NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(by TET,EGiurii—rr.nss association.) _$. —, . ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO ROB. A '"CHBISTCHDRCH CASE.' -'• Christchurch, December 30. Benjamin O'Cqnncll was charged at- the Kaiapoi Police.Court to-day wjtlr attempting to assault, and.rob Robert Lydster, 1 aged 17-, and 6. Ellis. Tho former, in his evidence, stated that between 11 and 12 p.m.,on Deer ember 24, O'Coimell, on horseback, jpvertook witness and a youth named -Ellis, who were on bicycles. 0 CoDnell bored Ellis on to tho shingle, and Ellis had to' get off his machine. O'Coimell got off bis horse, and demanded money, from him. • Accused then followed witness, awl called on hini: to get off his bicycle. Ho,-got hold-of tho bicycle, and hold his arm, and. threatened if ho called out ho would strike him, and also threatened to shoot. Ho demanded money, and searched witness's pockets, and took away a. parcel of the value of 10s. G. Ellis g'avo similar evir douco. For tho dofenco, accused's father said that O'Connell, when he reached homo, was too drunk to assault anyono, and his brothers and witness put him to.bed. 'Two brothers, Michael and Daniel, and J. Loveday,, stated that they all left Kaiapoi pretty full of beer, and wore in company drinking beer from bottles near where tho alleged assault took place. 'It.could not havo happened, Lovcday stated,-, without his seeing or bearing of it. Tho Bench decided to commit accused for trial. Bail was allowed. A DISSATISFIED DINER, ■ ' REVOLVER "AS; AN ARGUMENT;.' ~': Hastings, December 30. At the Magistrate's Court, Charles. Hannah, a harvester, was committed for -trial on a charge of attempting to'-disoharge-.a revolver at William 'Morris (a,'-.fellow employee) at Fernhili. . :'• . Tho evidence showed that Morris's wife, who was cook at tho station, refused to cook a hot dinner : in tho evening. Hannah objected to a cold dinner,"'and' Morris attempted to pull tho objector's nosO. ■ Hannah: left and 'returned, with ; a. loaded revolver,- which ho is alleged to!have, pointed at. Morris, but, the cartridgo'being-pldi'''"it missed fire. -.'.'",■.'.- ' '.-...v :.' .: • -v ."-. THE AUCKLAND SENSATION:',..-. I ... 'MTAVISH'S''CONDITION. T"'■'. '■•■ Auckland, Decomber 30.-; .-' Alexander M'Tavish, '"who' is alleged to havo endeavoured" to shoot''Souter, second officer'of. the Quito,' early On Saturday morning,- and then shot himself-and. fell into the harbour and was rescued, is "still "in a criti-cal-condition, although ho has regained consciousness. ; N ' • M'Tavish- is an insurance agent, and his father is said'to reside in Wellington. A slight hope is entertained that he may recover. '••■'.■ ' BULLER COUNCIL'S SAFE ROBBED. ' . Westport, December 30.. The safe at the Buller County Counoil oiiices was robbed of £200 during tho holidays. The burglar removed the main placo, drilled a holo in the safe, shot back tho bolt, and removed the money. Ho then relocked the safe and replaced, the main ptato. There is no clue to the pcrpotrator of the olfenco. AUCKLAND BANKRUPTCY RETURNS,: •'.'■'..-"■ AtlolOanU, December 30. Bankruptcy in the Auckland district kept level with last year. Tho number of cases dealt with in each year is exactly ■ fifty : six. For tho most part the cases involved no serious issues. ,J?rivato assignments to the Official Assignee are becoming increasingly popular, over £20,000 ! being realised during tho year on assets privately assigned to him. In conversation with a "Star" representative, Mr. Gerard said the district was in a very favourable condition all round. No particular trade had suffered in any shape or form. Both bankruptcies and : private assignments mean nothing, less than elimination of the unfit, and wero no indication of a slump, or even a,falling off in trade. TRIPLETS. Waitara, December 30. Mrs. • Isaacs, a Nativo woman, yesterday gavo birth to triplets, two hoys and a girl. All are "doing well. Tho Natives around the district were very, pleased at the event.. Mrs. Isaacs is a daughter of Parris Taylor, whose .father, was of £reat assjstonco to tho troops, at tho time "of, the bu'tbreak'of'war'in' Wai- ;: tara.. '. CRIME STATISTICS FOR DUNEDIN. Duncdin, December 30. Inspector O'Brien, in -tho course of some remarks to a reporter this evening, stated that ho expected the statistics for the Dunedin district if or 1907 would show'a slight increaso in minor offences,' hut therowaß an undoubted decrease in coses of .-more' serious crime' He emphasised the beneficial effects of the Habitual Criminals Act in preventing the annual 1 invasion hy criminals from'-the Commonwealth, and'its deterrent effect on local criminals. Ho also stated that the Gaming Act of last session had already done away with street betting and had- closed reputed gaming houses. ■ He/further eulogised the beneficial,results that had'followed.;.the passing of, the - Firearms. Act and the pror visions of the Police Offences. Aot, dealing with the consorting; together of vagrants and members of the criminal class. I . ARECORD. - '■'•".' ■■.'-;. Auckland, December 30. ' For the last\four. years to. tho end of March 31, 1907,' the .outstanding rates for the city of .Auckland amounted- to, less than 305., a record that probably, stands alone-in tho history of any city. in, the. Dominion. Tho amount in question, is.owing by a rate payer living ins Sydney,, who has. promised to remit l it shortly, so that by. the time tho City Council's financial year expires' there will probably bo nothing whatevor outstanding- •-. . ■ MANCHESTER UNITY. Auckland, December 30. Bro. A. N. Batchelor (of Nelson), Grand Master for New Zealand of the 'Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, who is at present on an official visit to. the Auckland district, was accorded a reception by tho members of the. Order this evening. There was a largo attendance The Prov. Grand Master (Bro. F. Shaw, of Thames) presided, and tho function was.of a most successful character. . PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE CLASS UNION. Inveroarglll, December 30. The Summer School of tlife Presbyterian Bible- Class Union of Now Zealand tc-dav concluded a week's session in Ihvercargili: Visitors have been present from all parts of the) Dominion, and about 800 members wero enrolled in connection with the school, which is one of two such gatherings held annually under the auspices of the"Union. Tho last camp was for men only, and tho school is for'both male, and female members.. Tho mornings have been devoted to classwork, the afternoon to recreation, .and. tho. evenings to lectures. The Secretary of the Union (Rev.. J. C Jatuieson) thinks good work has been doac. The next summer school will be held in Mastortoii. Tho weather has been very fine all tho week, and this induced many of tho summer school visitors to lengthen their stay in order to put in a wool; at Stewart Island. Tho visitors arc greatly delighted with tho ideal weather experienced, and are very pleased with tho complete arrangements niado for their accommodation, and for the varied entcrtainniont supplied by tho local members. PASSENGERS FROM AUSTRALIA. Inveroarglll, Decomber 30. The Mahono, , from Melbourne, to-day, brought 217 passengers, for all porta. Fortytwo wore landed at tho Bluff.