INTERPROVINCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 162, 20 June 1884, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per United Press Association,] COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOLS A FARCE. SCHOOLMASTER-SUSPENDED FOR SEVERITY TO A BOY. MEMBER OF SALVATION ARMY CHARGED WITH FELONY. SPURIOUS £5 NOTES IN CIRCULATION SUICIDE. Dunedin, June 20. At the City Police Court to-day one of the Dunedin School Committees sought to enforce the compulsory clauses of the Act, but the prosecution practically broke down, owing to the difficulties of establishing the technical proof required by the Act. The Education Board to-day resolved, in regard to the Dimback whipping case, that the punishment inflicted by the schoolmaster was unduly severe and degrading, and that Warburton be suspended for two months. Captain Whitson, of the ship Dunedin, denies that his vessel had a narrow escape at White Island, as reported.

Wellington, June 20. A meeting of Hearn’s supporters will be held on Saturday night. The Government having received no information from Parihaka this month, it is surmised that the ordinary monthly meeting of Te Whiti’s followers fell through. It is stated that the Mayor, Mr. George Fisher, will contest South Wellington. Mr. Buchanan is likely to be opposed by Mr. Bunny for Wairarapa South. W. Lowes and G. Beetham are spoken of as candidates for Wairarapa North. H. S. Fitzherbert, T. Dwan, and H. Mason are mentioned as coming out for the Hutt. J. R. Browne is canvassing the Foxton constituency. At the inquest on the body of John Webber, found dead in his house on Tuesday, the following verdict was returned, “ That the deceased, John Webber, died from the effects of poison administered by himself while under the influence of temporary insanity. The punt at the upper ferry, Woodville, was washed away yesterday, while crossing with a flock of sheep, owing to the wire rope breaking through the flooded state of the Manawatu river. The men got off safely by a canoe, and swimming. The punt and sheep went ashore about a mile short of the ferry. Shaw Savill’s Albion Company’s chartered steamer, Bombay, Capt. Holloway, arrived from London at 3.30 this afternoon. The passage has been an uneventful one, and occupied 51 days from Plymouth, and 53 from London. She brings one saloon passenger for Auckland, six second-cabin for Wellington, and 15 for other ports, 11 steerage for Wellington, and 53 for other ports. The Bombay after discharging here proceeds to Napier, where she will ship a large quantity of frozen mutton.

At the Supreme Court to-day, the case of McDougall v. Duthie, was commenced. This was an action brought by plaintiff as a shareholder in the Gear Meat Freezing Company, of New Zealand, in which he sought a decree of the Court declaring that the seat of defendant as director on the board should be deemed to have been wasted, by reason of his having traded with the Company in goods supplied by him in an ironmongery business with which defendant was personally concerned, altogether outside his position as shareholder in the Company, and in which an injunction was sought restraining defendant on the ground of his having so vacated his seat from continuing to act as director of the Company, and claiming that an account might be taken of all goods so supplied by defendant, the prices at which they were supplied, and the profits on such goods, also that he might be directed to refund to the Company the profit he had so made. One of the paragraphs set forth that the defendant with the connivance of a majority of the directors had, during the whole period the company had carried on business, supplied the company, at retail prices, with the largest portion of ironmongery and other similar goods, required for carrying on its business, to the extent of £950, without tenders having been first called, and for which higher prices were paid in many instances, than those at which they could have been obtained at other places in Wellington. In regard to that, the statement of the defence showed that defendant denied that it was with the connivance of the majority of directors. Defendant further denied that he had made any profits out of the supplies, and stated that he was ready and willing to furnish a statement of the prices of the goods, after the evidence was taken on both sides. The consideration of the case was reserved for the Banco Court. The weather still continues boisterous and wet, but no damage is reported. Auckland, June 20. Henry Devoy, bugler to the Salvation Army, has been arrested on a charge of feloniously forging, with intent to defraud, a bill of exchange for £2O. Four of the seamen from the barque Androcles have been brought from Onehunga to the Hospital. The body of a fifth, who died on board, was also brought for interment. There is reason to believe that a number of spurious £5 bank notes are in circulation. The University College Councils have invested the Gillies’-Sinclair Scholarships fund of £3OOO for 5J years at per cent. A gumdigger named Hardy attempted suicide at Lucas’ Creek, by cutting an artery in his arm, and is now in the Hospital. Christchurch, June 20. The Lyttelton Licensing Committee have renewed a license to the British Hotel. The recent rains have caused a break in the North line, near Balcairn, delaying the train a couple of hours. The repairs are now completed. Timaru, June 20. Mr. Rolleston is announced for Geraldine. A requisition to Alfred Cox, formerly M.H.R., is being signed for Timaru. It is reported that three candidates, including the present member, are likely to come forward.