Second Edition Latest TELEGRAMS

Patea Mail, 21 April 1882, Page 3

Second Edition Latest TELEGRAMS

This Afternoon.

Leasing RunsInvercargill.—The approval of the Minister of Lands having been received to the proposals of the Waste Lands Board with reference to the re-leasing of the runs in this district, the Board at its meeting to-day decided that the sale of the leases should be held on the 14th June. Settlement in SouthlandInvercargill.—From the annual report of the Southland Lands Department to the Government it appears that, during the year ending 31st March, 22,841 acres of land were absolutely disposed of for £28,848. The area selected on deferred payments was 16,700 acres, by 137 holders, the yearly rental being £2,759. The area held under pastoral lease is 417,300 acres, the lease of 146,320 of which will expire on the Ist March, 1883. No deferred payment licenses have been cancelled for nonfulfilment of conditions during the year. There is an increase of £SOO in the revenue of the department over last year. Libel Action, Dunedin.—The evidence taken in the libel case of. Quin v. Hitchcock to-day was of a most contradictory nature. The girl whom Quin was charged by Hitchcock with having committed a rape upon denied that Quin had ever acted wrongly towards her whilst in the Benevolent Institution, and said that she *had signed a paper (produced) admitting that she had been taken advantage of by him three years ago without knowing what was in the paper, and whilst in so excited a frame of mind that she did not know what she was doing. The defence set up was that whilst the accusations were not admitted to be .true, Hitchcock, at the time he made them,‘firmly believed them to be true, and therefore did not make them

maliciously. Dunedin.—ln the case of Quin’ T. Hitchcock, Hitchcock has been convicted of publishing a defamatory libel. . The jury added a rider that, on public grounds, an-enquiry should be held into the working of the Benevolent Institution. The accused expressed regret for his conduct. The prosecution suggesting thot he should enter into surety to come up when called upon, this course was pursued. Bicycle Racing. . Christchurch.—There was not a very large attendance at the bicycle races. The Champion race, of 5 miles, was won by Allison of Christchurch, after a capital race .with W. H. Gotten of Dunedin, who was close up at the finish, second, and Duncan of Dunedin, third. , ' Railway at Dunedin. Dunedin.—-The Public Works’ Department is calling for tenders for goods shed at ! Dunedin. These are ; the first buildings on the now station site over which there has beemsio much haggling. Electricity and the Sun. Dunedin.-—The" Rev Dr Roseby, writing to the Herald 10-day, says there is a close coimectiori' between the electrical distin-bamccs noted/ot late andthe sun spots.; } i 3 > v_: t ■ ;!i 'M The Lost "Silver* Invercargill.—The divers engaged in trying to recover the bullion from the wreck of the Tararua have ceased operations without achieving their’ object. They that the debris of the vessel is strewed over about an acre of the sea’s bottom. . •

Fighting in CourtDunedin.—Two brothers'concerned in a civil case at the Resident Magistrate’s Court fell to fisticuffs , oyer it in open court, intensity being added to the squabble by a woman who incited them vigorously to maul one another. The affray, of course, resulted in both, being locked up.