INTERPROVINCIAL.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 343, 20 September 1898, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

♦- (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'). Wellington, Last Night. Information has been received by telegraph from Picton to-day that it was reported there that a settler, muni d John Landall, left Dieffenbach for his notne at Onahiu, at 1 p.m. on Friday last, and has not been seen since. It was blowing hard at the time, and it is supposed he has been drowned. Several boats are out searching for the missing man, who leaves a wife and two children. A meeting called for the purpose of putting before the public one aspect of the Police Commission report was held in the Theatre Royal to-night. There was a large attendance, Mr Pirani, M.H.R., in the chair. Addresses were given by Messrs Pirini and Taylor, M. ll.R.'s, and Mr A. R. Atkinson. The following resolution was carried without dissent : " That this meeting deplores the rapid advance made under the present administration towards a " Tammany " system of corruption as revealed in the evidence before the Police Commission, and condemns the Government for its endeavour to evade the question and render the labour of the Commission futile by shirking a division ou the subject in the House of Representatives, and respectfully urges upon Parliament that the recommendation of the Commission to free the Police Department from political control and give the commander of the police a freo hand in its management be given immediate effect to as the only means of restoring the efficiency of the force and checking the progress of corruption." Napier, Last Night. A sitting of the Compensation Court opened this morning, the Chief Justice presiding with Messrs J. C. McKerrow and Horace Baker on the bench, as assessors. The court is sitting to hear the claim mide by Mr Purves Russell and others on the Minister fcr Lands for full compeiiation for the Hatuma Estate, compulsorily taken by the Government to the extent of £182,160 for that portion of the estate, owned by Russell, and £16,430 for that portion in the hands of the trustees. The compensation offered by the Government was £121,500 in all. Donedi.v, Last Night. In the Supreme Court this afternoon judgment was given by Mr Justice Pennefather in the case iu which the owners of the barque Laura (which was run into by the YVakatipu at Dunediu wharf and sank) claimed damages from the U.'S.S. Company (owuers of the VVakatipu) for the loss of the barque and the stores contained iu her, and also for the loss on charter. The court held that the liability for damage to the barpue must fall upon the owners of the YVakatipu, the defendants having failed to prove that the accident was inevitable. Tho court also held that the Wakatipu was not kept under proper control coming up the channel, aud that the anchor was not let go until doing so was absolutely useless.