LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1468, 11 June 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, June 10. Joseph Giles has been gazetted Registrar under the Sale of Poison Act for the County of Westland; and H. A. Stratford for the County of Grey. The Hokitika Rifle Cadet Volunteers are disbanded. The Conference of delegates of the local bodies resumed its sittings to-day, only ten members being present. The following resolutions were moved by M‘Arthur, and carried (1.) That the Conference is of opinion that the position ot local bodies throughout New Zealand is such that they cannot satisfactorily fulfil the object for which they were established unless some legislation takes place which will put them in a better financial position. (2.) That by the withdrawal of subsidies and land fund, without any substitute or assistance for what was so withdrawn from the local bodies, the effective settlement of the country districts of New Zealand, .and thereby of the whole Colony, has been retarded. (3.) That it is an imperative necessity to provide out of the proceeds of the sale of any block of Crown lands funds sufficient to complete roads within such block within a reasonable time. ' Christchurch, June 9. Some one stowed away a bottle of brandy behind the grate in the dining room of the Palace Hotel, and to-duv when the.occupants were at dinner, the liquor flew up with a loud report. Burning coals were scattered over the room ; and the blazing spirit was forced through the crevices of the mantel-piece and in all directions. Luckily most of its force went up the chimney, and though two or three people were sitting within a foot or two of the fireplace, they escaped uninjured. It has been the practice of County Councils here to allocate sums from their revenues for the purchase of recreation grounds in various portions of the districts under their care. A legal opinion has now been given that they have no such power, the manner in which their funds are to be expended being clarly set out in the Counties Act, and not mentioning such items as recreation grounds. June 10. It is raining heavily still, and some of the northern rivers are in heavy flood. A man named John Prescott was brought before the R.M. Court to-day, on remand, charged with indecent conduct on four separate occasions. He pleaded guilty to three charges ; and Superintendent Broham elected not to go into the other case, and to take the Court’s judgment on the charges that the prisoner had admitted. The Bench considered that the case was one of the worst that had been brought before them, and commented severely on the disgusting nature of the offences. Women must be protected from the insults of such characters as the prisoner, who would be sentenced to one year’s imprisonment on each charge, three years in all, Syith hard labor. Some 30 or 40 photographs were found on the prisoner when arrested, of an obscene character, Dunedin, June 9. A man named Meade, of Oaversharn, made a determined attempt at suicide last last night. He had been drinking and was assaulting his wife, and

when a policeman came lib attempted to draw a razor across his throat. He was arrested. Cromwell, June 10. A young man named Clement Bashnell has been Committed for trial for a brutal assault, with intent, upon, a re l spectable elderly woman, Mrs Cameron, of Alberttowm The opportune arrival of a neighbor prevented further injury to the woman. Prisoner and prosei cutrix were strangers-.