SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 206, 29 August 1905, Page 2

SOUTHERN NEWS.

* (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAY PROB- • LEM. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The Tramway Board is soliciting pro-perty-owners in Manchester-street to withdraw their opposition to the working of the line laid there. The Board contends that Wellington and other cities in New Zealand have lines run ning in narrower streets, and with smaller clearance, and no danger to the j lieges. The Board offers to cover in the i side channel, and so raise the clearance to the level of the tramway line. The | property-owners will take a few days to reply. At present the Manchester-street I line is a white elephant to the Board. It has been laid three months, and though it is the main arterial line to the railway station, it has never carried a single passenger, though fully equipped for traffic. SUPREME COURT. INVERCARGILL, this day. The Supreme Court sittings opened here to-day before Mr. Justice Cooper. With the exception of a chargi? of wife murder against Daniel Swan, the cases are of an ordinary nature. True bills were found in all cases. Harry Hart, aged 31, pleaded guilty to forgery, and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment; William Hicks, aged 24, pleaded guilty to forgery. His Honor e aid the offence was a serious one, but there were cases in which probation was justified, and this was one. His Honor thought the accused had given way under great stress of circumstances, his wife being ill, and being in financial difficulties. H? was admitted to probation for twelve months. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. HASTINGS, this day. Crowded meetings were held last night for the purpose of discussing the proposed rating of unimproved values. Several ratepayers gave their opinions, and went exhaustively into figures and the statistics of other boroughs where the proposal had been carried. The poll tomorrow is expected to end in a very close result. INVERCARGILL SUPREME COURT. INVERCARGILL, this day. Joseph Griffiths, aged 21. for stealing a watch valued at £40 from a dwelling, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment; Frank Curtain, aged 39, robbery from the person, to two years' imprisonment. ALLEGED SERIOUS ASSAULT. GREYMOUTH, this day. In the Magistrate's Court to-day Jas. Thomason and Duegi Pedro were charged with assaulting Reginald Neil Harding, a Pareora seaman, on Saturday, August 12. so as to cause him actual grievous bodily harm. Both of the accused, who were undefended, were committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Hokitika. Harding has not yet recovered consciousness. The doctor says that if he does recover his brain will always be affected. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. DUNEDIN, this day. At the Police Court Messrs Douglas and Co., tbe occupiers of a factory, were fined 5/ and costs for failing to pay a boy of 17 in their employ, with the annual increase of wages stipulated in the Factory Act. Joseph Piaggi. alias Miller, arrested in connection with the Wellington jewel robberies in this city was remanded till Thursday. HASTINGS, this day. Cornelius Prosnahan, an old resident, was found dead at Te Ante at "three o'clock tUa morning.