IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 170, 4 November 1892, Page 6

IN OTHER DISTRICTS .

The Diocesan Christchurch Synod, passed by 40 votes to 25 the following motion : ‘ That in the opinion of this Synod a carefully guarded system of local option is urgently required, in order by means of the voice of the people to reduce the number of public houses in any locality to a minimum of such houses actually needed.’ Considerable interest is attached to the floating off of the iron barque Woathorsfield from the Otaki Beach, in Cook’s Strait, from the fact that she had been ashore and abandoned for over four years. The Woat hersfield, which is an iron barque of 1,047 tons, built on the Clyde in 1865, was towed into the Wellington Harbour yesterday. The Weatkersfield was wrecked on Otaki Beach on Sunday morning, April 8, 1888,. She was then under command of Captain Sherris and was 17 days out from Brisbane on her wav to Lyttleton in ballast. The officers and crew were landed safely. The position of the wreck was about seven miles north of the Otaki river, and near the mouth of the Ohau river. She struck about 4 a.nt., and when daylight broke was found to be lying on an even keel, broadside on the beach in shallow water, with her head pointing south east. A fter an attempt had beeu made to float the vessel she was sold for £560 to a Wellington syndicate. It is believed that the hull is uninjured. Hoani Peteri was brought up before Messrs T. P. Moody and J. D. Harris, Justices, at Kaiwaka, on 18th inst,, charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Akuhata Eaki, by striking him with an axe. The Bench said that tho evidence of the prose cution certainly was so strong that the Bench could have no option hut commit prisoner for trial. A question of title could not be entertained by that Court, and should such arise in the case, the only competent tribunal to deal with it was the Supreme Court. The evidence of the defence was weak ; so much so, that not much reliance could be placed upon it. The case had better, in the interests of the parties, be decided by the Judge ! p Supreme Court. Bail was allowed ; -• ' 1 • °nr!‘f vof £IOO. . g,,oct effect—Ten years ago it was said tnat thei e were three things that were impessible in Egypt.—lst, to make it solvent; 2nd, to collect the taxes without the free use ox the kourbash ; 3rd, to execute public works without that forced and cruel labour which went under the name of the corvee. Now, not only is Egypt solvent, but the use of the kourbash and the corvee have both been abolished.