SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 95, 21 April 1906, Page 6

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—rreae Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. Samuel McShane. who was brought back from England, charged with the theft of jewellery from a pawnbroker's shop, valued at £173, reserved his defence in the Magistrate's Court, and was committed for trial.

DEATH DUTIES AND PUBLIC BEQUESTS.

DUXEDIN", Friday. The will of the late Mr. Wiliam Harrop was before Mr. Justice Cooper this ! evening. The value of the real and personal estate was certified to be £28,013 18/10, on which the Commissioner of Stamps claimed £3582 9/2 by way of duty. The Public Trustee took exception to the dirty on the ground that with the exception of two annuities all the bequests were exempt, being gifts for the public benefit. The bequests consist of Oddfellow scholarships and the residue of £20,000 for the building of a new Anglican cathedral. Mr. <Tustice Cooper said that as it was the iirst time tl» Court had been asked to interpret the words 'for the benefit of the public," he would take time to consider the matter. FIRE INSURANCE COMPETITION. WELLINGTON, this day. The general manager of the Ocean Accident Company has received a cable from London stating thai owing to fire insurance companies entering the field of accident insurance the Ocean will take up lire business. KIKE CHARGES OF BTJRSLAIIY. CHRISTCHURjCH, Friday. At the Magistrate's Conrt tivday Owen Patrick Brosnahan pleaded guilty to nine charges of burglary, theft of jewellery, and money of the total vafne of £125. The burglaries, had been persistent and systematic. The prisoner was committed for sentence at "the Supreme Court. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. DUSTEDInV Friday. Robert Brown, who was arrested yes-: terday in connection with the fleath of an old woman, who was knocked down by a horse and cart he was driving, appeared at the Police Court to-day on a charge of inans-iaughte.r. A remand was granted till Wednesday, accused #being admitted to bail. BANKRUPTCY CASE. GISBORNE, Friday. William Oswald Skeet (builder), a bankrupt, was committed for trial today on three alleged breaches of the Bankruptcy Act. The charges were that he had not kept proper books, had contracted debts without reasonable prospect of paying them, and .that he had obtained credit by presenting a false bal-ance-sheet. ; On a fourth charge no evidence "was offered. . MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. WELLINGTON, Friday. TTie City Council was waited on tonight by a deputation from a recent pub-lic-meeting, which urged that the Council should ■ establish a zoological collection at Newtown Park. The Gomial decided to accept an offer of the gift of a. young lioßj end referred tire gwiwi-uj tjnesfion to fke ISfflnieeOnaa&m ferite xeporC