PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2902, 16 February 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association.]

Wellington, February 14. A case of some interest to depositors in saviugs banks, was heard at the Magistrate'? Court yesterday. The case was once brought by a depositor in the post office saviugs bank named William Nicholson against the department for the recovery of a sum of £l4, being the amount of balance which had stood to his credit in the savings bank. Nicholson, plaintiff, when he originally made his deposit, was hauded a depositor's book, which book was subsequently stolen or lost; and on the day following the loss or theft the book was presented at the savings bank by a person who forged Nicholson's name to a receipt and obtained the balance standing to the account of the depositor Nicholson (£l4). Under those circumstances plaintiff now sought to make the department lesponsible for the money. The defeuce relied upon regulation 134 of the post office savings bank, which provides that if any person shall obtain by any means any money belonging to any depositor the postmaster shall not be held responsible for the amount. The Magistrate reserved judgment.

Napier, February 15. Henry Goodard, aged 18, an engine driver at a sawmill, was drowned yesterday while bathing in the Tuta Kuri river.

Masterton, February 15. Yesterday afternoon two men named Thomas Connelly and James Burke were driving in a trap through Queen street, when the horse bolted. The trap struck a post, and Burke was pitched out, and serionsly injured. Connelly then jamped out, and fell on his head on the metalled road, receiving such injuries that he died in threequartets of an hour from concussion of the brain. Deceased was a farm laborer, and lived at Manaia. He leaves a wife and four young children. Christchurch, February 15. There are in Christchurch at the present time no less than 30 of the gentry formerly desmbed as Sydney magsmen. They have already distinguished themselves at one or two of the local meetings, and will probably make their way south. Blenheim, February 10. It has been decided to hold a regatta on the Wairan river on St. Patrick's day. It is hoped that Rowing Clubs in other districts will send crews. Liberal prizes are offered.

Auckland, February 15. At the morning session of the Presbyterian General Assembly a motion re the condition and prospects of Presbyterianiam was referred to a committee consisting of the Revs. D. Sidey, Somerville, Patterson, and Erwin for their rejiort. An overture from the Auckland Presbytery re training was referred to the Presbyteries for consideration.

OPENING A ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

Dunediu, February 14. Notwithstanding the misty weather a tremendous crowd assembled outside tho Roman Catholic Cathedral to view the procession at the opening. The Catholic school children formed a lane from the Bishop's residence to the Cathedra) gate. The procession was formed by an hilar boy carrying incense, a priest with it cross, 21 altar boys, five Bishops, Archdeacon, Cardinal Moran, and Chaplain and Secretary. As his Eminence passed the girls, who were diessed in white with cardinal sashes, they strewed the ground on which he walked with flowers. On his reaching the gate, the choir, consisting of 60 voices and a number of instrumentalists, sang the church's song of welcome, ' ; Behold the High Priest." Dr. Reynolds celebrated Pontifical Hi'jih Mass, and his Eminence then preached the dedication sermon, tracing the history of the Catholic Church, and concluding with reference to the labors of Bishop Moran. The congregation must have numbered over 2000, notwithstanding that tickets were charged for at £l. The Cathedral has cost about £20,000.

The amount realised by the openin° of the Cathedral will be about £200o"! The offertory amounted to over £4OO. THE BUSH FIRES RELIEF FUND. Hawera, February 15. The Stratford Relief Committee have decided to divide the settlers who are to be given relief into three classes. The first-class contains those who are deemed to be best able to bear their losses; second, those to whom assistance is necessary to enable them to get through the winter, but who are not absolutely destitute; and the third-class those who are absolutely destitute, or

would very soon become so but for the assistance of the fund. The distribution will be in building and fenciu* material. The first-class will receive 4s or 5s in the pound on the amount of assessment of their loss ; the seconders will receive from 6s 8d to 7s 6d in the pound; and the third-class will receive in full.