GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 143, 8 June 1908, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

A DAUIXG PPJSON-BUEAKEII. ' Ter Preßs Association, Lyttelton, Last Kiglit. William Bell, who is serving a short sentence at Lyttelton gaol for bicyclestealing, escaped from the inner courtyard this morning. Prisoner sealed the inside walls of the buildings by means of spiked railings, and lowered himself down the outside wall by means of a 24ft line made from a hammock rope. He made his way up the hillside, but was re-captural, after a slight resistance behind the signal station. Hell had only a month to serve to complete ,his sentence, lie made an escape about a fortnight ago, but was re-captured before going very far.

THE PKEMIER IN THE SOUTH. 1 Cheviot, Last XigM. In the course of a speech at Oxford on Friday night, the Premier delivered a eulogism of the late' General llcdvcrs Duller, and stated that on behalf of the people of the Dominion he had sent a message of condolence to the widow. The Premier received several deputations at Oxford on Saturday, nnd af-, tcrwards proceeded to Cheviot, where fye was entertained at a social by the County Council. A vote of thanks and confidence in the 'Government was passed unanimously.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. . l'almerston N., Saturday. George William Taylor, calidriver, wus arrested this morning on a charge of rape! It is alleged that the offence, was committed at 1 o'eloek this morning in the stables ■where accused is employed. Accused was before the Court \ this morning and was remanded' till Holiday. Bail was allowed on his own bond for £2OO and two sureties of £IOO *ach.

PECULIAR BIGAMY CASE. '. Auckland, Saturday. Peculiar circumstances surrounded an application for divorce heard by Mr. Justice Edwards this morning. Elizabeth Pearce, who applied for a dissolution of her marriage with William Pearson, said her husband was a deserter from a. warship and ran away to escape arreit. Three years later she saw an account of his death in the newspapers, and she married again. In January last she saw acpondent in Auckland. She spoke to him. He at first denied relationship, but later admitted that lie was her husband. Corroborative evidence was given. A decree nisi was granted.

INFECTIOUS BOOKS. "'' Wellington, Saturday. The fact that half-a-dozen cases of diphtheria have been recorded in the city this week led to an inquiry whether it would be possible to send copies of notices of infectious diseases as a Safeguard against the spread of sickness by books which had been taken to infected places. The District Health Officer replied that such a scheme would not be practicable and would break down by its own weight. He recommends that the Public Health Act should contain a clause providing a penalty for persons who borrow books, expose them to iufection, and return tliem without disinfecting lihem. Copies of the claußJ should be posted conspicuously in U* braries.