SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 213, 5 September 1912, Page 2

SOUTHERN NEWS.

DAMAGES AWARDED. CHRISTCHUKCH, thi» day. After a hearing lasting three days the jury found a verdict for plaintiff for £773 in a case in which the DJ.C. sued the Bank of Australasia for damages caused through water leaking into plaintiff's cellar. The evidence was chiefly that of architects, engineer*, builders, geologists and other experts. The point at issue was whether the water came from defendant's artesian well or was natural subsoil water. A MAORI KTIJ.gP. j GISBORNE, this d*y. A Maori named Paul was killed whilst busfafelling at Wbaxeknpae. STOLEN LODGE FUNDS. DAXNEVIRKE, this day. James P. Flvnn, charged with embezzling £lti 18/10, the property of Ruabine Lodge, U.A.0.D., pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. MOUNT EG MONT HOSTELRY. NEY PLYMOUTH, this day. J. P. Murphy, who for several years has been one of the guides at the Hermitage, Mount Cook, has been appointed, manager of the new hoitelry on the northern slopes of Mount TCgmont. The house is now nearly furnished and ready for occupation. The road is in fine condition for motoring right up .to the house, which will be formally opened by the Governor on October 4th. RAILWAY OFFICERS' CLASSIFICATION. GREYMOUTH. this day. A general meeting of the Westland branch of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute last night a resolution wu carried : " That this branch views with pleasure and satisfaction the encouraging and sympathetic Attitude of the Hon. W. H. Herries re the dispute between the Railway Officers* Institute and the management regarding the cost of classifying officers on the lines of postal classification, and urges the Minister to allow no further delay In giving effect to the recommendation made by the Railway Committee last year." DIVORCE. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. At the Supreme Court Mr. Justice Edwards granted a decree nisi in the divorce j suit. Margaret Mclnnes v. Alexander | Melnnea, on the grounds oi drunkenness, i cruelty ana failure to maintain. WANGANUI, Tuesday. In the divorce case. Takarangi v. Takarangi, a decree nisi was granted with costs against co-respondent, Rcnata Graham. TTMARU HIGH SCHOOL. TIMARU. this day. Mr. W. Thomas, headmaster of the WjLTOgtaitj school, was to-day appointed rector of the Tiniaru High School. TEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. In the Supreme Court this morning, Joshua Webley, convicted of an unnatural offence, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. The judge said he considered accused a danger to society, and he had no option hut to inflict the maximum penalty. MISCELLANEOUS. NAPIER, this day. The ■Borough Council appointed Mr. B. 'B. SwiwwiTO, of Heatings, clerk of wo*a in connection -with the tramway installation. A financial statement presented to the Council showed tihat. despite a large loan undertaking, ratce since 1908 had only increased ojd. The statement was issued in response, to complaints of *uni>ufiinessl<fke methods of the Council." GORE, this day. A poll of Mataura ratepayers was held yesterday on the question of adopting a system of rating on unimproved values. The proposal was carried by 115 against 05. ' •'■'■