TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5635, 22 April 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.)

Auckland, Monday. Andrew Hay, whilst working at a sawmill at Coromandel, had his fingers cut off by getting entangled against the teeth in recovering the sawboard. The Governors of the Grammar School met to-day to consider a writ served by the Improvement Commissioners. As the question to be discussed . involved legal proceedings, reporters were excluded. In reply to a question, if the Crown grant of the reserve were set aside, to whom would the land revert, Mr. Fenton said to the Crown. The Board passed the - following resolution, That a communication be made to the Improvement Commissioners to the effeotjthat on condition of their ceasing proceedings under their writ of fieri facias .the Governors will send the grant of two acres to ' the proper authority in Wellington for correction, if the description shall in the opinion of such authority? be found to be wrong.' 7 A son of the late Eev. John Crossley, formerly of Waikato, was charged at the Police Court to-day with larceny of a lady’s cloak. He had been previously convicted of forgery. 7 Button and Spamin, a half-caste, of Taranaki, are to run a race for a hundred pounds. Ten pounds, deposit has been paid. The race has been fixed for the 10th May. The distance is to be 300 yards. - A meeting of the creditors of W. H. Farnall was held to-day. His liabilities are sworn as ,£32,500 ; against this Mr. Farnall hap put in as an aspet a claim of £ISOO against the Government.

The Thames Pumping Association and the Thames County Council meet on Thursday to consider the proposal that the Pumping Association reimburse the County Council, on condition that the Council hand over security to the association.

The wind last week averaged 320 miles a day. The total number of inmates of the hospital is S 3. ■ '

CheISICHDICH, Monday. At the Drainage Board meeting to-day, the following notice of motion was given ‘‘That it is desirable steps" should' be" taken to place” the balance of the £200,000 Christchurch "District Drainage Doan on the London market,**

The Board have authorised the chairman to instruct Mr. Clark, C.E., jn London, to order iron pipes to lead the sewage from the pumps to the sand hills as proposed in the drainage scheme.

A contract for the build ing of an extensive adfiition to Siumyside Lunatic Asylum was commenced on Friday last. The whole of the additions that arc to be made to the institution are estimated to coat about £30,000. The present contract will absorb about £IO,OOO. The Judge to-day would bear no argument vc the person who should bear the blame of the failure of Schwartz’s case. He said it was a matter for the Law Society to deal with. A reward of £350 has been offered by Mr. H. Fuhrraan and the insurances offices for the conviction of the persons who maliciously set fire to the premises of Furbman on the IGth instant.

The nominations for the Birthday Stakes in connection with the Canterbury Coursing Club’s May meeting close to-morrow (Tuea° day). The Illusionists opened successfully to-night at the Theatre Royal.

Dckeihn, Monday. Mrs. Britten, the Freethought and Spiritualist lecturer, gave her first address in Dunedin last night. The theatre was crowded. She is a fluent speaker, but reveals nothing new.

The Roman Catholics of Dunedin yesterday presented Bishop Moran with an address on the occasion of his attaining the 23rd year of his Episcopate. In replying to the address, ha characterised the statement made by the Christian Record, as to what Roman Catholic theologians thought lawless, as a foul lie. He intimated that he would visit Rome in two years, and would make arrangements for an additional supply of priests, nuns, and Christian Brothers.

The Dunedin School Committee to-night passed the following resolution : —“That the Dunedin School Committee cordially approve of the efforts of the Bible in Schools Association to have the Bible re-introduced into our public schools, and will gladly cooperate with them in their efforts to attain so desirable an end.”

Westpout, Monday.

An important judgment has been delivered in the District Court by his Honor Judge Weston. Anthony Turner, appellant, held a residence area at Waimangaroa, under tho Goldfields Act. In September, 1877, he took out a certificate of registration which in September, 1878,' he brought to the Warden’s office for renewal, which was refused on the ground that the land had been withdrawn from the goldfields (said to have been a mistake on the Warden’s part), the Government having merely reserved a block of land from occupation. The Koranui Coal Mining Company, who were the respondents, wished to carry their incline across Turner’s ares. They (the company) first tried to force their way through with axes. Turner resisted, and was summoned by the aggressors for assault. That case was dismissed, as involving a question of title. Then the company summoned him to the Warden’s Court to have his certificate cancelled on the ground that he had no miner's right, which the Warden, who had misled Turner, decided in their favor. Turner appealed. Messrs. Fisher and Guinness were counsel for the appellant, and Mr. Humphrey for the respondent. Judge Weston upheld the appeal and commented in strong terms upon the action of the Warden in cancelling the certificate on any ground whatever, when he himself had misled Turner and placed him in tho position that his certificate was rendered liable to forfeiture. He ruled that the facts proved did not warrant forfeiture, and gave judgment for appellant, with costs £26 18s. In the face of this decision Mr. Maokay, Administrator of Goldfields, has entered another action to oust Turner. This course is generally regarded as one of persecution, since Turner, it is said, did not desire to hinder the progress of tho works, and would have accepted £3O, but no offer was made. Turner’s deposit on appeal and costs were defrayed by public subscription. Invercargill, Monday.

At the District Court this morning, John Wilson was found guilty on two charges of false pretences. Sentence was deferred. The application of Matthew H. Bennett, a bankrupt, for his order of discharge, which was before the Court at its last sitting, was gone on with. The trustee’s report was read, but failed to throw any light upon the bankrupt's affairs, in consequence of the inability of the trustee to obtain possession of certain books in the possession of his son. A further adjournment of the case was therefore granted, and an order made for the production of tho books in question. His Honor characterised the proceedings in connection with the bankrupt’s doings as very questionable. ' At a meeting of the Town Council the draft of the address proposed to be presented to tho Governor on the occasion of his visit here on Thursday was read. It was resolved that tho town should bo illuminated if arrangements could be made, and the parties illuminating to pay their own expenses. Tho aid of the Volunteers and band in making the affair a success was asked.

A meeting of citizens was held to-night to take steps to accord the Governor a suitable reception on his arrival here. It was resolved to hold a citizens’ ball and invite the viceregal patty, and to render the ball as popular as possible. It was agreed to make the price of the tickets 12s. 6d., and to exclude wines and spirits from the refreshments ; the refreshments in other respects to be thoroughly liberal. A strong committee was appointed, and the ball is to be held on Friday night.