NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Br TELEGJUrH—MESS JLEfIOCtiTIOH.) RELEASED. • - Hokltika, October 2. Halinen and Anderson, serving terms of imprisonment on charges of manslaughter,at Westport, have been released from gaol. Wostport, October 2. At a crowded public meeting convened by the Mayor held to-night, it'was decided to' present a tangible mark of recognition ito A Mr. W. J. Macdonald (solicitor for Halinen and Andersen) whoso strenuous work over five hearings in various courts was chiefly responsible for demonstrating the innocence of ■ Halinen, and Andersen, and sheeting home the murder of Bourke to Connolly, who finally confessed. It was stated that all tho. money Mr. Macdonald received was one pound three shillings and sixpence; The meeting agreed also to present' Mr. Herdman, barrister, with a memento.' The Westport community's gratitude to the'' Hokitika jury was also expressed. The ' speeches referred to the services done by Messrs. Macdonald, Herdman, and Whyto ; (Vice-Consul for Norway) to the whole Do- . minion in maintaining the purity of justice.' H.M.S. PIONEER. Chrlstchuroh, October 2. H.M.S. Pioneer, third-class protected cruiser, Commander. Miller, arrived at Lyt-, telton about one o'clock this afternoon from Sydney direct, and was berthed at the inner end of the Gladstone pier. Tho Pioneer, which has recontly undergone a thorough overhaul in Sydney, is expected to remain at Lyttelton for about two months in order to enable Royal Naval Reserve men to go through their annual training. • PRISONER ESCAPES. ' / Auckland, October 2. John Bishop, a fireman, who was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Wellington a month ago, escaped from custody to-day, while being conveyed, with seven others, from the South to Waiotapu.. He was missing when the warders aboard the Rarawa, on which the prisoners- travelled, marshalled their charges to come ashore. STRANGE SHOOTING CASE. ';'/. Ashburton,October 2. :■ A peculiar shooting affair , was reported to the police this morning.- It appears that William M'Climont; a resident at Mount ■Soihers, on answering, a knock at his. door last-night, was confronted by a tall: man, who ordered him to put up his-hands, at the same time threatening him with-a revolver. M'Climont immediately attempted to shut tho door,', and the visitor fired, the ball grazing M'Climbnt's ear. The miscreant then decamped. ' Investigations are proceeding. '.- SPEECH BY LORD PLUNKET. . Palmerston North," October 2. A large Sunday-School'demonstration was held at the Opera House to-night. Tho ' Governor distributed prizes to the; success ■fur scholars ■at the recent' Wellington, ex« animations: His Excellency delivered a stirring address on the necessity for religious instruction. .He pointed out how the Turks and Japanese, with inferior religions, were prepared to sacrifice themselves and die. for their belief, and how, therefore, Christians, with their noble religion, should do all they could - to assist'its teachings.

.TRAMWAY LIFE GUARDS: EXCITING INCIDENT. Auckland, October 2. A practical demonstration of the- utility, iof tramway life guards, under rather exciting circumstances, was afforded the, .bystanders at Mount Eden this . afternoon:'A two-year-bid child named Martha .Cartor, in charge of an elder girl, was crossing Dominion Road, arid the latter, noticing : tho approaching car ( decided to cross the train, line in front, of it % She did'so/'but in'crossing the infant' fell to' .'the ground . between. the ■. rai Is.; - ; THe promptly applied' the ' emergency "'Brake, : but the car did not come to-a standsstill until some fifteen'yards hadbeen cov-!' ered. Then a breathless crowd Tushed- to tho scene, finding to their- relief Mt. the" child was'safely ensconced in the life : guard in. ffont of tho car. Sho was taken out somewhat bruised and shaken, but - without 1 other injury. ■

CHRISTCHURCH EAST. , ;. , Christchurch, October 2. ' Mr. C. Boxshall, well-known in cricketing circles, has announced himself as. a candi-' date for .the Christchurch East seat in the Opposition interests.: ■ - ' ' NEWS IN BRIEF. ••• . Christchurch; October 2. About 250 persons have joined the Christ*' church Canal League. Ashburton, October 2. Thomas Alexander- was fined £30 and costs for sly. grog-selling., The charge arose out of evidence given, at; an inquest on the body ' of John Taylor, who was found dead on Sep-) tcrnber 17. . .'•■ ' ' • Clsborne, October 2. A country settler was fined £1 to-day for interring the body of an; infant, upon land not a cemetery, there. being a cemetery, within five miles. ' Ashburton, October 2. This afternoon a man : named Thomas Pritehard, 69 years of age, was discovered in a doubled-up position at the'bottom ; of a narrow dry well, Bft. deep, on his property, in. Aitken Street, almost nude and in a semiconscious condition. After extrication he was conveyed ;to the hospital; where he lies in a critical state. '