TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 830, 17 March 1909, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WRIT AGAINST THE OBSERVER Auckland, March 10. J. H. Gunson, merchant, to-day issued a writ claiming £2000 damages- for alleged libel against Geddis ' and Bloomfield, proprietors of the "Observer," The suit is in respect of an article published in the issue of the paper named of the 13th inst., concerning the recent Harbour Board election. Messers Gunson, Heather, and Craig were returned, but the election was -afterwards declared void by Mr C. C. Kettle,S.M. ONEHUNGA FIRE INSURANCES. The insurances on Messrs Sutherland and Company's tannery building and machinery, destroyed at j Onehunga last night, are as follows: j £1815 in the South British and j £4060 in the New Zealand. The to- | tal insurances are £5865, and the j approximate damage £14,000. S.P.C.A. PRESENTATION. Duuedin, March 10. At the meeting of the Society fur the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to-day, the chairman, Mr George j Fenwick, was presented with a hand. some pair of binoculars as a mark of the esteem of the members prior to bis departure on a visit to England. THE COURTS. Wellington, March 16. At the Magistrate's Court to-day Michael Hurlihy, a young man, was committed for trial on a charge of stealing from the person articles valued at £1 2s 6d. Chmtehureh, March 16. At the 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 six months' hard labour. Herbert Henderson, who occupied the same house as Regan, was fined £50 on a similar charge. The Magistrate, in giving judgment said: "The fewer words I use the better, for the case is a most disgusting one to every decent person. lam going to break up what I consider a black spot of the city." In regard to the characters of the witnesses and the methods adopted by them, his Worship said he could not speak of that aspect of the matter at all. It seemed that it was no .doubt necessary for the police to sometimes oinploy men of this class and they must therefore be regarded as a necessary evil in cases of this sort. Sub-Inspector McGrath after the case had been heard, told an Evening News reporter that the police knew nothing of the tactics adopted by the witnesses and would not have countenanced their action had they known of it. AN UNFORTUNATE MINE MANAGER. Auckland, March 16. The sworn statement of Arthur Herbert SeHon, mine manager, of the Thames, who filed a petition in bankruptcy in February last, has been lodged with the official assignee. The bankrupt's liabilities are set down at £409 9s 3d, and his assets at nil . He states he came to New Zealand from West Australia in March, 1902, to represent the interests of his ancle at Waitekauri, and the Fame and Fortune mine at the Thames. He resided at Waitekauri, for some months, and was then appointed manager of the two mines named at a salary of £250 per annum. After holding the position for throe "ears some slight friction arose between £he bankrupt and the directors, resulting in the bankrupt's resignation. He was out of employment for 15 months, during which period his liabilities accumulated. In November, 1907, he was appointed manager of the # Champion mine, holding the - position for twelve months. He had made every effort to get* ahead of his debts but had failed. DEATH OF CRIMEAN VETERAN. Westportj March 17. The death occurred this morning of Duncan McLennan, aged 76. He was an old Crimean .veteran, a gunner in the Royal Artillery. He fought at Alma, Inkerraann, Bala- .^, cjav*, and the capture of Sobastopoott He was for many years a rearaent of Kumara and was wellkaofrn throughout the West CoMfc.

'*■.«.■■■ He leaves a widow and one daughter. Thero will be a military funeral. DROWNIN GACCIDENT. Napier, March 16. A young man named W. Fisher, whilst fishing to-night, fell off the Glasgow wharf and succumbed to the effects of the immersion, although prolonged efforts at artificial resperation were made. SPORTS ABANDONED. Masterton, March 17. Owing to the wet weather, St. Patrick's Day sports have been abandoned. THE NIMROIX Christchurcb, March 17. No anxiety as yet is felt regarding the non arrival of the Nimrod from tho Antarctic. Captain England, who took the vessel South on her first trip, interviewed, states that it is impossible to fix even on approximate date for her arrival. Even if she is not here till the end of April 1 there will be no occasion for anxiety. Everything depends entirely upon the circumstances and movements of the exploring party in the South. " WHELCH IN GOOD FORM. Whelch has now settled down to thorough training for the match with Fogwell. Ho turns the scales at 10 stone and is in much better form than when he rowed in Australia. HIJsJ SLAUGHTERMAN'S STRIKE. An echo of the slaughtermen's strike occurred yesterday when a number of men whose tines remain unpaid received notice from their employers that they had been instructed by tho inspector of awards to withhold all wages due to them pending liiu extinction of their liabilities. .-.ljouL thirty men are concerned, the r mounts varying from 10s upwards. j lie men intend to interview the Premier and raise a point whether a penalty imposed under the old Arbitration Act can be enforced under iliu subsequent Act. A SUDDEN DEATH. Gore, March 17. Thos Grieve, one of the best known tattlers of Southland, died suddenly, presumably from heart trouble, at his farm "Waitui,"' Mataura, yesterday, while harvesting. He was for four years manager of Bushy Park station, Mataura, and was 57 years /»f ege.. FROZEN MEAT EXPORTS. Gisborne, March 17. The export of frozen meat to Canterbury has been very brisk lately, 17.300 carcases having been exported. This year it is expected that tl»e frozen meat export is going to lir- a record one. As an instance the Gisborne Sheep Farmers Coy.'s output was 90,000 ahead of the same period last year. But for the present additions it is estimated that ore hundred thousand sheep and lambs would have been left on local farmers' hands this season.