LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1097, 6 April 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[united press association.]

Christchurch, April 3. In the libel case, Crisp v. Ivess, the’ Crown Prosecutor refuses to prosecute. Mr Crisp has written a letter to Ivess’s counsel, withdrawing the prosecution! which means a complete cave in on the part of the prosecutor, and a victory for Ivess. The alleged libel charged Crisp with exacting money from the ‘ ratepayers by writing threatening letters, for which he made a charge of six shillings, at the same time holding the position of Borough Solicitor at a yearly salary.

April 5. Some time ago a man named Buckley was prosecuted for stealing a cheque at Rangiora and discharged, to-day a man named West was arrested for stealing the same cheque which had been given him in a letter to post. He forgot to do so, and the letter remaining in his possesoion for several days the temptation was too great, and he took the cheque out and cashed it. The two libel cases against the Ashburton Mail and the Otago Daily Times were the Crown Prosecutor refusing to proceed. In the case of two lads, charged with obstructing the railway line by placing a log of wood on it, there was some doubt as to whether the offence was really an obstruction, and as the lads pleaded guilty the Judge said he f«-lb in a difficulty, and he would hold the case over till he could consult his brother judges. Justice Johnston expressed his determination, however, to treat this sort of offence very severely. The father of one of the lads was in Court, but refused to defend his son.

Wellington, April 5. The police are taking active steps in connection with Sunday trading, and laid several informations against public cans for breach of the Act.

Charles Marsden is the name of the man who lost his life at the fire at the Awahuri Hotel last night. The servant girl, who jumped from the window, had her leg broken by the fall. Of the £ISOO insured in the Colonial office, £SOO was reinsured in the Trans-Atlanfic, £250 in Victorian, and £SOO in offices oat of the Colony. A stable and barn, the property of Thomas Benton, Carterton, were destroyed by fire yesterday morning. Loss £IOO, uninsured.

The preliminary inquiry into the circumstances of the loss of the schooner Eosannah 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 is now a total wreck. During the investigation, it transpired that while the crew were absent from the vessel a portion of the cargo, consisting of two boxes of tobacco, was stolen.

The Post to-night says that, the exact figures have not yet we believe that the actual receipts from Customs revenue during the period quoted amounted to about £903,000. As estimated, it was £950,000. It will be seen that it has not been reached by nearly £50,000. The stamp revenue, we understand, has realised about £112,000, or £13,000 under the Estimate of £125,000. To the deficieccy under this head must be added a refund

“of nearly £20,000, on account of duty 'wrong!y levied in the estate of the late W. B. Rhodes, The practical deficiency t)f these two sources is, therefore, about

£BO,OOO short, and 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.