SECOND EDITION

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 23, 24 December 1883, Page 3

SECOND EDITION

INTERPROVINCIAL. — ♦ — - (.UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Gisbohe, December 23. The case of Rees v. "Woodbine Johnston, to compel specific performance of agreement to sell to Rees and Wi Pere, as trustees fov natives, a property worth £37,000, was adjourned to Wellington for argument, after some evidenoe had been taken. In the divorce case Goldsmith v. Goldsmith and Poulgram a decree absolute was' granted. -'■■■„ Hawera, December 22. Re the brewery fire, Burton, the owner,,, was yesterday arrested by Sergt.-Major Goodall, and this morning Drought up at the R.M. Court, charged with arson. He was remanded for 10 days, bail being allowed. His wife was fined for assaulting the police m tie execution of their duty. Wellington. December 23. The "Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company have accepted the tender of John Taylor, of Auckland j for the No. 12 contracVcovering the construction of five miles Of railway between Poriraa harbour and Paikakariki hill, the amount being £27,959 Is 6d. There ■were three other tenderers. The work •will be commenced about a fortnight,, hence, and has to be completed within 18 months. The Government to-day came, io a decision to take over the Opaki Railway contract immediately beyond Masterton, the contractor having admitted his inability to" cany ou the ■workv The- Government engineer has accordingly" taken posseFsiim of , the plant, <fee, and will complete the contract'at the risk of the contractor and his sureties. .. ... The Hon. the Premier returned by the Hauroto which arrived from Sydney to-day. A cablemessage from Sydney states that the trial q£ the great New Zealand libel case, Oook'v. Larnach, concluded last night, after occupying the Supieme Court for five" days. The judge summed up stronglyin favour of the defendant whose evidence remained absolutely Tincontradicted notwithstanding the most tftrcnuous eflorts pn the part- of the plaintiff, t6, ( upsetfit, The jury, after on absence of six 'hours were unable to agree on a- verdict and were discharged. T6 is .stated that eight were m favour of the defendant and four for the plaintiff. Great praise -is given to the Hon. P. A. Buckley, of Wellington, for the manner m which lie conducted the defendant's case. Dunedin; December 22. Mr Charles Bright, Freethought lecturer, will shortly arrive m D>inedin to star a few months. He will be accompanied by Mrs Bright, who also lectures. »■■• - i: ' ■ ' : - : ; ' '■ • ■;•■' ' • 'CHRrfiTCHUBCBr, December 2*3. Last 'night at an-open air meeting of unemployed, "etc, a committee was h appointed to organise a "Working Men's Protection Society. Very few attended the meeting. John Whiteside, of Rangiora, yesterday morning 1 attempted suicide by cutting his throat with a table knife. Has -been arrested for the offence. He is now out of danger. ~ ' Peter Cunningham's cups, won at the Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Asßbciaii6ri Show, were yesterday preserfted^^toi-Messi-s Boag, Howland, and Duncan, and after the ceremony a number of friends luet at a .phampange luncheon.