LATEST NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1444, 4 October 1881, Page 2

LATEST NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

The Native Trouble. Auckland, L<iafc Night. Major Withers lias been ' instructed to take on twelve men selected for the Armed Constabulary, provided they are efficient in drill.

} The Diocesan Synod. The Bishop opened the Diocesan Synod to-day. In the address he stated that there are fifty-seven clergymen in the diocese, including thirteen Maoris, being an increase of four during the year. An effort had been made to supply the wants of country districts. The Bishop hoped that before the end of the year to be able to relieve the clergyman resident at the Mauku of a considerable part of his extensive district, and combiue it with that of Rama Rama, to form a separate charge for a clergyman who should reside on 1 the great south road. In the Archdeaconry of Waikato he hoped soon to be able to appoint a resident clergyman to each of the districts extending from Raglan to Rauginri, and from Piako to Katikati. Alluding to the religious teaching of the young, he spoke of the importance of making Sunday-schools efficient, bat did not consider this sufficient to cover all the necessities of the case. He said, " Few of us piobably have any desire to change the present system of national education, whereby the ludiments of general knowledge are brought within the reach of the whole population, and the poorest are encouraged to avail themselves of this teaching. All we ask is that in addition to such secular instruction as now given, parents should be allowed during school hours, and by means of teachers approved by themselves, to give their own children definite teaching in those religious truths in winch they believe, and by which they desire their children's lives to be influenced." He spoke warmly of the great work that had been accomplished m the Revised New Testament, and said that according to the constitution of the New Zealand Church the book could not be adopted for public worship until it had been approved for that purpose by the Convocation of Canterbury. Supreme Court. At the Supreme Couit, Judge Gillies, in Ins charge, said: — "There aie upon the present occasion 18 persons charged with 14 offences, and, with the exception of four cases, the offences charged are not of a very serious chaiacter. There are, besides one case of sending a letter threatening to murder, one case of a breach of the Coinage Act, and the remaining cases are larcenies of various descriptions. It is somewhat remarkable that out of 18 prisoners eight are Maoris, and whilst only six of the whole nuvnbei aie from the distiict including Auckland, Waikato, and Coromandel, five arc from the Bay of Plenty and seven are from the noi them parts of the provincial district. In regard to the four cases alluded to, namely, two rape, one sodomy, and one indecent assault, you will reflect that such charges are easy to be made, and therefore should be heard with suspicion, as they almost wholly depend on the testimony of one individual. You should see that the evidence is not uncorroborated bj the surrounding circumstances, and whether immediate complaint was made of injury sustained. Yon ought to bo very careful in weighing and testing the credibility of the principal witnesses, so as one hand not to put an innocent man in peril, and on the other baud to afford due protection to persons from such assaults for the commission of which our scattered population affords special opportunities." The Grand Jury threw out the bilL against Montgomery for indecent assault on the daughter of Mis Soeats, of the British Hotel. Arthur Duke, for larceny of a cheque, was sentenced to nine months. Butterwoith was acquitted of a charge of theft from Jamieson, at the Metropolitan Hotel. Election News. Mr Claude has retned fiom the candidature of Franklin in favor of Mr Buckland.

Tne Premier's Movements. Wellington, Last Ni^ht. The Premier leaves for (Jluistchuruli at 8 o'clock to-day, where ho will take a holiday at his country seat. The Native Difficulty. There is no news of any kind from Panhaka to-cUy.

The Races. CiißihTCJiUKcn, Last Night. During the past week heavy wagering has taken place on the C..T.C. meeting. Grip has boen backed by his stable for the Oup and Hiinth&ip to the evtent of £320.