NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 186, 16 November 1910, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

STREET-BETTING CASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. At the Magistrate's Court to-day Terence O'Hagan was charged with using Willis-street on September 23 for the purpose of betting, contrary to the city by-laws; also with committing an act for the purpose of aiding William Ham. a bookmaker, to commit an offence, namely, making a bet in Willis-street. O'Hagan was called as the principal witness in the recent prosecution against Ham for illegal betting, but owing to deafness, loss of memory, and persistent assertions that he recollected nothing of what it was alleged he had admitted in a written statement to the police, the prosecution collapsed. Mr. Wilford, who appeared for O'Hagan, said the accused was not aware of the questions he had answered until he saw the reports in a newspaper, and lie wished now to acknowledge the correctness of the detective's statement. Questions by counsel and the police elicited only a rambling and disjointed statement to the effect that the accused did not know '"'what they were talking about, nor what they were writing." The Magistrate (Mr. Riddell) said it was no good going on with witness. He had admitted making the bet, and would be fined £3 and costs (7s), in default fourteen days' imprisonment. A fortnight was allowed in which to pay. < PROMPTLY PAID-OFF. Blenheim, Tuesday. On fourteen men employed by the Public Works Department at Seddon declining to start yesterday morning on account of the rain, all were immediately paid off .and discharged. The men have petitioned Mr. Duncan, M.P., on the matter. DROUGHT BREAKS. Timaru, Tuesday. The dry weather of the past two months was broken last night by welcome rain, which continues. At nine o'clock this morning 65 points were registered. Oamaru, Tuesday. ' Welcome rain fell over every part of North Otago this morning. In some localities one inch was recorded. Although in some instances the crops are too far gone to be benefited, the rain will do an immense amount of good. Blenheim, Tuesday. The dry spell has broken in Marlborough, good rain being reported from all parts of the district. RED DEER. Nelson, Tuesday. The Acclimatisation Society has imported three red deer stags of the bay tine strain for stud purposes. They will be kept in the Society's deer park. * POULTRY-RAISERS' CONFERENCE. Wellington, Tuesday. A conference of poultry-raisers from all parts of New Zealand opened to-day. It was decided to form a New Zealand Poultry Association, to be composed of delegates from the various local governing bodies in the Dominion. The officers were elected as follow:—President, Lady Islington; vice-presidents, the Minister of Agriculture "and 29 others ? secretary and treasurer, J. B. Me'trett; executive, Messrs Ross (Feilding), O'Reilly (Dunedin), Bull (Auckland), Scott (Onehunga), Boddington and Rutherford (Masterton), Hodson (Christchurch), Gordon (Napier), Finn (Wellington), Marshall (Maryborough), Brayshaw (Taranaki), Leger (Levin).