NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1968, 15 June 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBB FEHBB ASSOCIATION.] Criminal Session. NAPIER, June 15. The criminal sittings of tho Supreme Court commenced yesterday, before Judge Richmond. Arthur Parnaley, for forgery, was remanded for sentence. John Boyd, for obstructing a railway train, was sentenced to 15 years. Poatu (a Native), for horaeatealing, to two years, Kirika (a Native), for attempting to do grovious bodily harm (the baking doctor) to one month. To day, for forgery, Arthur Barnsley was aontenced to four years. William George Heweon, for rape on a girl eight years of age, to two years and twenty five lashes, WELLINGTON, June 15. Sly Grog Selling. The charges for sly grog selling are proceeding at the Magistrate’s Court. None are decided yet. Later. Pouncably and Smart, oyater saloon keepers, and Mrs Campbell, general storekeeper, have been fined £5 for sly-grog selling. BLENHEIM, June 15. The Beer TaxA meeting of brewers and publicans last night resolved to send a deputation to Wellington to meet tho delegates from other places to take eteps to repeal the beer tax. An offer by Mr Dodson, a local brewer, to pay half the tax and the publicans the other half, until the Bill is entered on the Statute Book, and that the price of beer should remain as at present, was accepted. WANGANUI, June 15. The Beer TaxThe Brewers here have been notified that the publicans must pay the duty on beer before delivery. The Licensed Victuallers Association have passed a resolution that the Tax is unjust, and it asks the local representatives to oppose it. INVERCARGILL, June 15. The Property TaxA large meeting of settlers at Thornbury, near Riverton, denounced the property tax, and suggested the substitution of a moderate land tax, exempting improvements, and an income tax. Sittings of Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court grand jury have made a presentment re quarterly sittings instead of halt yearly. In one case a prisoner, against whom no bill was found, has been imprisoned for over six months, and others nearly six months. Rabbiters" Association. An interim committee has framed a constitution for the Southland Rabbiters’ Association furthering the interests of members and providing for pecuniary benefits in cases of accidents and sickness. A general meeting will be held on Monday next. Death of the Prisoner Wilson. Messrs Strode and Simpson, E.M.’s, have been appointed Commissioners to inquire into tho circumstances connected with the death of the prisoner Wilson, in Invercargill gaol, and tho conduct of Mr McCulloch, B.M. at the inquest. TIMARU, June 16. National Bank v- Macintosh. The Supreme Court to-day has been taken up with the case of the National Bank v. Macintosh, an action to recover two thousand pounds for non-fulfilment of a guarantee. Tho defence is that Mr Stevens, manager of the Bank, induced the defendant to sign the guarantee on behalf of John Ring, although he knew the latter was hopelessly involved at tho time, Stevens emphatically denies that he knew King’s position, but, in cross-examination, acknowledged that Macintosh having fourteen hundred pounds’ worth of bills due, which he could not meet, he offered him the required accommodation, on condition that he should execute tho guarantee. The case is now proceeding. AUCKLAND, Juno 14. Official Inquiry. An official enquiry into the collision between the barque John Bull and the schooner Columbia has terminated. The judgment given by the Court was that both patties were to blame. Heavy GaleIn a storm at Onehunga a largo iron shed belonging to Messrs Guthrie and Larnaoh was completely blown down. In Queen street considerable damage was dona to other property. SportingAt the Pakurangi hunt meeting there were several spills, one of them entailing the death of a handsome mare owned by Miss Stgak. When rising to a jump the mare slipped, and was pitched headlong over a fence, breaking her neck. Miss Stgak luckily escaped unhurt. The Hospital ScandalS. Brown, head nurse of the Provincial Hospital, against whom grave charges were preferred, has tendered her resignation. The Property Tax, At a meeting held re the property tax, Captain D. H, McKenzie in the chair, resolutions were carried in favor of the abolition of the tax and the imposition of a land and income tax ; also a declaratory resolution that economy and retrenchment are urgently demanded in the conduct of public affairs. NAPIER, June 14. Criminal SessionsThere was an extraordinary scene in the ‘■'upremo Court this morning, when John Boyd alias Hutton was brought up on a charge of obstructing the railway. He pleaded guilty, but when asked if he had anything to say for himself he launched into most horrible profanity and filthy language, swearing at Judge Richmond, at tho gaoler and police. His Honor remarked that the man must be mad, when with a string of oaths he declared that it was his Honor who was mad. He was sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude. His Honor said that he was either a dangerous lunatic or a criminal of the worst class. He added that he would represent the case to the Minister for Justice. The charge against Kerika of roasting Henoana, another Maori, was provocative of much amusement. His Honor, in his •harge to the Grand Jury, treated the offence very lightly, and expressed a doubt as to whether the Crown Prosecutor should present the indictment. The jury however brought in a true bill. The evidence for tho prosecution was the same as already reported. Kerika’s defence was to the effect that he was treating the man to drive out a devil or cure him of blindness, and he mentioned Mr Oolenso’s letter to the “ Herald” as proving that this was a proper Maori surgical practice. The jury returned a verdict of “ Guilty.” His Honor said that he did not think the prisoner had acted with any wrong intention, and inflicted a sentence of one month’s hard labour. The Maoris in their evidence showed a strong feeling against the prisoner, and taunted him with cowardice in roasting an old, blind, infirm, and weak man, when there were plenty of strong ones to operate on. Gold Mining.

The Mohaka gold discovery is causing some excitement, Wentworth, one of the prospectors, yesterday returned to town with a small parcel of stone. It did n>t show gold, but when crushed it gave a fair yield. He also had some alluvial gold, though he did not find payable wash. Some local men are putting money down to secure a thorough prospect of the country, and several claims are already pegged off, but the information to hand certainly does not justify a rush. The gold found is merely sufficient to justify further prospecting. The ground is within a day’s ride north of Napier, but the country is very rough and is not settled. WELLINGTON, Juno 14. Re the Beer Tax. At a meeting of the licensed victuallers this afternoon, a deputation was appointed to wait on the brewers, with a view of coming to some arrangement as to what amount of the recently imposed tax on beer should be charged to the publicans, NEW PLYMOUTH, June 14. Another Hospital Scandal.

James Hill, late hospital steward, was arrested to-day on a charge of having embezzled certain stores while acting as steward

of the institution. He vu remanded, bail being allowed. The Licensed Victualler*. The licensed victuallers met this afternoon, when several resolutions were passed, one condemning the beer tax as unfair and excessive. The secretary was instructed to draw up a petition to the House, asking to be relieved of the same. The petition will be forwarded to Mr Kelly for presentation, and copies will be sent to Major Atkinson and. Colonel Trimble. DUNEDIN, June 14. The Beer Tax. At a meeting of brewers hold to-night, Messrs James Marshall and Maurice Joel were appointed delegates to go to Wellington to act with the other associations for the repeal of the beer tax. A local brewer calculates that if the proposed beer tax becomes law, six Dunedin brewers will amongst them contribute no less a eum than £32,000 annually to the revenue. The Bar. The ship Dunbriton, drawing 20ft. of water, was baought over the bar with ease yesterday. INVERCARGILL, June 14. Criminal Sessions. The half-yearly sitting of the Supreme Court opened this morning before Judge Williams. Thos. Tibbetts, for larceny, received two years’ imprisonment with hard labor; Robert Arnold, for maliciously wounding, eighteen months; Fredk. Fresnel!, for larceny, four months. Duncan Cameron pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting arson, and Louis Schmoll was found guilty of shooting at his wife with intent. In both cases sentence was deferred. William James, for burglary, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. The Grand Jury returned bills against Fook Ohoy for cutting and wounding; Henry Hawkins, rape, and Lachlan Reynolds, arson.

was nothing to show that it had been verified by affidavit of any person ; there was no evidence to show that they form two-third* of the adults of the district, and the collector of the signatures had not put his name to the document, as provided by the Act, and contained in the schedule. He therefore contended that the memorial was not such an instrument as the Court could look at or take cognizance of. Mr Scott, at this stage, appeared and informed the Court that his firm had been instructed to appear on behalf of the objector*, - and a mistake had occurred as to the day of sitting. Mr Joynt should submit that Mr Scott had no locus standi in the case unless he could show that the petition was legal. The Bench were of opinion that, they had judicial knowledge of circumstances which entitled them fo consider whether the licence should be granted, and would proceed on that understanding. It was decided that the Court should give the grounds on which, under section 31 of the Act, they decider! to take cognizance of the objections, without reference to any petition or formal notice of objection. The grounds were as follows:—“That the licensing Bi-nch have knowledge that on the occasion of a party disturbance the licensee (of the Borough Hotel) failed to take such steps for the prevention of the riot as lay in his power.” The Court then adjourned for half an hour. On resuming, Mr Scott asked whether the Bench had yet decided whether he was entitled to appear on behalf of certain householders. Mr Hellish said the Bench had not decided that ha should not, appear. The Bench being cognizant of certain matters, however, which might be taken as an objection to the app'ication, thought it better to consider that first, and Mr Scott could be heard afterwards regarding those for whom ho appeared. Mr Scott said he would wait t*U that had been settled.