TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 592, 24 March 1908, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

iPBR PRESS ASSOCIATION 7 STILL RAINING. Christchurch, March 24. Rain, more or less heavy, has been experienced daily since Thursday last, with but few glimpses of sunshine. It has had a very salutory effect on vegetation, of every kind. Tho country reports are jubilant over the ehango in tho weather, both pastures and feed crops showing improvement. It is raining again tin's morning, with the sky showing dense clouds. There has been no rain, till now, of any consequence, since October. ANNIVERSARY OF OTAGO. Dunedin, March 23. To-day was observed as a holiday in honour of tho 60th anniversary of tho foundation of tho settlement of the provinco of Otago. The principal event in connection with the celebration was the opening of the Early Settlers' Hall, which has been erected in memory of the pioneers. Tho hall— which is centrally situated — will be used for the reunions and meetings of the Earfly Settlers' Association, and also as a storehouo for the records of mementoes, of which tho 'Association has many of the early days. On the motion ot Dr. Hocken it was decided, "That this meeting, on the occasion of tho sixtieth anniversary of the arrival of tho first settlers to the settlement of Otago, express their grateful recognition of tho labours of Edward Gibbon Wakefield in tho colonisation of New Zealand, and their desire that steps should bo taken to raise a suitable memorial to his memory." WELCOME TO RETURNED COMPETITORS. Wellington, March 23. The athlletes who so worthily represented this dominion at the important sports gathering in Tasmania and Australia recently were tendered a formal welcome home this afternoon by tlie Wellington centre of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Congratulatory speeches were delivered by the Hon. T. W. Hislop (Mayor of Wellington), who presided, and by the Hon. George Fowdds and Messrs T. M. Wiiford, C. H. Izard, and F. M. B. Fisher, M.P.'s. Mr Green (manager of the team), in acknowledgling the expressions of pleasure at the success of tho team, suggested that Kerr and Murray houid bo sent to represent New Zealand at the Olympian games in London next July, and perhaps the Government might help. Mr Wiiford promised to do his best to obtain a grant for the purpose. Mr Fisher said he would not pledge •himself to ask the Government for money for sport, as ho thought tho necessary money could and should bo obtained privately. | IN THE COURT'S. Dunedin, March 23. Tho Otekaike case, in which Mitchell <and McKellar are seeking an minjunction against the Otago Land Board, will bo taken before Mr Justice Williams to-morrow. Messrs Hosking and White appear for tho applicants, and Messrs Solomon and Masasey for the Crown. Some interesting legal questions are involved. Christohurch, March 23. At the Supreme Court this morning Mr Justffc Denniston sentenced three |)risoners who had pleaded guilty in the lower Court, to oharges of the theft of bicycles, perjury, and forgery and/ uttering as follows: — Ernest Vaugban, aged 18 years, on three oharges of forgery, was granted probation for two years on condition that he remained under the control of the Samaritan Homo authorities for six months; Arthur Duffey, aged 24, on eight charges of bicycle thefts, was sentenced in all to three years; James Albert Sheard, forgery in coiuiection with an affiliation case, received three months' imprisonment. Palmerston N., March 23. The case of John Bail lie v. the Imperial Dry Milk Company was heard before Mr Justice Cooper. The claim was for the sum. of £501 ? in respect of work done by plaintiff tor defendant, ■and as compensation in respect to »» patent invented by the plaintiff, also oss of .tooJs at defendants' factory at Bunnythorpe, which was d<sstroyed by fire some years ago. Evidence was given by Messrs Baillie, Hoke, and Merritt (for the plaintiff), and by Messrs T. and D. Nathan (for tho d«fonco). Judgment was given for the plaintiff for £10, and His Honour reserved his decision regarding tho matter of costs. A decree nisi was granted to Mary Ann Pye, who applied for tho dissolution of iher marriage with 'Archibald Robertson Pye, on the ground of desertion, failing to provide for her maintenance, and persistent cruelty. No defence was filed. Edward Jones (alias Johns) was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with hard labour for committing an indecent assault on a little girl at Ashhurst. A BOY ELECTROCUTED. "Wellington, March 23. A boy mamed Francis Chamberlain, 12 years of age, an inmate of the Home of Compassion at Island .Bay> while playing near the Home this afternoon touched a live electric wire which had been blown down by the gale. The lad was electrocuted, death being instantaneous. AUSTRALIAN FRUIT. Wellington, March 23. Two lines of Australian lemons by the steamer Maitai were found to be badly affected by "blackspot." These were allowed in, but future shipments affeoted by this disease will be either returned to Australia or destroyed.' INTERESTING TO FARMERS. Masterton, March 23. A somewhat serious anticipation re. garding local pastures was expressed to a AVairarapa Age representative today by an experienced farmer. He believes that ryegrass has been so severely affected by tho drought that on a good many pastures it will be found to have died right out. He states that on the femridge there is every indication, so far, that such is the case, though of course it will be some little time before a definite pronouncement on the matter can be made, but what ryegrass does survive will not be of much use this season. INDUSTRIES EXHIBITION. Auckland, March 23. The idea of holding a Local Industries Exhibition has caught on here, and a committee is now at work with a view of bringing it to a successhil issue. The committee will probably co-operate with the A. and P. Association and hold a winter exhibition early in June. Exclusive of mines and quarries, "there are said "to be no less than 885 different manufacturing ndustries in the Auckland province. ARBITRATION COURT. Wellington, March 23. At the 'Arbitration Court sitting today R. A. Wakelyn. charged with a breach of the bricklayers' award by employing a jion-unionist when a unionist was available, was fined £18 and costs. , , . , Charles Brown proceeded against the Union Steamship Company for £300 compensation for injury sustained while employed by the company in lumping coal from a hulk to .the s.s. Warrimoo. It waa shown that he was knocked off a plank, falling between the two vessels, and sustaining a fracture of the pelvis, and other injuries, and waa (thereby totally incapacitated. Since the accident he had received £76 4s (half wages) in respect of the injury during his period of incapacity. The company did not contest 'the claim beyond raising the question as to the advisability of paying a lump sum. Tho company was willang rto pay in accordance with the court s award. The court awarded £200, which was considered to be reasonable under ttw circumstances, INCONVENIENCED. Wangftnu, March 24. A number of employers, cited to appear before the 'Arbitration Court here to-day, were considerably inconvenienced and annoyed. to iind^ -that there was no sitting of the Oourt. One employer had journeyed mty miles, necessitating the loss of two days, and was put to considerable expense. No official intimation of any kind had been sent to the parties cited, abQut the postponement of the Court. i DRINKING AMONGST WOMEN. Auckland, March 24. The Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association 'have resolved to write to the Minister of Justice (Hon. J. McGowan) re the alleged police report on drinking by women in hotels,

which, tho Association declares, was unwarranted, unproven, vague, generally in character, and unjust to (licensees and unfair to citizens of the do- ! minion. The Minister is asked to , issue instructions to prevent what they regard as an indiscreet and grossly improper proceedng. FIRE IN A GUM STORE. ' A gum store, at Mangawai, owned by Mr D. Bowman, was destroyed by tire, causing damage to tho extent of about £1000 to £1200. The building i was insured for £150 in the Guardian office. The gum was insured for £500 in another office. POLITICAL NOTES. Westport, March 24. Mr A. C. Hansen has definitely decided to ofFer himself as a candidate for the mayoralty of Westport. ' Mr Greenwood, the present mayor, will again be a candidate. THE RAILWAY SERVICE. Resignations from the local railway service are frequent, and some half a dozen young men have their notices in at present. The rate of pay appears to be the chief cause of complaint. ABOUT W. J. KILLEN. Wm. James Killen, who was accidentally killed in a sluicing claim at Dee Creek, Three Channel Flat, was 37 years of age, and the only son of Mr and Mrs Richard Killen, of Addison's. Deceased was employed in the Tail Race when a fall of stonos occurred, pinning Kijlen down and instantly killng hni. A MILITARY NOTE. Col. Davies completed the inspection of volunteers in this district. FOR THE NAVY. The Hawoa loads with Admiralty coal for Melbourne. SLY GROG SELLING. Wellington, March 24. Tho Taihape police raided a billiard room at Waiouru, on the Main Trunk, suspected as a sly grog shop. Prosecutions follow. GISBORNE NOTES. Gisborno, March 24. At tho Magistrate's Court the Inspector of noxious weeds proceeded against a farmer for failing to cut out blackberries. In defence, it) was contended that the cultivated plant Lawton berry -could not be brought under the designation of rabus fruticisis in the Act. The prosecution, however, asserted that any blackberries not properly cut and trimmed, though they were improved varieties, became noxious weeds: The Magistrate reserved his decision. The Harbour Board discussed the reports presented by Marchant, Timaru, and Cooke and Son, and Matthews, England, on tho proposed now harbour. Both reports were in agreement on the main features of the work, but differed somewhat in details. The cost will be about £400,000. The members agreed that the Board was in a sound position to go on with the works, and decided to refer the scheme to the superintendents of the shipping companies for their opinions. FINISH OF TE ORANGA HOME INQUIRY. Christchurch, March 23. The inquiry into the management of Te Oranga Home, which has been conducted before Mr Bishop, Commissioner, was concluded this afternoon. R. H. Pope, in charge of that branch of the department which dealt with industrial schools, said that at Te Oranga the food was plain, but good. The matron had absolutely no object in providing anything but the best, and the contract conditions stipulated that the best should be supplied. He was of opinion that Mrs Branting was absolutely wrapped up in. her work. At first he had an idea that the matron waa a little on tho hard side, but he had since absolutely changed 'his opinion. She had a thoroughly good manner with her. In an institution of that kind there must be a woman who was prepared to assert herself, otherwise the girls would ride over her. He thought that the girls were decidedly fond of the matron. Mr Russell : Do you think the girls are overworked at wood-chopping? Witness: Oh, no; there is absolutely nothing in it. As to the hair-cuiling episode, the witness said that there nad been only two cases, and those occurred last November. The department had been for the past six or seven years averse to this form of punishment, and had on three separate occasions declined to allow the matron to inflict it. It was only in the case of these two girls that the department agreed to it. The cases were considered by the Minister himself. The department was also averse to corporal punishment, if it could be avoided. A better classification or separtion of the worst girls from the others would bring corporal punishment down to the minimum. , „ j Mr Bishop stated that he would consider the whole matter, and send his report to his Excellency the Governor. REPORTED RICH GOLD DISCOVERY AT RUSSELL. " Auckland, March 23. It is reported that a rich gold de- j posit has been discovered at Russell. According to the somewhat meagre details to hand, it appears that a well-known Russell firm has been engaged in clearing some vacant land quite close to the town itself. While clearing operations were in progress the -uprooting of some gorse led to the discovery of highly-coloured stone, which, upon analysis, proved to be rich in mineral. Further investigation led to the realisation of the fact that a spur running down almost to the sea frontage possesses a wonderfully rich reef. Some excitement prevail^ over the reported discovery, and, according to a gentleman who has seen the locality, it is the richest gold find in the dominion. The la/id on which the reef is situated is owned by Natives, and a syndicate is negotiating for a lease. ADOPTION AND REGISTRATION. Wellington, March 24. A test case, involving the question of infant adoption, was decided today by Mr Riddell, - S.M. The defendants were charged with receiving, in consideration of payment or ieward, and retaining on their charge an infant for a longer period than seven consecutive days without being licensed as its foster parents. For the defence, it was contended that no license or exemption was required if a premum or consideration, paid to the adopting parent, was received, as in the present case, solely for the benefit of the child adopted. The Magistrate convicted the defendants, but as they acted bona fide the nominal penalty of Is only was imposed.