NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 458, 17 March 1909, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(BY TELEGBiI'U—ritESS ASSOCIATION.) 1 —:—

THE LIQUOR LAW. SEVEJtE REMARKS BY A MAGISTRATE, Christchurch, March 16. At tho Magistrate's Court, Ella Regan, a coloured woman, with three or four previous convictions, was convicted of selling liquor without a license, and sentenced to sis months' hard labour. Herbert Anderson, who occupied tho same houso as Regan, was fined £50 on a similar charge. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, said: "Tho fewer words 1 uso tho hetter, for tho case is a. most disgusting one to every decent person. I am going to break up what 1 consider a black spot of tho city." In regard to tho characters of witnesses■■ and the:methods adopted by them, his Worship said ho could not speak of that aspect of.the matter at all. It seemed that it was no douht necessary for the police to sometimes employ men of this class, and they nrust, therefore, he regarded as a necessary evil in cases of this sort. Sub-Inspector M'Grath, after the case had been heard, told an "Evening News" reporter that the police knew nothing .of the tactics adopted by witnesses, and would not have countenanced their action had they known of it. , MARRIED AT 84. AN AUCKLAND* MAINTENANCE CASE. Auckland, March 16. It is not often that a man of;'Si and a woman of 70 enter into a matrimonial compact, but such'a case was beforo Mr? C. C. Kettle, S.M., at tho Police. Court this 'afternoon. Alice Hickey proceeded against Patrick Hickey, her husband, for failing to maintain her, and Patrick Hickey proceeded against Alice Hickey for alleged assault, an<? asked that she be bound over to keep the peace- towards him for 12 months. Patrieb Hickey was, it is stated, 84 years of ago. and Ins wife about 70. They had been man ,' ried only' since August last, tho husband, it was alleged, representing that ho had £2(10 in tho Savings Bank, and a mortgage of £500 ovor someproperty. A month _ after the , marriage. Hickey cleared- out, saying that ly» ; was going to Rotorua for ms • health. JWt donco was given by Mrs. Hickey to tho eflect- ; . that sho was now unable to support herself, ~ owing to the fact that her sight was failing. ; She denied ever having assaulted Hickey. After hearing tho evidence, his 'Worship refused to make an order for maintenance,,na tho old man had nothing, and tho application to have Mrs. Hickey bound over to keep the peace was adjourned sino dio, to bo brought on at 24 hours' notice. A MINE MANACER'S BANKRUPTCY. Auckland, March 16. - Tho sworn statement of Arthur. Herbert Sellon. mine manager, of, Thames, who filed a petition in bankruptcy in February has been lodged with the Official Assignee. Bankrupt's liabilities are'set down at £409 9s. 3d., and his assets at nil. . Ho stated that ho came to New Zealand from West Australia in March, 1902, to represent the interests of his uncle in tho New Zealand Jubilee mine at Waitokauri, and the lama and Fortune mine at Thames. Ho resided at Waitekauri for' some months, and was then appointed manager of tho two mmes named at a salary of £250 per annum. After holding the position for three years, some slight friction arose between bankrupt ana the directors, resulting in bankrupts resignation. He was out of employment for 15 months, during'which period his liabilities accumulated. In November, 190(, ho , was appointed manager of tho Champion mine, holding the position for twelve months. Ho had made every effort to get ahead of his debts, but had failed. BURNED TO DEATH, ~ „ ~, .Dunodin, March 16. At tho inquest on r< tho body of ■ DugaJrl Sinclair, who.itrps,.burncd,to,.death at his resi- ;.■. donco-at Naseb'y on 'Thursday evening, Mar- ■ garet Healy, of Kyeburn, deposed that on Thursday evening sho wont to- deceased a house about::9.■.o'clock.;. She had known deceased for" 37 years/'. Her husband, wio was staying with the deceased, and tho deceasedwero in bed.' A light was. burning dimly in the bedroom wherp her husband was sleeping. Deceased was lying on the sofa in tho kitchen. Both were dressed. Sho requested her husband to como homo. JAo saut ho would. Witness left shortly afterwards; • Before doing so she> removed a bottlo of beer and put it outside. Deceased was certainly tho wotsg of drink. Mr. Hcaly was sober, though ho may have- had a few drinks. Hie lamp was quite safe. There was no lire ill tho stove. Sho had no words with deceased or her-husband, Her husband and deceased wero very friendly. Witness had no reason to believo that the'houso was other than accidentally burned. The Coroner found that deceased was burned to death at his residence through tho said residence accidentally catching fire. THE FIRE AT ONEHUNGA. Auckland, March 16. Tho insurances on Messrs. Sutherland and Co.'s tannery building and, machinery, destroyed at 'Onehunga last night aro as fplj Iow:-£1S15 in tho South British and £4050 in the New Zealand. The total insurances aro £5805, and tho approximate damage £14,000. • , , .■■■ . ALLECED LIBEL. Auckland, March 16. J H Gunson, merchant, to-day issued a writ rhiminc £2000 damages tor alleged lib , £?nrt Geddis and Bkmlield,. propnetors of tho "Observer." The suit is in respect of an article published in the issue of the paper named'of the 13th. instant, concerning the recent Harbour Board - election Messrs. Gunson, Heather, and Graig wero returned, but the elect.on was ater- .. wards declared void by Mr. C. C. Kettlo, • S.M. RACING STABLES AND VICE. Napier, March 16.' At tho Supremo Court to-day, Mr. Justice Edwards remarked that it seemed to him that it might bo a. good thing if a law wore passed prohibiting youths, who had not reached years of discretion, from being allowed to frequent tho vicuuty of racing stables, as in such places a great deal or vice originated. LARCE FIRE AT PALMERSTON. Palmoroton, March 10. A largo firo occurred hero shortly before II p.m.. and destroyed Collinson and Cunninghanie's tailoring establishment, and nlso partly destroyed Thacker's boot shop. Ihe insurances aro not available. TIMARU CROWINC, BUT BORROWING. Tfmaru. March 16. Tho Borough Council to-night.resolved, in connection with the renewal of tho waterworks loan of £60,000 nest year, to sumnit to tho ratepayers proposals to add loans of £18,000 to improve water supply, toUUU for permanent improvements to streets, and £5000 for municipal buildings. Consideration bT a proposed loan of £7500 for a town hall or theatre was deferred till next mooting. \ resolution abolishing tho ward system was finally confirmed. Tho vahuvwou _ of. the borough (annual valuo systeml has just been completed. The totnl is £95,629, an increase of £4913. Ojio of the six wards shows a, decrease of £2. MET DEATH WHILE FISHINC. Napier, March 10. A yoiin" man, named W. Fisher, whilst fishing to-Tiight, fell off the Glasgow Wharf and succumbed to the cit'ects of immersion, although prolonged efforts to induco artificial respiration wero made.