PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2921, 10 March 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, March 9. Parliament, which at present stands prorogued to March 15, will be called together early in May, provided there is no dissolution.

The Nelson portion of the white fish ova was found to he rotten when opened. The ova were all carefully packed in accordance with instructions at ’Frisco.

It has b-‘en stated that the Wellington Exhibition will result in a loss of £IO,OOO. Government, however, an; very reticent, on the sm s Jeot, and w'U not say more than vh a there is a loss,

but it is not known how much. The accounts have not yet been made up. It is understood, that the Australia and Zealandia were bought by the Oceanic Company to run between Honolulu and Japan. Considerable trade is growing up with Japan via Hawaii. The new steamer which it was mentioned the Oceanic Company are going to build for the ’Frisco sev vice will be 50 feet longer and one foot broader than the Alameda and Mariposa. The Samoan Chiefs who left Auckland by the Mariposa were landed at Tutuilla and proceeded by sailing vessel to Samoa. The Chiefs expressed themselves to passengers as being highly delighted with the entertainment they received at the hands of the New Zealand Government. Ross, March 10, There was a good deal of excitement over another extension of the Ross United Company’s auriferous wash. Another shaft put down this morning proves the layer to be 98 feet in width, and as thick as ever without showing any signs of giving out. The Hospital Committee decided last night to recommend the Charitable Aid Board to ask Dr. M‘Leod to resign, A petition signed by 150 residents asks the committee to discharge Dr. M'Leod. CONSTABLE M'GILL IN TROUBLE. Christchurch, March 8, At the District Court to-day Josiab Johnson, a pupil teacher of the lower Heathcote school, sued P. M'Gill, a constable, for £IOO damages for illegal arrest and nnnecessaiy violence connected therewith. The evidence showed that the constable had arrested the plaintiff without any charge hiving been formally preferred but acting on the presumption of plaintiff's gviilr, in consequence of having been shown a letter from a doctor stating that a girl plaintiff was supposed to have assaulted, was in a precarious state. The constable had handcuffed the plaintiff in the presence of a number of children and other teachers at the school, and, notwithstanding a remonstrance from the head master that the plaintiff would go quietly. Johnson has since been entirely exonerated before the R.M. Court. For the defence it was pleaded that the constable had acted under the belief that he was justified by the Police Offence Act, Judge Ward pointed out that the Act was ranch calculated to mislead, as it provided a special penalty for constables not performing their duty, though in this case the constable had acted under a misapprehension of his duty. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded £SO damages. March 9. Government will inquire into the circumstances of the arrest of Mr Josiah Johnson, at Chrischurch, and if they consider the constable’s action within limits they will hear the charges of the action against him. It was intended to try and compromise the case, but the action came before the Court too quickly.