SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 5

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By rTelegraph.—Press Association.) A BOUNDARY DISPUTE. PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday. Some time ago a settler named Knight was arrested at the instance of a neighbour named MeHardy for cutting a wire fence at night. Knight was subsequently charged with wilful damage to property, but on the representation of Mr Baldwin, who appeared for Knight, that the fence was cut under a bona fide belief that it was on his boundary, the case was dismissed, the understanding being that a Supreme Court action would be taken to have the boundaries denned. In the meantime. Knight started an action against MeHardy for damages for wrongful imprisonment. The matter has been settled by MeHardy paying £350 and all costs, and agreeing to set the fence line back, and express regret to Knight through the local press. CHURCH UNION. OAMARU, Tuesday. The Oamaru Presbytery to-day passed the following motion unanimously: "That the Presbytery cordially approves of negotiations for xinion "with the Methodist and Congregational Churches being prosecuted in a patient and prayerful spirit, rejoices that such a calm and favourable resolution was passed unanimously at last Methodist conference, and prays that God may graciously remove all needless anxiety from Christian hearts, and lead by His spirit the Churches now working apart, and more or less as rivals, into a fuller and happier realisation of Christian unity and fellowship." COURT OF APPEAL. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Appeal Court was occupied this afternoon with Rex v. Hone Maaku Mokomoko, a Crown case reserved by Mr Justice Denniston at the criminal sessions at Christchurch, in February. Accused wa3 charged with incest on three occasions, and the judge refused to allow them to be heard separately, or to direct the jury that the evidence in one charge was not admlssable in support of the others. Other questions were reserved, but were abandoned by counsel for the accused. The court reserved its decision. Further judgments are expected to be delivered on Thursday. A CHRISTCHURCH MYSTERY. CHRISTCHURCH, Tueaday. The body of a stillborn female child was found yesterday in a closet attached to the ladies' waiting-room at the Christchurch railway station. The body was naked, and there was nothing to assist identification. Probably it was placed in the closet on Saturday night. An inquest was held this afternoon, and a verdict of born dead was returned. The police have at present no clue to the identity of the body. DREDGING COMPANY CALL. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. To-day the Chief Justice heard a summons asking the Court to authorise a call of 8/ per share in the Case of the Mapourika River Gold Dredging Company, in liquidation. His Honor granted authority, directing that it should be made in two months, 4/ to be payable one month after notice, and the balance two months after notice. FARMERS AND LAND TENURE. ; ASHBURTON, Tuesday. A meeting convened by the Farmers' Union on the land tenure question was largely attended. Mr. J. G. Wilson, colonial president of the Farmers' Union, explained the views of the Farmers' Union, and Mr C. Lewis, MJE.R., replied to the land reformers (Messrs Taylor and Laurenson), who delivered addresses here a fortnight ago. The' following resolution, moved by Mr. John Lambie (chairman of the local branch of the Farmers' Union), and seconded by Mr. McLachlan, member for Ashburton, was declared carried:—"That whilst this meeting is strongly opposed to the aggregation of large estates on the one hand, and the nationalisation of land on the other, we are of opinion that the freehold tenure is the most satisfactory both to the occupier and the general community."