TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1334, 30 April 1885, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

At Rangiora on Tuesday morning Mr Charles Holtham, a malster in the employ of Mr J. Manning, of the Burton Brewery, dropped down dead, it is supposed from heart disease. Joseph Brown, a carpenter working on the railway at Auckland, was struck by a buffer of an engine, dislocating his shoulder, and inflicting a wound on the bead from the cowcatcher. He was picked up insensible. Thomas Ferretter, a prisoner in the gaol at Invercargill, was brought up yesterday morning at the Police Court charged with an aggravated prison offence, aid was ordered a bread and water diet for fourteen days. During the case he applied most foul and disgusting language to the R.M. The same prisoner recently got six months for assaul'inga warder. Three months ago the Auckland Harbor Board, being dissatisfied with their Engineer, gave liim six months notice. At a meeting on Tuesday it transpired that he had been requested to furnish two trivial reports, and excused himself because he had not the time. The Board gave liim leave of absence to the end of his term, and intend appointing a now Engineer at once. The Supreme Court sittings opened at Blenheim on Tuesday before Mr Justice Richmond. A true bill was found against John Rose, a youth of 16, for obtaining a gun by falae pretences. The prisoner pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence. An enquiry as to his sanity is to be made in the meantime. A true bill was returned against John Wilson for rape on a child. No bill was returned against Charles Bell for an attempt to commit an unnatural offence, and he was discharged. A true bill was found agniust Joseph Davie*, landlord of the Marine Hotel, for feloniously altering a cheque from £2 into £l2, and his trial occupied the whole aft&rnoon, The prisoner was acquitted. On Wednesday (yesterday) John Rose, a lad wlioj pleaded guilty to obtaining a gun under false pretences, was sentenoed to six months, Justice Richmond remarking that although some questions had been raised as to prisoner's sanity, he appeared to be a bad boy, who had made a wrong start in life and would come to some mis. chief if he did not turn back. John Wilson was found guilty of an attempt to commit rape on a child under ten, and sentenced to five years and twenty.five lashes. His Honor said the prisoner added one more to the long catalogue of of those who hud lost themselves by drink. This ooocluded the criminal business.

It is rumored tint all the Hon. W. Robinson's horses nre to be taken over to Sydney. An extraordinary Gazette was published on Monday afternoon further prorouging Parliament to Friday, the Bth May. Augustus Muller has been committed for trial for a cigar robbery and burglary at the Auckland Tobacco Company's Factory. The real culprit in the false notice of marriage case at Wanganui having publicly apologised, the case has been with - drawn. Frederick Lane his been committed for trial at Christchurch for stealing seven copper boilers from Mr Crompton, of the Crown Iron Works. The Mosgiel Woollen Factory have concluded a contract with a Dunedin firm to light the factory with the electric light. The installation will comprise 300 Swan incandescent lights. The s.s. Zealandia was anchored in the stream at Auckland to prevent her crew being tampered with by the Seamen's Union. The Lumpers' Union have decided to sustain any action taken by the Seamen's Union. Sarah Thomas, aged 16, an inmate of Mrs Courie's Woman's Reformatory, Auckland, attempted suicide by stabbing herself, on Monday, and has since been committed to the Lunatic Asylum. The injury is not dangerous. Leslie, the ship apprentice who was stabbed by J. Green, carpenter of the barque Colleen, at Lytrelton, on Saturday, is still in a precarious condition. Green was on Monday brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court and remanded till Wednesday. Mr J. C, Buckland, M.H.R. for Waikouiiti, has been in communication with the Minister of Public Workß regarding the grain rates, and has received_ an assurance that the Cabinet have decided to make the reduction uniform throughout the colony, to come into force as soon as instructions can be issued. The strike at the Westport Coal Company's mines still continues. The new handß who were put on have also discontinued work. The miners are receiving assistance from Newcastle (£25 per month), also from Shag Point, Brunnerton, and Koranui. The Company are now advertising for other men. The prisoner Meclure who was convicted of malingering a short time ago at Christchurch, was on Tuesday proved guilty of insubordination and threatening the warders at Addington Gaol, *nd was sentenced to thirty days in irons. As he left the dock be said they would have to bury him before the thirty days were over.

In the Divorce Court, Christchurch, on Monday, His Honor Mr Justice Johnston granted a decree absolute in the case Towle v. Towle and others. - A rule nisi was granted in Smith v. Smith and Murphy and Clifford (co-respondents). The defendant had been of druaken habits before she committed adultery with the corespondents. The steamer Hinemoa brought down from Napier to Wellington on Tuesday 16 lunatics who hare been removed to Wellington owing to the very unsuitable character of the Asylum at Napier. She left the same night for Dunedin taking 30 lunatics from the Wellington Asylum, which has become somewhat crowded. She called at Lyttelton en her way, and at that port took in 25 lunatics from the Christchurch Asylum, which is also overcrowded. Their destination is the Seacliffe Asylum, Dunedin. In the Supreme Court, Invercargill, on Monday, the case Louis Rodgers v. Robert Smith a claim for £IOOO damages for slander was heard. The parties had a quarrel in a railway carriage, arising out of defendant's addressing plaintiff familiary as "Louee," which he resented, defendant being unknown to him. The altercation it was alleged, culminated in an inuendo that Rodgers' premises, recently burnt, were over-inßured, and that the fire had been a good thing for him. The evidence of one witness was to the effect that the best thing that could have been done would have been to call in the guard and give both in charge, their language was so offensive to each other. The hearing of the case creatrd much amusement in the crowded Court, the plaintiff becoming much excited under cross-examination. The jury retired, but returned in five minutes with a verdict for the defendant with costs on the highest scale.