NEW ZEALAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2169, 3 June 1886, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

NELSON, Tuesday. A curious case occupied the R.M, Court to-day. The trustees of the German church at Mont ere sued a parson to regain possession of the chnrch prrsonage and lands. It appears that the pastor refused ts administer the sacrament to certain of his flock, because they were Oddfeliows. Ultimately the congregation held a meeting, and carried a resolution disapproving of his action. The Rev. Mr Kouert said if it was carried he would resign, and leave in six moaths. This time having elapsed, certain of the flock desired he should leave, but the pastor declined, oa the ground that a .najority of the members of the church desired him to stay ; but the plaintiffs alleged a majority of the congregation did not. The KM. decided he must leave in a month.

GISBORNE, Tuesday. Willoughby Brassey, solicitor, paid a cheque for £13.) Is Sd to-day, just as a criminal information was being sworn against him. The proceedings have now stopped.

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Private letters from Home state that Sir James Fergusson is about to marry again.

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The City Council, at a meeting tonight, passed a vote of congratulation to Sir R. Stout upon the occasion of his knighthood. At the R.M. Court to-day Robert Stevens was fined £25 for & hreach of the Gaming and Lotteries Act by play in sj a game called " Back-up,*' or forfeit on the Oxford Racecourse. It was played with dice and a numbered table. One witness stated lip lost £73 in a quarter of an hour. The temperance men have forwarded a letter to the City Licensing Committee, giving the results of n watch keept on fifteen hotels in the city and suburbs. On one Sunday they estimated that fully 4000 visits were paid to hotels in Chrischurch every Sunday. In some cases intoxicated persons were seen leaving the hotels. The licensing committee decided the document to be an anonymous communication, and it was not read, at the meeting to-day.

DUNEDIN, Tuesday. The Australian Humane Society propose to grant an award to Inspector Stephens, who was the means of saving four lives from drowning in Jthe Lower Harbour. The prospectus of a new morning paper is issued. At an annual licensing meeting all th« applications tor twelve o'clock licenses were refused. The Licensed Victuallers intimated that such applications were not made with their sanction. A number of licensees against whom convictions had been obtained were warned. The licensee of the Munster Arms applied for a license for the Royal, shut up some years ago, and Mr Fleming made an application for the Munster Arms. Both were refused.