TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8148, 24 May 1906, Page 6

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

/ TiiE MAORI "PROPHET." By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 23. Inspector Cullen and Colonel Davies have returned to Auukland from an investigation in connection with the Maori prophet, Rua who has been convicted of theft, and is not a relative of Te Kooti. He has a few unarmed followers, and goes from settlement to settlement, sad is not well received by many Natives. He is doing no harm, but makes inroads on the Native food supplies. FIRE AT PALMERSTOJN NORTH. PALMERSTON N„ May 23. Tho Silver Grid restaurant, in the Square, waß destroyed by fire, nt 1.30 a.m., this morning. A l)ip,h wind was blowing at the time, but: the Brigade confined the outbreak to the destroyed building, whioh was in the occupation of A. MoArtney, and was owned by Constable Breen. The insurances on the stock were £l5O, in the State Office, and on the building £225 in the Commercial Union. SUICIDE OF A GUNNER. THE INQUEST. WELLINGTON, May 23. At the inquest on Gunner Hay, who shot himself at Fort Ballance, yesterday, the wife of deceased deposed that her husband had been under the impression for some time past that the men at the fort attributed the death of Gunner Palmer to him. Palmer was the victim of the gun explosion at the Port some twelve months ago. When witness came home yesterday, her husband took up a rifle, and, before she could secure assistance, he had shot himself. Sergeant Heath and Gunner Mordooh deposed that they had never heard that auoused was blamed for the death of Palmer, whioh was purely accidental. A verdict that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane was returned by the jury. THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. STRATFORD, May 23. At a meeting of the representatives of Dairy Factory Companies, held here, to-day, -it was decided to form an association, to embrace the whole of the Taranaki province to disooss matters affecting the industry, and' to take conjoint action where neoessary to express its views. The greater part of the day was occupied in the discussion of various matters whioh it was deoided to bring refore the National Dairy Association's ''•: Conference, ac Palmerstoa North. BANKRUPTCY. AUCKLAND, May 22. Frederick ; Jabez Bennett, a olothier, to-day, filed his schedule in bankruptcy. His liabilities were* given as £1,385, all to unsecured creditors, and bis assets at £95; of which £7O was for stook-in-trade and £2O book-debts. In his statement before the Official Assignee, the bankrupt stated that for a considerable time lie had considerable difficulty in meeting his engagements, owing to a general falling-off in business. A great part of bis business was done in the evening with a fairly extensive shipping connection. Legislation provided for the early cloning of shops proved disastrous to him and be lost his shipping connection altogether.