INTERPROVINCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 98, 3 April 1884, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per United Press Association.] Wellington, April 3. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works will make an official visit to Auckland next week. The Hon. Major Atkinson leaves for Hawera on Saturday, and will address his constituents there on Monday next. IMPORTANT DECISION. Judge Richmond, sitting in banco, has delivered his decision in the case of Sperry v. Dransfield, giving judgment for defendant. The question at issue was as to the liability of defendant to pay over to the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies the amount of a bond he had entered into on behalf of Charles White, ex-Secretary of the Wellington Building Society. For the defence it was contended that the Committee of the Society had altered the rules, and so allowed Mr. White to draw moneys without notice being given to the sureties. THE ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENTDISMISSAL OF THE CHARGE. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day the charge against Daniel C. Maunsell, formerly private secretary to the Premier, for alleged embezzlement of Government monies, was heard. The Auditor and Controller Generals evidence was to the effect that the accused, when travelling with Ministers, was granted an imprest, and alleged that the defendant had not accounted for £267. Since the information has been laid accused had accounted for about £ll5. For the defence, it was submitted that no evidence had been adduced to show that the accused had embezzled money. The only thing the prosecution had proved being a failure, on the part of accused to account for the balance of the money advanced to him. No attempt had been made to show that the accused had embezzled money. The Premier was in the buildings and should have been brought, as a witness, to prove that the money, with which the defendant was charged with stealing, had not been spent on the recent trip to Australia. It was submitted that no case had been made out against the accused, and his counsel asked the bench not to insult the court above by sending the case up for trial. After some consultation the chairman of the bench said “ We must dismiss the information on the ground that the evidence does not sustain the criminal charge.” MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY. Messrs. C. J. Johnston (re-elected) and James Smith were elected Directors of the Wellington - Manawatu Railway Co., and Messrs. T. K. McDonald and J. W. Stevenson auditors. DETERMINED SUICIDE. Oamaru, April 3. A man named Joseph Pledger committed suicide in a most determined manner at Duntroon yesterday. He had his hands tied together and threw himself into a water-hole. INQUEST ON WALL & CO.’S FIRE. Auckland, April 3. At the inquest on the late fire at Messrs. E. Wall and Co.’s premises in Queen Street, the jury returned a verdict that though the evidence disclosed suspicious circumstances, it did not clearly give the origin of the fire. THE ATTEMPTED MURDER.—HEAVY SENTENCE.

At the Criminal Session of the Supreme Court, Henry Wood, for arson, was acquited. Wm. Henry Jones, late manager of the Onehunga Iron Works, was sentenced to fourteen years’ penal servitude for attempted murder of John McDermott. No bill was returned against John Mayett, for embezzlement. THE GOVERNOR’S MOVEMENTS. The Hinemoa, with the Governor on board, has gone to the Thames. His Excellency intends visiting Coromandel. A branch of the New Zealand Seamens Union was formed here yesterday. INTER-COLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH. Dunedin, April 3. Sleigh, who is charged with arranging for a visit of footballers to New South Wales, has received a cable stating that a New Zealand team will play there on June 7th, 14th, and 21st. WARNING TO MEDICAL PRACTIONERS. At the Supreme Court, in the case of Dr. Parry charged with manslaughter, the jury found that he had in attempting to deliver the woman needlessly caused rupture of the vagina from which she died. The evidence showed that the doctor was in a drowsy state as if recovering from some narcotic. Several women in the house said he fell off the sofa once, and they put him on again, and eventually sent him into the garden to get some fresh air. He did not return, and the patient died in an hour. For the defence several medical men were called, who gave evidence that cases of internal rupture had occurred, but the theory set up by the prosecutor was that the rupture was caused by external violence, and the jury upheld this theory by their verdict. His Honor sentenced prisoner to four months imprisonment without hard labor. HANLON’S VISIT TO DUNEDIN. Mr. Clarke, of Dunedin, writes from Sydney that lie has succeeded in inducing Hanlan to pay the city of Dunedin a visit. CRUSHED TO DEATH. Christchurch, April 3. A young man named Sandy, residing at Balcairn, was crushed to death yesterday by the water tank of the threshing machine falling on him.

GUN ACCIDENT. A boy named Wm. Moreland, aged twelve, son of a farmer at Middleton, was out shooting with four others at Waimakairiri, when the gun accidentally discharged and the contents lodged in his right hand and thigh. He will probably lose his thumb and some fingers.