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Kumara Times, Issue 992, 4 December 1879, Page 2

We have been requested by Mr Stanhope, of Dillman’s Town, to publish the following reply received in answer to a memorial to his Excellency the Governor re the Arahura Road Board, from 150 ratepayers of this district : Wellington, 2nd April, 1879. In reply to the memorial to his Excellency, I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to state that the Government have no power to interfere in the matter, and to point out that as the Board is an elective body, the remedy, if there be any, is entirely in the hands of the ratepayers. (Signed) G. S. Cooper. How, in the face of. this, the necessary authority has been obtained by the Returning Officer for the present election, we fail to understand. At the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court Warder Walsh was charged With supplying tobacco and matches to a prisoner. Doggan, a prisoner, gave evidence to the effect that Walsh called him into a room one day and asked prisoner if he had any tobacco. Prisoner said “no.” Walsh then said “I’ll give you some,” and immediately gave him a stick of tobacco and some matches. Walsh then asked prisoner if he thought he could swear, or knew any prisoner inside who could swear that the gaoler, Parker, was drunk on a certain date. Prisoner said he had not seen him, but at the suggestion of Walsh he went inside with a pencil and a piece of paper, and got another prisoner, who said he had seen the gaoler drunk on that date. This coming to the gaoler’s ears, he brought the charge against the warder, and the matter was investigated before the Magistrate and three justices. The result was that the Warder was found “ Guilty ” and fined £lO or a month’s imprisonment. The Southland Times reports having heard from Stewart’s Island of the arrival of the schoooner Friendship from a sealing cruise amongst the Islands, her take consisting of 303 fur and about 100 hair skins. She reports that a boat’s crew landed on the Aucklands from the Awarua, schooner, appears to have been lost, as no trace of men or boat could be found, and the hut did not appear to have been tenanted for a considerable period. Two dogs were seen on the islands, but as we have said, no trace of the men. It seems too probable that the whole of the boat’s crew have perished. The slander action, Daily Telegraph v Graham Barry, resulted in a verdict for plaintiff of £250, but several points were reserved for the consideration of the full Court. Defendant was not called as a witness. The slander was that Mr Berry stated at a public meeting that he had been told by a large squatter on the voyage to England that the whole of the Opposition Press except the “ Argus ” was subsidised. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a committee to organise “ The Broad Miners Memorial Fund,” will be held at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, on Saturday evening next. We trust on that occasion to see a large number present as the friends of the late Charles Broad in this district are legion.