TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1435, 1 December 1885, Page 1

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

A man named John Meehan has b)pea committed for trial for indecent assault on a child at'Auckland. > With reference to the £2OO paid try the Auckland Board of Education to Mr s Peacock, Assistant Inspector of Schools, while his estate was in the hands of the Official Assignee, writs have been issued from the Supreme Court, at the instance of Francis Thomas Paten, directed against Professors Aldis’atid Tucker, and Messrs J. H. Lark, David Goldie, Thomas Cooper, J. H. Upton, J. W. Carr, and W. P, Moat, claiming a refund of the £2OO alleged to have been paid. The question having arisen as to whether Colonel Sir G. Whitmore’s acceptance of the position of Acting Under-Secretary for Defence and Commissioner of the A.C. does not render his seat vacant in the Legislative Council as being contrary to the Disqualification Act the opinion of the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General have been taken, and they hold that as no salary is drawn there is no disqualification. The United District Hospitals Beard at Nelson met on Friday and levied a rate. The District Board also met, and at the request of the Hospital Committee levied a rate. The general opinion was expressed that the Act is incomprehensible and unworkable, chiefly owing to amendments made in its passage through the House, Mr J. Gould, of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, in his addresa on Friday, said that the Committee had informed Government that all the benefits which southern ports should derive in connection with the South Sea Islands trade would • be lost by the proposed alteration making Auckland the sole port of call. Great damage would result to cargo in transhipment at Auckland, owing to exposure on the wharves and the additional handling necessary. Mr O’Brien’s racehorse Trenton arrived from Melbourne at Lyttelton by the flauroto on Friday, and was safely landed and sent to Riccarton. At Dunedin on Friday 55 were booked for the railway excursion to Invercargill and Stewart Island, and 100 at wayside stations. At an inquest on a child three years of age, who died suddenly at Dunedin, a verdict of heart disease was returned. A deputation recently waited en the Premier at Dunedin asking that the licensing laws be strictly enforced, and suggesting that a portion of the police should be specially employed to do so, A reply has been received from the Premier that such system is not considered likely to work, as the effect would be to make other members of the force indifferent to that portion of their duties.