TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1327, 14 April 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Trewpellar, a lunatic in the Auckland Asylum, while working in the grounds attached to the institution yesterday morning, suddenly struck Thomson, a warder recently from the South, on the neck with a pitchfork, killing him instantly. James Wilson alias Coburn was yesterday ut Blenheim commited for trial to the Supremo Court, on a charge of rape on a girl nine years and three months old. A scene occurred on Saturday at the distribution of prizes in connection with the Ponsonby, Begatta (Auckland). Mr Waymoiith, n City Councillor, who bad won a cup, threw: it on tho floor and trod on it because it was not silver. The cup was presented by Lewisson, jeweller. Tha Provincial Freemasons have re* ceived a reply from the Prince of Wales to a congratulatory telegram sent lust week to the Grand Lodge Dublin, on his visit to Ireland. His Royal Highness thanks the Provincial Grand Master most sincerely for the telegram, and for the good wishes contained therein. Professor Kirk is now in the Blenheim district inspecting the forests on behalf of Government with a view to adopting a plan for conserving the same. He leaves for Wellington to-day to commence inspecting the North Wand. Steps are being taken in Christchurch to form an Irish Volunteer Brigade, Mr Holmes, M.H.R. for Christchurch South, being at the head of the movement. Mr J. Gordon Allan, a well-known Auckland solicitor, died on Sunday. A.t the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, the civil case Annie Barlow v. Shaw-Savill and Albion. Co., claim £3OO damages, was heard. The plaintiff, a young woman, was a passenger by the steamer Arawa from London to Wellington, and when the vessel was in the Bay of Biscay a large meat-safe, which was unsecured on the poop, fell over on to plaintiff, striking her in the face and damaging one or two of her teeth. The) jury awarded £SO damages. On Sunday afternoon {last a man named named Harry McAlpine hired a horse in Christchurch for the purpose riding to Sumner and in the eveningifpe was found insensible on the road, having been thrown off and fallen on his head. He was taken to the Hospital, but is not expected to recover. On Saturday night a coach-house at Rangiora, the property of W. C. Nicholls, was destroyed by fire. Nicholls was notv insured. The damage is £250. ‘■l The criminal sittings of the Dunedin Supreme Court were concluded yesterday, when James McGall and James Eastwood were again tried tor highway robbery McGall was sentenced to three years, and Eastwood to four years. * An infant child of Mr Wood, schoolmaster at Oharawai (Auckland), has been poisoned by eating matches.

The Dunedin Naval Band, despite .the City Council, played in the Botanical Gardena, Dunedin, on Sunday. It is Understood that legal opinion says the Council has not the power to prevent it, A detachment of the A.C., under Captain Capel, have gone to Auckland to form the nucleus of an Artillery force for working the big guns in the harbor defence. W. Blew, a city contractor, was brought up at the Auckland Police Court on Friday on three charges of challenging the Mayor, Mr Waddell, to fight. He apologised and paid all costs, and was bound over to keep the peace for three months. A number of Auckland merchants have mooted the desirability of laying down a cable between New Zealand and Fiji, and it was proposed that Mr Stout be interviewed in regard to it, and Sir Julius Vogel be communicated with. Mr Ballance, Minister of Lands and Defence and Native affairs, accompanied by Mr Butler, Private Secretary, arrived at Christchurch on Friday morning by the B.s, Hawca from Wellington. In the afternoon the Hon. Colonel Brett, the Mayor, and Mr R. J, S. Harman, officers of the Canterbury Reserve Force, had an interview with him, but the proceedings were private. He leaves to-day for Oxford, Ashburton, Timaru, and Waimate, in order to see what amount of really good land is available to be set aside for the special settlements scheme. A deputation of dealers in arras waited on Mr Ballance on Friday and requested that the restrictions on the sale of arms (as to sending in returns, etc.) might be removed in the South Island, and he agreed to grant the request. At the settling on the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting the following amounts were paid over:—Mr D. O’Brien, £766; Mr G. G. Stead, £395 ;Mr G. Clifford, £309; Mr T. Sheenan, £237 ; Major George, £214; ■Mr P. Butler, £181; Mr R. Valiancy £124; and smaller amounts, making a total of £2519. The local option polling at Sydenham resulted in an overwhelming majority against any new licenses being granted. Mr Barnett, the temperance lecturer, was entertained at a social meeting at Invercargill on Friday night, at which he stated that the results of his labors in Southland had been 1258 pledges, 1425 Blue Ribbons, and 65 family pledges. At the Supreme Court on Friday, G. W. Ell was prosecuted privately bv Mr Austin, solicitor, for libel, and was acquitted. Donald McDonald was convicted of stealing a cheque from a Post Office letter-box and was sentenced to two yeartf hard labor. Georg* Hamraill, for forgery, was sentenced to three years’ penal servitude. The twelve hours’ walking match between Raynor and McClure at Auckland, ended Raynor, 64 miles 17 laps ; McClure, 61 miles 22 laps. McClure entered a protest against Raynor for alleged breaking. Tbe R.M.S. Ruapehu went ashore at Wellington on Friday last in consequence of the pilot hogging the shore too closely. On Saturday afternoon she floated off without sustaining any injury, and she is expected to get away to-day. Up to tbe present 400 applications have been received for apace in the Home Industry branch £of the New Zealand Exhibition. Lieutenant Douglas, the Naval Staff Officer, has presented to His Excellency the Governor a report on the defences of Wellington Harbor. The report is of a confidential nature. Henry McKegney, a laborer, aged 40, was killed on Friday at Blenheim by a tree falling across his neck. The deceased was a sober, industrious man, »nd leaves a widow and four young children. William Purdham, a jockey, was thrown from his horse when riding home from Templeton on Friday night, after the Christchurch races, and sustained concussion of the brain. He is, however, progressing favorably. Swan finished his walk at the Drillshed,. Christchurch, on Saturday night, having covered 484 miles 293 yards in hours. The score for the local men wa» 478 miles—McGrath 70 miles, Anderson 71, Cox 85, McCourt 65, Murchison 91, and Cusack 92. The attendance of spectators was not good. A subscription was made for Swan, and realised £lO, which Mr Arenas, the starter, supplemented with another £lO. At the conclusion of the week Swan announced that he bad le‘ft the track for ever. The body of a new-born female child, much decomposed, was found in the Avon, near the cemetery, on Saturday evening, but the police have not yet ascertained how It came there. A shoemaker named Paterson ha* gone missing from Balclutha. His two carpet bags and hi* hat have been found on the river bank, and it is believed be has been drowned. At the Supreme Court, Auckland, on Saturday, Jno. Brown, for the attempted murder of Thomas Brown, was sentenced , to ten years' penal servitude. At the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Saturday, T. R. H. Taylor was acquitted of perjury. John Mitchell, Walter Price, and John McGregor for robbery from the person, got eighteen months’ each. The criminal session has closed. Twenty cases are set down for hearing at the civil gessions. In the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Saturday, William Burton, charged with indecent assault, was acquitted. John George Templeton, for larceny from a dwelling house at Faikonra, was found euiltv and sentenced to six months’ hard labor. The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company have decided to increase the capacity of their present freezing works by one half.