from the betting market here there does not appear to be the usual amount of monetary interest centred in the Autumn races. On the Handicap there is very little straight out betting, and the odds must be quoted at 4 to 1 on the field. The betting, such as it is however, is almost confined to doubles on the Handicap and Steeplechase, and the principal doubles are—loo to 4 Xantippe and Sportsman, ICO to 8 Libeller and Baron, 100 to 8 Resolution and Baron, 100 to 8 Resolution and Grey Momus, 50 to 1 Ariel and Grey Momus. WELLINGTON, April 21. The Colonial SecretaryThe Hon. Colonial Secretary returned from the South to-day. Coast Lights. The Government have recently imported from Messrs Chance Brothers and Co , lighthouse engineers, Birmingham, a number of lamps, intended for use as coast lights in positions which do not warrant the cost of erecting lighthouses. The Sale of the TramwayThe action in the Supreme Court to set aside the sale of the tramway will not be concluded until to-morrow. Humane Society’s Medal. At Otaki yesterday William Jenkins, who was instrumental in saving the lives of the immigrants wrecked there in the ship City of Auckland in 1878, was presented with the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society. O AMARU, April 21. The Case of Infanticide. Drs. Wait and Garland having certified to the insanity of Julia Paul, she was, on receipt of a communication from the Colonial Secretary, forwarded to the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum by the early train this morning. Coroner’s VerdictAt a Coroner’s inquest held at the hospital to day, on the body of H. Aitken, who died in the hospital on Monday afterneon from injuries received by falling from an express near Duntroon on the 16th, the jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” caused through dislocation of the back. DUNEDIN, April 21.

The Charges against Butler. The minor charges against Bntler will be taken to-morrow. It is reported that in the murder case he will apply tohave the venue changed to Christchurch, Messrs Guthrie and Larnach’s Co. The third ordinary general meeting of shareholders in Guthrie and Larnach’s New Zealand Timber and Woodware Factories Company was held to-day. The directors regretted that the balance-sheet and profit and loss account were less satisfactory than usual. While £lO,lOl 11a lOd stood to profit and loss account they did not recommend a dividend, but that the amount should be carried forward. The report further noted that the directors intended to seek the support of the shareholders to a policy of concentration, by withdrawing from such points as have not fulfilled the company’s aim. It is proposed to limit the branch establishments to London, Invercargill, and possibly Timaru. In Christchurch an agency may be retained for the sale of the company’s manufactures. The operations at head quarters show profits equal to providing a reasonable dividend on the capital notwithstanding all adverse conditions. The efforts to place the balance of unallotted shares at £1 premium have resulted in the taking up of 792 shares in the London market, making a total issue of 42,923 shares. The report was adopted. Mr J. Robin was re-elected director, and Messrs W. Brown and W. Mudie auditors. The Easter Review. At a meeting of Volunteer officers this afternoon, it was resolved to hold the strictest inquiry into the charges against the Volunteers who took part in the late review, and to deal with the known offenders speedily. INVERCARGILL, April 21. Presbyterian* At a meeting of the Presbytery to-day the clerk read the call to the Rev. Mr Ferguson, formerly a student in the Otago University, and it was unanimously agreed that the call should be sustained. Mr Ferguson intimated by letter his preparedness to accept the call which was signed by 220 members and 125 adherents. Body of Infant Found. The body of a newly-born infant waa'found this afternoon in Puni creek, near town. It was wrapped in a Maori kit. The police are investigating the matter. IFBOM OUB OWN COEEBBPONDBNT.] WELLINGTON, April 21. The Native Commissioners. The Native Commissioners, Sir Wm. Fox and Sir D. Bell, have both arrived in Wellington, and sat to-day to arrange various matters in connection with the work of the Commission. It is probable that Sir Dillon Bell will return shortly to the West Coast in connection with the settlement of the reserves recommended in the interim report of the Commission. The Rangitikei Election. It is now considered improbable that Sir Wm. Fox will meet with any serious opposition in the Rangitikei election. At Bulls, which is said to be the stronghold of Mr McLean, and at Marton, ha has had two very successful meetings, only one hand being held up at each place against him. The Colonial Treasurer.

The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer left for Taranaki in the Hinemoa this evening, for a short holiday, A very heavy share of Ministerial labor and responsibility has fallen on the Hon. gentleman, and the short respite is greatly needed, as well as deserved. Major Atkinson is only expected to be away about ton days. Postal Revenue. In reference to the postal revenue for the past nine months, it appears on further investigations that there has been an actual increase of £23,552 in the receipts of the past nine months over those for the corresponding period, excluding the item £6982, Savings Bank profits. The total ordinary postal revenue for the financial period is £108,698, or £7198 in excess of the Colonial Treasurer’s estimate.