INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10067, 8 February 1909, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. [ February 7. The hearing of the charge against John Pechugin and Stephen Ferdinand ot assaulting a Chinaman was concluded at the ■Supreme Court yesterday, the accused, feeing found not guilty. In the course of his summing up Mr Justice Cooper made reference to the failure of the constable who gave evidence to state certain alleged facts to the Magistrate's Court, which he supplies yesterday. "To say the least," his Honor declared, ''he was guilty of gross carelessness, and it is his Own fault- if his •evidence is looked upon with suspicion. He made a statement when the case was before the magistrate 11 days after the occurrence. I would not go the length of saying that his evidence is untrue, but when the case was first before t-lie Courthe omitted, two very important matters, matters which were the essence of the case. He made two statements affecting the criminality of one of the accused. He said that he heard Joe Kee say that •'Pechugin knifed him at the back of the ear," and that Pechugin made no reply to that. He also heard Pechugin say, "I have done for the ." His Honor affirmed again that it was the duty of every constable, where a prisoner was taken before a magistrate, to keep nothing back in giving his evidence. In this case it was quite open to the jury to accept the constable's evidence if it saw lit, but he .wished to again emphasise that the constable's evidence was open to very severe criticism. The approximate times for the through train services have now* been fixed 1 . On the northern journey the train will leave Wellington at 11.45 a.m., Marton 4.40 p.m., Taihnpe 6.50 p.m., Ohakune 9.5 p.m., arriving at Auckland at 6.58 a.m. The running of the south trains will be a.s follows : —Leave Auckland on Sundays, and running daily except Saturdays, leaving Auckland at 9.15 p.m., Taihape 9.38 a.m., Marton 11.26 a.m., arriving in Wellington 4.25 p.m. next day. There will be direct connections between Xew Plymouth. Napier, Mast-erf on and Wanganui and Auckland by means of the expresses. February 5. With reference to the Press Association telegram from Christchurch regarding the non-payment of co-operative workers at Domett- for seven weeks, the Public Works Department states that the men resumed work on January 5, and in all probability payment for the month's work will be made to-day, as the practice of the department is to pay for the calendar month. Payments are always made as soon as practicable, and advances given where circumstances warrant. DUNEDIX. February 7. A fanner named Charles .Adam .Mason, aged 65 years, residing at l'uerua, died suddenly yesterday, falling dead while engaged milking a cow. His wife was standing talking to him at the time. Deceased had not been attended by a doctor for years, but lately was suffering from shortness of breath. Heart disease is sunposed to be the cause of death. CHIiISTCHL'RCH. February 7. Albert Hatcher, Walter liyler, and Lancelot Wilson, young men employed as cleaners on the railway, were to-day charged with stealing a case of plums, a quantity of almonds, and two cases ol kerosene from railway waggons in the Christchurch station yard. After hearing evidence, the magistrate said that- it the charge had been one of breaking and entering the waggon ho would have convicted. but there was no evidence to show that the accused had stolen the goods, and he dismissed the ease. At an inquest on Ernest Thomas Saunders', the jury, after hearing evidence, including medical testimony, brought in the following verdict :- —"That dec-eased died from epilepsy, accelerated liy a blow on the head struck by Alexander Kiddey at Sumner on January 20th. 1909." The Coroner : That is equivalent to manslaughter. (To the Chief Detective! : You had better arrest, this man and bring him be;ore me at the Court biter oil. Kiddey was then taken into custody. Alexander Kiddey was subsequently charged before Mr H. W. Bishop with manslaughter. Mr Leatham appeared for accused, and on the application of the police he was remanded till February 13th. Bail was allowed, accused in £IOO and two sureties of £SO. AUCKLAND. February 5. In the Magistrate's Court- W. De Montalk. architect, sued J. W. Hoare and Co., leather nierehajns, Wakefield street.' for the sunt of £74 5s 7d for work done and for money paid by the plaintill on behalf of the defendants. The case for the plaintiff ..was that he had been employed by the defendants to prepare plans, etc., for business premises in Wakelield street. The tenders (seven or eight in number) were duly received and particulars thereof handed to the defendants. One of the tenderers (Mr J. H. Julian) withdrew his price (£1177) because of a mistake in his estimates. This left Messrs Xewson and Campling as the lowest- tenderers, at £1497. The defendants considered that the tenders were too high, and subsequently aranged with Mr Julian to under- ] take the work at a revised price. The plaintiff objected that the procedure was j irregular, and declined to go on with the supervision of the work. Expert evidence was called to show that the defendants had not- acted in accordance with the practice usually adopted in Auckland, one witness stating that- when no tenders were accepted within ol days it was usual to compensate the lowest tenderer at the rate of a quarter per cent, oil the amount of his tender'. The defendant's evidence was to the effect that plaintiff had been given to understand that the defendants were prepared to pay him a reasonable amount for preparing his original plans, etc., but they entirely repudiated his claim in respect to the preparation of copies, which they asserted had not been ordered. The case was adjourned till Thursday next- in order to secure the attendance of Mr I Julian.

February 7.

In accordance witli his promise to have a Royal Commission set up to inquire into the alleged charges of bribery in connection with the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee of some years ago, the Prime Minister" has asked the Chief Justice to arrange with two of bis colleagues of the Bench to accept the office of l<oyal Commissioners for the purposes of the inquiry. For the first time in the history of the Auckland Savings Hank the transactions for the twelve months ended December 51. 1908, exceeded £2,000,000, the deposits amounting to £1,020,727 and the withdrawals £1,018,832. There were 41,572 depositors of £1,145,849 on December 31. W-AN'GASTUI. February 7. An . exciting incid'ent occurred on Friday night. As two young men (Anderson and Hatrick) were passing the Economic, in the Avenue, they heard, a noise, and on looking down the passage saw two men d : rop from a window into- an alley way, and make off in the direction of Hill street. Anderson and- Hatrick rushed 1 ■round the corner, , and arrived just in time to see the men' getting over the gate. They accosted them, but the men bolted in different directions. When one (William Scott) was in front of the Opera House he threw away a package, and immediately afterwards was ca,ptured and taken to the police station . A subsequent search proved' that the package which was thrown away, contaiiwd a stick of gelignite and soap. On. Saturday a yoiing

man named Albert Way was arrested ou suspicion of being the other culprit. Investigation proved that no harm had been ddne at the Economic, the burglars evidently having been flabbergasted at finding two safes and not knowing which to operate upon. Archie M'Neill, the prisoner who escaped from Terrace Gaol, is in this district, having been seen on Friday. IUiEFTON. February 7. A large meeting at Inangahua of the Miners' Union last night decided to institute proceedings by tlie Federation against the mine-owners for a. lock-out al Christmas, by means of placards and notices re medical examination. It- is believed the mining companies are instituting proceedings against the engine-drivers and others. The Hon. Mr Guinness was present at the meeting, and gave rough details of a measure to afford accident and total insurance to all workers, bused on contributions from employers and workers, such insurance to cover all men not working time only. The scheme was favorably received, but full details are noi yet available. INVEKCARGILL. February 7. At the Police Court on Saturday .fames Dowling, Arthur Ensall, and Herbert Hibbs, charged with having at liimu discharged a firearm with intent to intimidate one William Poll', were committed for trial.