SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 24 March 1908, Page 5

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By -association.)

CULVEBDESr ESTATE AWARD, v<

GHEISTCHDRCH, "Monday. _- The award of the Compensation. "Court m.ionnectjonvwiai compulsory ;ac- J quisifcoa of the Culverden Estate by the Government-for of closer- settlement fwas -given this "afternoon. ' The owner claimed r £160;637 as compensation lor tie acquisition x>l the estate. The president (Mr. Justice Denniston) stated that the award had been arrived at by a inajontj- of the Court, and was to "include all the subjsects of fne claim in a luinpsum. Ot was understood that of two amounts included in the memoranboth parties, £352 5/ and £168 10/ for adjusting: mortgages, were accepted by the mortgagee as settling any clam against the Crown, ana the Crown was free from any liability on' "that account. . _ The Court awarded to the claimants the sum of £119,450, and feed the assessors-fees at £10 10/ for the.four days. Hie award will be drawn up by the--Cfown. - , ■ ;• ":'. ' 'CFVTL.iERVICE rNSIJEANCE.' . '-WEELINGfTON, this day. When the Superancaation Act was passed, all'temporary clerks in the Civil Service were placed .on a permanent footing, and became subject J to the law Trhica-required them either to join the superannuation 'fund or insure their irves as provided by the Act of 1533 The latter nile 'does not appear to have been generally known, and a circular wasissued this month drawing attention to it, and insisting on the law being followed. -A3 this involves dednctions from salaries, the circular has come as an unpleasant surprise to newly-promot-ed temporary hands. GOOD RAIN DT CANTERBURY. CHEISTCHUECH, t'jtt-. day. Bain, more or less ;heavy," has been experienced daily since last, with but few.glimpses of sunshine. The rain has had a very salutary effect on vegetation of every kind, and country reports are jubilant over the change in j the weather. Both pastures'and feed] crops, are showing improvement. It was j raining again'this morning, Trith the-sky showing dense clouds. There had been no rain till now of any consequence ivnce October. " ARE ALL BLACE3EEEIES WEEDS? GISBORNE, thistday.; In the Magistrate's Court to-day the Inspector "of Jvorious sWeeds proceeded against a farmer for ilailing to cut filaefcberries. The- defence/ contended that the cultivated plant, "lawton Berry," could not be brought under the' designation "rabus -friiticosis" ' in. the : Act. The prosecution,"-^however, ' asserted that 'any not > properly cut ;and trimmed," though they ■"■ were improved varieties, became ""noxious weeds.: The: Magistrate decision. :- I :'. •; CrlSßOß2srE, : ;tiis-.day. : _JTjte. Jtob<Htt4*3a : rd .reports pTC§ented : by,MSßsr£;'tMarcJiaiit (Tuaaru)'; and Coode,"'Soic -und (Eng-" land) on>the pTdposeii new harbour."Both reports 'were in agreement on the main I featiures-' of the' wort, "but differed' somewhat'in ~deta8&; : The- .&bst will be| about £400,000.'■•'She:members agreedi that the Board ; was -in sound ; position < to go on with the Vbrk, and deciaed to refer the scheme to" the superintendents of the shipping companies ■ for their opinions. ■ ' ■ " A MINER -K3X/lED. ■WESTPOET, this day. Vm. James Killen was aceidente.lly'killfcn a sluicing claim at Dee Creek, Three u&annel FbiL He was 37 .years of age, uid the only son "of Mr. and Mrs. Each-aa-d -Kolleti; of Addisoos. He -was employed in a tail race when a fall oi stones occurred, pinning and instantly IrrlHyior .Ttttti •-' -• WATRAKAPA' GEASS. : MASTEETOK, this-day. -A rumour, that xs dying 'out ■in Wairarapa does not, after careful enquiry, appear to have foundation. Neither the -Agricultural Department nor Crtwn Lands ranger consider it likely,', end several prominent farmers, who ~i Intve confidence in rye, know nothing I of its dyi% but T . TSEW-, DEPEavfCE EST ADOPTK>N CASE. traaaZDfGTON, this day. • A test case, involving a question of \ "infant adoption was decided to-day by I Mr. . ; EiddeU, SM. Defendants were j charged.with receiving, in consideration! of payment or reward, and retaining in! tiieir charge, an infant for a longer, peri-j "od than, "seven consecutive days without | being "licensed "as foster parents. For the ! defence, it was contended that no license ! or exemption was •required if a preminm or ; consideration, paid to the adopting parent was -received, -as, -in the present j case," solely-for -the -benefit of the. child | adopted. The Magistrate convicted defendants, but, as. they acted bona fide, a nominal penalty of one shilling only ttos .imposed. ■ MISCELiLANEOUS ITEMS. " GRESTHOUSS, Monday. ] -Mr. -Daly BevingSon, of the Post Office -Hotel, 'was -found dead in.bed at •five Uj'clockJast-evening. Death due to -heart failure. cA. decree nfei was granted.to Mary who appEed. for the dissolution of 'her -matriage with Archibald Roberteon Pye, on the ground of desertion, failing to provide, and persistent cruelly. No defence was filed. Edward • Jones, alias Johns, -was. sentenced <to four years' Imprisonment -with hard labonr for committing an indecent •eaault on a little girl at- Ashhurat. ' T"ATTrA"PKj day. The 'police raided a "biHiard'-roQm "WaiourUj on the Main Trunk raShrayv "suspected to "be a sly-grogshop. Prosecution follows. , WESTPORT, this day,' : Resignations from the local railway service are frequent. Some half a dozen young men have their notices in at present. The rate x>i pay appears to be the chief-cause of comnlaint.