N.Z. TELEGRAMS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9031, 18 January 1908, Page 5

N.Z. TELEGRAMS.

BY TELEGKAPH—FBKSS ASSOCIATION.

Hawke's Bay Land Board. DANNEVIRKE, January 17. A meeting of Crown tenants con,vened by the Chamber of Commerce waa held, to-day, to discuss the,question of a", candidate' to represent them on the Hawke's Bay Land Board. Two gentlemen were mentioned as probable candidates, but it is hoped that arrangements will be made for one of them to retire. Suicide of a Maori.

HASTINGS, January 17. . A Maori named Pangataki Cooper, aged 30 years, was found hanging to a tree at the Waipatu pah, this morning. It is alleged that he returned home intoxicated at midnight, abused his wife and pulled her out of bed. Afterwards he kissed his wife and children, and said he was sorry. He then disappeared.

Hon. Hali. Jones. t WELLINGTON, January .17. Interviewed by a Dunedin "Star" representative, Sir Joseph Ward said that he had to be in Wellington on January 28th to meet tfie Hon. W. Hall-Jones, who has been advised that he has sufficiently recovered to enable him to take up his work again straight away. A Charge of Assault.

NEW PLYMOUTH, January 17. On a charge of assaulting Detective Boddam, at the police station, on January Bth last, A. J. Stewart was committed for trial.

Cultivation of Paspalum. AUCKLAND, January 17, During thewetk representatives of the Auckland' A... and P. Associationvisited the Rev. Geoi Wilks' farm, at Easi r £amaki, to see what had been achieved in the cultivation of paspalum on the clayey lands of that neighbourhood. Overthirty varieties have been experimented with, and remarkable success has attended the; planting of paspalum dilitatum. The visitors brought back samples, taken off swampy ground, fully six feet in length. ' The committee will report the result of their investigations at the next meeting of the A. and P. Association. Alleged Libel. WESTPORT, January 17. In the libel action heard yesterday and to-day before District Court Judge Haselden and a jury of four, in which J. M. Sunley, fruiterer, claimed from Walter Atkin, proprietor of the Westport "News," the sum of £499 damages for alleged libel in a letter in which complaint was made of the state of plaintiff's back yard, judgment was given for the defendant with coats amounting to £37 7s. .

A peculiar feature of the case was that the writer of the letter had this morning disclosed his name to the plaintiff and was called as a witness on his behalf. A Fast Voyage. WELLINGTON, January 17. H.M.S. Challenger arrived at 6.30 to-night, after a smart run of 33J hours from Auckland, averaging 21.10 knots.

Saturday Half-Holiday. WANGANUI, January 17. A representative meeting of shopkeepers held to-night resolved io ask the Borough Council to appoint Saturday as the day upon which the weekly half-holiday shall be observed. Importation of Australian Grapes, DUNEDIN, January 17. j Sir Joseph Ward stated to a Dunedin "Star" representative, yesterday, that regulations are now being framed with a view to the admission of Australain grapes of all kinds under the altered 'tariff at Id per lb imposed during last session. Sir Joseph is ur.able to say whether the regulations can be altered in time to permit of the importation "of grapes this season, which is now fairly under way. Sly Grog-Selling Punished. DUNEDIN, January 17. In the Police Court, this morning, Elizabeth Connolley, otherwise Payne, was fined £25, and costs 15s, for sly grog-selling on January sth. Defendant pleaded not guilty, albging that the bottle of beer which had been secured by the police was a gift; but the evidence' of a constable and of a man named George Ellison served to secure a conviction.

Primitive Methodist Conference.

DUNEDIN, January 17. The Primitive Methodist Conference has concluded its sittings. ' It was decided that the next conference should begin on January 7th, 1909. A suggestion that district synod be substituted for district meeting in reference to the annual meetings of each district in the dominion was adopted. The conference expressed the fullest sympathy with every effort made to destroy the liquor traffic in the dominion, and urges its people to work for its complete removal.

A Deal in Loans, AUCKLAND, January 17. The Australian Mutual Provident Society has taken up the electric power loan of £24,000, the abattoir loan of £26,000, and the Onehunga borough loan of £20,000, at 4J per cent, interest.