NEAR AND FAR

Evening Star, Issue 14226, 27 November 1909, Page 5

NEAR AND FAR

At the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday a young Maori named Mark Menzies was convicted of assault on a girl eight years of age, and was sent to gaol for three yearn, being also ordered a flogging of twenty lashes. Richard John Yeoman, llfty years of age, for indecently assaulting two little girls, was sent to gaol for six years. Peter Alexander, who pleaded guilty to two charges of uttering, received a sentence of two years.

In the Divorce Court at Wellington yesterday decrees nisi were granted in the following cases;— Leonard Bowman' v. Catherine Sowmun and Norman Robert Richard Renton (an inmate of the I’orinia Asylum), Albert Harris v. Hilda Harris and Thomas Gault (co-respondent), Helena Elizabeth M'Ginnity v. Ernest Henry M'Ginnity (on tho ground of drunkenness and cruelty), Lallan v. Lallan (a husband's petition on the ground of misconduct), Hubbard v. Hubbard (a husband's petition on the ground of misconduct), and Jordan v. Jordan (a husband’s i>etilion on the ground of misconduct).

There have been such demands on freight accommodation of Home boats for the coming two or three months that the New Zealand Shipping Company have ken compelled (says an Auckland wire) to charter vessels to assist in carrying cargo. It is slated that there is more cargo being stopped from New Zealand to England this year than has ever been the case before. Of course, wool shipments make a considerable item. Passenger accommodation is also being heavily booked, and from present appearances' all Home boats leaving during the next three months should carry their full complement. In last nights issue we had an account of a sensational occurrence at South Stainmore (Westmoreland), where a vicar was roughly handled by some of his parishioners for misbehaving with one of his school tcacheis. The sons of eight farmers in the district were charged with assault, but the cross-examination of the vicar showed that his conduct was. to say the least, very compromising. The cross-examination was. however, very much restricted, because the Bench held that complainant was not bound to incriminate himself. A fine of £5 each was imposed on each of the defendants. The complaints of the young woman are to take the form of an action for slander, while the vicar will probably be proceeded against under the Clergy Discipline Act. An Adelaide message advises that the first visual observation in Australia of Halley's comet was made from the Observatory on Thursday.

The Government have received particulars of the exhibition of the works in wood which is to be held at the Carpenters’ Hall, London, in June. 1910, under the auspices of the Masters AA’ardens and Courts of Assistants of the Worshipful Companies of Carpenters and Joiners of the City of London. Numerous prizes are offered for competition in the various divisions. Circulars have been sent to the builders’ associations throughout the Dominion, and details (says a P. A. wire) can be obtained on application to the Director of Commerce and Tourists Department.