TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5140, 13 September 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Ohkistohdech, Wednesday. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Samuel Needham, charged with an attempt to commit a rape on his own daughter, was brought up. The magistrate said he had decided to deal summarily with the case. He did not think the interests of justice would suffer by him adopting that course, and the interests of the public certainly would not suffer by it. It was probable, on the evidence, that the prisoner, if taken before a jury, would be acquitted of the attempt to commit a rape. There was just a loophole of escape, therefore he would deal summarily with the case. Prisoner was certainly guilty of a most aggravated assault on a female, and would receive the severest punishment allowed by the law, namely, six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, and at the expiration of that time he would have to find substantial sureties for his good conduct for a further period of six mouths. Timaru, Wednesday. At the adjourned criminal sittings of the District Court to-day, Joseph Cookroft, junr., was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, for fraudulent bankruptcy. Mr. Hammersley, counsel for the accused, moved for arrest of judgment on the ground of its being necessary to have an attesting witness to the declaration of insolvency. His Honor ruled against him. Dunedin, Wednesday., The Standard Insurance Company have decided to issne the unallotted shares of the company, amounting to £50,000. The Education Board met to-day and ap--proved of the action of the High School Committee urging that a commission of inquiry should be appointed. New Plymouth, Wednesday. Mrs. Bartlett, landlady of the Opunake Hotel, was assaulted by a native who was forwarded as a prisoner by the coach to New Plymouth yesterday. When the coach reached Harriet Beach it was stuck up by some natives, who rescued the prisoner. Sergeant Duffin arrested to-day at Bell Block the man Pote, who is charged with the manslaughter of a woman at . Auckland. Pote is remanded to Auckland. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Melbodbne, Sept. 5. The new Jewish synagogue has been opened. It cost £7OOO. McGrath, a settler, has committed suicide by jumping from a train. The Tanjore took £120,000 worth of gold. The Victorian Commissioners have applied for 2000ffc. of extra space at the Paris Exhibition. Two hundred hogsheads of brandy have been sold at Bs. 9d. There is an improved demand for sugars. Brisbane, Sept. 5. The Government propose to vote £2OOO for representation at the Paris Exhibition. At a meeting of the creditors of. Clark and Hodgson, with liabilities amounting to £90,000, their failure was attributed to the shipment of produce to England. The estate will pass thiough the Bankruptcy Court.