TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1332, 25 April 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

It is understood the Government have sent Home for further orders of defence material, but the nature of audi is regarded as confidential. The writs from Oamaru and Tauranga elections to the House of Representatives will be issued on Friday, and the elections will take place within six weeks of that date.

A crowded public meeting was held at Levukaon the 29thMirch, when'a resolution wti carried favorable to the annex* ation of Fiji by New Zealand. It wag also decided to prepare a petition to the New Zealand Legislature praying for iti endorsement.

The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, Minister for Mines, returned to Cbristuhurch Inst Thursduy from his visit to the Malvern and Wilberforce districts, where he has, during the past week, personally inspected the collieries and gold-bearing reefs. He passed by here for Dunedin by the express train yesterday morning, and hopes to return to Christchurch in a few days. The Minister of Justice has received a telegram from Auckland stating that two petitions are on their way to Wellington respecting the case of Predergast, under sentence of death at Auckland for murder. One petition is from the jury who tried the case, and the other is from the residents of the neighborhood. Both refer; to the condition of the condemned man's mind. The Government have therefore deferred their decision untill the petitions have been received.

Robert Boswell Middleton charged with delivering a fradulent marriage notice to the Wanganui Herald stated that the notice had been given him by another party, but when put on oath he refused to name the party. The magistrate sentenced him to seven day's imprisonment for contempt of Court, unless he chose sooner to give the name, and adjourned the case for a week. Yesterday morning, after having been 24 hours in gaol, he gave the name of Edward Mills. The charge against Mills will be heard next Tuesday. In the Supreme Court, Invercargill, the civil case Bank of Australasia v. Mclntyre resulted in a verdict for the defendant. The claim was one of £IOOO, on a promissory note signed by the defendant as one of a Committee of the now defunct Fanners' Co-operative Society. The defence was that the note was signed only on condition that each member of the Committee • signed a similar document, which two refused 'o do. Richsrd Burke was again put on trial for concealing money from the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy. The jury found him guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, on account of his previous good conduct. His Honor in passing a sentence of on« year'* imprisoment with hard labor, said that the jury had practically found that he had hidden the sum of £265 in gold, which he said he had lost. It wsy» not in the power of the Court to commute the sentence ; but if the accused divulged what he had done with the money he (His Honor) would make a representation to the Crown on his behalf. It will be remembered that Burke stated that he was returning home with the above-named sum in his pocket ; that he fell asleep while under the influence of drink, and that while in that state he was robbed of the money .?