INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 3, 3 January 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Dunedin, Wednesday. A : telegram has been received from Newcastle, New South Wales, that the coal proprietors refuse to make any reduction in the price -of coal as requested by the New Zealand coal merchants. Wellington, Tuesday. At the sittings of the Supreme Court today, the Chief Justice in charging the Grand Jury, remarked on the somewhat heavy nature of the calendar. Not only were the cases more numerous than of late, but the crimes more serious. Murder, attempt to murder, two rapes, one burglary, stealing from a dwelling, concealment of birth, and beastiality. The Grand Jury found true bills against all except in the case of Louisa Smith, sen., no bill for murder, but a true bill for concealment of birth. Wednesday. The Dolly Varden (Wellington Rowing Club) crew leave for Nelson to day in the Hawea, and will go in for training over there. They are taking over au inrigged aud an outrigged pair oar, an inrigged and outrigged four oar and a sculling boat. The steamer leaves at 1 p.m. Auckland, Tuesday. At the Supreme Court to-day, Judge Gillies in his charge to the Grand Jury commented on the practice of magistrates committing for trial.in cases wherein their duties would not require them to do so, He condemned the policemen for bringing prosecutions in cases where the public interest did not render it necessary. He censured the practice of policemen improperly extracting admissions from prisoners, with a view of extracting evidence for prosecution. He commented upon one extraordinary case in which the prisoner had made admissions, then been made to sign them, and at the Magistrate's enquiry prisoner was placed in the box and sworn as to the accuracy of his own confessions. His Honor said such evidence was entirely inadmissible. Draper for embezzlement of money of the Bible Book Depot, and four charges of forging receipts was sentenced to eighteen months. Other cases today unimportant. Wednesday. Selling Race: Tommy Dodd, 1; Skylark, 2. Only these two ran, the betting being 2 to 1 on Tommy. Stewards Plate: MrM'Gee's May Morn, I•, Isaac Walton, 2; Fallacy, nowhere. Betting, even on Fallacy, who slipped at the turn for home when half a length behind the winner. Consolation Plate: Gainsborough,!; Don, 2; Tui, 3. Medea also ran. Won easily. Mr M'Gee wins about £1000 in bets and stakes. Mr Waiters wins nothing. Mr Ray only takes two or three small events. Grahamstown, Wednesday. Ia the firing for the choice of representatives Black, of the Armed Constabulary, made an aggregate of 160; Gordon; 144: Stanger, 137. Christchurch, Wednesday. Mr Justice Johnson, in speaking of the Charge against Thomas Hester Knibbs for stealings post letter,said it was very disirable that the present system of using only common locks for letter boxes should be discontinued and that the very best locks obtainable should be adopted.