NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 274, 28 November 1901, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(By Telegraph —Press Association.) Auckland, last night.

At the Police Court to-day Mr Hutchison, S.M., giving a reserved decision in a brothel ease, said the defence was that the English law governed the New Zealand law, and it provided that the prostitution of one woman did not constitute a brothel. He had consulted brother magistrates on the point, and they did not agree. He had then gone into the question, and fully decided to uphold the contention of the defence. The case under consideration was dismissed, but ho suggested an appeal be made on the point.

Hawera, last night. Frosts during the last two nights have done considerable damage to the potato crops. There was beautiful weather for the Egmont show to-day, which promises to be a great success.

Wellington, last night. Tho delegates from various branches of the Post and Telegraph Association of New Zealand waited as a deputation on Sir Joseph Ward this morning and brought under his notice a number of matters connected with the administration of the post and telegraph service, which were very favorably received by tbe Minister.

Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Seddon go South late to-night to be present at tho Otago show on Friday. The Arbitration Court has delivered its award in the drivers’ dispute. Two classes of labor aro dealt with in the award, an all-round increase of wages and decrease of hours is ordered. The secretary of the Union estimates that the drivers of Wellington, Petone, and Hutt, who number between 500 and 600, will benefit to tho extent of some L 13,000 per annum. About 160 employers were parties to the caso.

The Postal Department is advised that a slight shock of earthquake occurred at Cheviot at 12.28 to-day. Dunedin, last night. Captain Richardson, formerly in command of tho Waikare, has retired from tho Union Company’s services owing to ill-health. As an illustration of the effect of the Federal tariff, the Star mention’s that the Westralia’s sole cargo from tho Bluff for Sydney consists of a solitary box of cheese. Up to the present there is next to nothing booked at Lyttelton and Wellington, and when the vessel leaves the latter port oil Saturday it is expected that the cargo under hatches will not embrace more than fifty tons. At the criminal sittings of the Supremo Court, Jas. Hammond, convicted yesterday of indecent assault, was sentenced to twelve months ; Jas. Wood, found guilty of indecent assault, was sentenced to

throe years and one flogging of twenty strokes, the Judge remarking that it was an indecent assault of a bad kind. Wil-

liam Watty, 23, who pleaded guilty to stealing H 347 from the person of It. B. Paterson, received two years’ imprisonment.