TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 528, 23 March 1908, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

IPKB PBEBS ASSOCIATION 7 EGG - LAYING. Christchurch, March 23. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's third competition at Lincoln College terminated on March 18. White Leghorns filled five of the highest places. The hens in Allen Petrie'B pen layed 1220 eggs in ten months. . Knight's Black Orpingtons won the winter test, and MiliMn's Black Orpingtons the Studholme test:. The fourth competition will commence on April 1, but there are eight vacant pens to be filled. DR. BELL IN POVERTY BAY. Gisborne, March 23. Dr. Bell, Director of the Geological Survey Department, who has been conducting a survey in the oil-bear-ing portions of this district, left last night for Wellington. The survey is not yet complete, and Dr Bell will return in about a week's time, when he expects to have his report ready for presentation to Parliament. Questioned as to indications of petroleum, Dr Bell said that surface indications .were promising, But he could cay no more until he had reported on his work. OTAGO DIAMOND JUBILEE. Dunedin, March 23. | Otago's Diamond Jubilee is being! observed as a close holiday to-day. Steady rain falling throughout the night and early this morning caused the abandonment of all functions, excepting the official opening of the Early Settlers' Halh and the regatta at Port Chalmers. The weather about 10 o'clock showed prospects of clearing. IN THE COURTS. Palmerston N., March 21. At the Supreme Court yesterday Mr Justice Cooper gave judgment 'n the oase of Henry James Argyle and another v. Nathaniel Malcolm, 'fhe case was one in which the plaiwtifi claimed £400 damages for alleged breaches of a deed of apprenticeship by wrongful dismissal and failure to instruct. The defence was that the apprentice was subject to epileptic nta, and was therefore unfit to Jearn the trade. Judgment waa given for the defendant without costs. Annie Gore applied for a dissolution of her marriage with John Goro on^tbe grounds of adultery. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute at the expiration of six months. TE ORANGA HOME ENQUIRY. Christohurch, March 22. The Te Oranga enquiry was continued yesterday, when T. J. Smaill, lay evangelist, who has made a practice of visiting the home regularly lince its inception, gave evidence. He •toted it mi one off the best-managed

institutions in tho dominion, and doing an excellent work under tho care ot Mrs Branting, who had always watched over tho inmutos with motherly care. With regard to classification, ho thought the first step necessary was a kind vi receiving building—a place where now arrivals could be placed and, whence they could be drafted into higiiw classes according to conduct. This portion should bo under the control of an assistant who had a real Jove for tho work. The girls should bo encouraged to lead a better life, and every inducement should bo offered Ahem to graduate to tlie highest classes in tho institution. OUThDOOR SPORT IN AUCKLAND. Auckland, March 22. Owing to tiio rain, wiiioh fell almost all day yesterday, all cricket and other ath.le.tio gatherings had to be postponed. Eight matches havo boßii played. Edon has won ail, scoring 18 points; City has won four, scoring 10 points; Graf ton, four and 10; North Shore, four and 9 j Parneld three and 8 ; and Ponsonby, one and 3. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Golf Club the report for the year showed a profit of £141, ami there were 109 members. Tho Club lias purchased new links at Otahuhu, containing 142 acres. THE SUDDEN DEATH. Dunodin, March 22. At the inquest on the body of James Brady, wiiio died on Friday as the result of injuries sustained by a railway accident on Wednesday week, tho medical evidence showed that tho deceased sustained a lacerated scalp wound on the back of the head and an extensive fracture, part of the skull being broken oft' and brain tissue pulped. Tho jury returned a verdict that death was caused by tho deceased having been accidentally struck by a railway train in motion. At tho inquest on. tho body of Mrs Hubbard, aged 57, found on Tomahawk Beach, toe jury wero of opinion that thero wore no suicidal signs and that the deceased must have been walking around the cliff, and, taking a fit, fell into the water. They returned a verdict that the deceased was found drowned, but there was not sufficient evidence to show how she got into the water. Tho deceased's husband said sho was an inmate of a mental hospital twelve months ago, but since her disoharge had shown no signs of suicidal tendencies. Christchurch, March 22. At the inquest concerning the death of Frederick Kennard, who was found with his throat cut at his mother's residence on Friday, it was shown that ho had been drinking heavily for some time. A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane waa returned. At the inquest on Ralph W. Baud, who met his death by falling from a scaffolding at the quarry, a vordbt was returned to the effect that death was due to internal injuries caused hy a fall INCENDIARISM ? Auckland, March 23. Incendiarism is suspected in connection with the outbreak of fire at tho residence of Mr Leo Myers, and occupied by Mr Mills, Collector of Customs, at Newmarket, on the 15th inst. The premises have since been under close observation by the police. At 3 a.m. yesterday, Constable Hunt arrested Thomas" Fitzgerald, for twenty-three years gardener at the house, on a charge of causing another fire, which was then commencing. The Newmarket Brigade extinguished the second outbreak, after damage amounting to £50 had been done. When arrested, Fitzgerald is said to have had two candles and soine waste in his hands, whilst his clothing smelt of kerosene. ROUGH WEATHER. The barquentine Handa Isle arrived from Newcastle at midnight, after a passage of thirty-four days. She experienced very rough weather during the whole trip, and during a gale from the 6th to the Bth mountainous seas were met, the ship being swept continually; but she came through without sustaining any damage. BAD BOYS FOR BURNIIAM. Mclndoe and Nathan, who wero recently ordered to undergo lengthy sentences, with hard labor, for indecently assaulting girls, have now been transferred to Burnham Home, in accordance with -the Judge's recommendation. DIED IN HiM SLEEP. Mrs M. Dodds, a married woman, residing in Brighton road, ParnelJ, died suddenly this morning. Her husband left her apparently sleep : ng peacefully. He returned in a few minutes, and found her dead in bed. GOLD IN THE URIWERAS. 1 The Hon. J. Carroll left for the TJri- !' wera Country this morning to make arrangements with the natives to open tho country for prospecting. It has been stated that valuablo gold reefs exist there. THE OTE KAIKE CASE. Dunedin, March 23. The Oteikaike case, in which Mitchell and McKellar are seeking a mandamus and injunction against the Otago Land Board, will be taken before Mr Justice Williams to-mor-row Messrs Hoskings and White appear for the applicants, and Messrs Solomon and Macasey for the Crown. Some interesting legal questions are involved. MASTERTON NOTES. Masterton, March 23. Five inches of rain have fallen since the drought broke up, but, strange to say, the water has not penetrated the soil to any depth, the surface having been baked by prolonged intense heat. The temperature to-day is much milder than on Saturday, and crops and feed are coming on rapidly. A NARROAV ESCAPE. Ashburton, March 23. A four-roomed house at Staveley. 1 owned and occupied by Mr G. S. McRae was, together with its contents, totally destroyed by fire eartv tins morning. The occupants kbarely escaped with their 'hres. Tho house was insured for £150 and tho furnituro for £75, both in the State Office. A BOY DROWNED. I&milton, March 23. A boy named Moon, eight years of age, was drowned in the Waikato river while bathing. WELLINGTON WEATHER. Wellington, March 23. Although the southerly gale has moderated, the weather is still unsettled, and tho rain falls intermittently. So far this month the rainfall registered is 2.87 inches.