NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9703, 15 April 1897, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) AUCKLAND, April 14. The Auckland Society of Arts' exhibition was opened to-night with a conversazione. There are forty-five water colours and 134 oils, apart from a miscellaneous collection. Southern art is strongly represented—in fact, it is the best collection of works ever sent by the South to Auckland. In formally opening the conversazione of the Society of Arts Exhibition to-night Mr Payton (President of the Society) expressed regret that the Southern exhibits arrived too late to be hung in the main hall, as it had already been filled up, and no time was left to rearrange the pictures. They were placed together in the side room. The Committee would have had great pleasure in giving them the best place in the hall, as both in number and quality the Southern exhibits exceeded anything ever sent to Auckland.

NEW PLYMOUTH, April 14. At the Supreme Court to-day the case of Osborne Wall, charged with attempted rape, was put back till next sitting of the Court "in October. Wall has been tried by two juries, and both, b_i'ig unable to agree, were discharged. The Minister of Railways refuses to grant the concessions asked for by the Harbour Board and recommended by the General Manager. It is expected now that the Board will order the removal of the rails from the wharf.

Mr R..G. Bauchope was re-elected Chairman of the Education Board this morning, for the fifth consecutive year. WELLINGTON, April 14. The Patent Slip Company pays a dividend of 5 per cent. The Opera House Company declare a dividend of 5 per cent. The income of the year was £2365, including £1731 for rent.,j The . liabilities are £20,330, the assets I £21,323. On Monday night Messrs Wilkin and Field's ironmongery store-wae broken into,, and goods, : mostly jewellery-,'-to the value of £77 were !|tolen. Nexfemorning a man named Robert Z/bvifct. took them back, saying that he had stolen them while drunk. He was brought before the Court this morning and i remanded for enquiry. A Chinaman named Ho Kee was committed for trial on a number of charges for breaches of the Bankruptcy Act" in not keeping proper books, &c. _ f A niau named George Ajrther FnTler.was arrested to-night for au attempt to forge a cheque on a Bank in Christchurch. The weather set in wet to-night, and, with a falling glass, it appears as if the usual ill-. Inok attending Easter weather in Wellington j is to be continued. j DUNEDIN, April 14. On dit that the Liquidators of the Colonial Bank intend making application for the examination of Mr McLean. The hearing of a somewhat peculiar case was commenced ,to-day at the Magistrate's Court. A Mrs Rollinson sued Edward Fa veil, late Inspector. for. the .Benevolent Trustees, for £15, money lent. The woman's house waa burned down "while her" husbii-jl was working on the co-operative works, and subscriptions were raised, some £15 being collected. The plaintiffs story is that at various times Favell borrowed £17 from her, of which he had only repaid £2. She had received a letter from his solicitor threatening to prosecute her'for. levying blackmail, sd* she placed the matter in the hands of a solicitor. After the plaintiff's evidence had been taken the hearing was adjourned till the 23rd.