NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7222, 23 April 1884, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Pee Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, April 22. Judge Gillies to-day made an order for cuooial juries to hear the New Plymouth libel actions. The judge also directed the divorce ease. Lamb v. Lamb, to be hoard next session before a common jury. q’ho lion Mr Mitehelsou submitted plans for a new railway station to tho President uul'membersof the Chamber of Commerce to-day, for inspection. The designs mot with their approval and that of the mercantile public. Mr Mitehelsou. it is understood is prepared to call for tenders at 01UV . He returns to Wellington overland to-morrow, and goes south via Mokaiß so as to he in a position to report on the West Coast route. The Governor met tho Native* chiefs of Kaipara at Dargaville. in tho Public Hall, q’here was a large attendance, and speeches of welcome were delivered, to which the governor suitably replied. q'lio Kennedy family gave a farewell performance in the Choral Hall last night. Numbers wore refused admission, and elainhered on to tho roof of the building to hear. r ~ At tho settling on the Autumn Mooting, the principal winners were—P. F.Tanered, ; E. Hoisted. £201: Major George, ; John Marshall, £215; Leanard, £171: Robertson, £112; Standish, £104; lUvdrins, £00; W. Fed ter, £57. At the inquest on the body of Edwin Welcome, found in the harlgur on Sunday morning. Dr Murray Moore deposed that deceased had been subject to epileptic fits, and was addicted to drink. From an examination of the body, death appeared to have been caused by violence. MAKTON, April 22. Six stacks of grain belonging to James Heard, near Marten, were burned this morning. The las is £250; uninsured. The origin of the fire is unknown. WELLINGTON, April 22. A house containing six rooms, situated in Pirie street, owned by George Dixon and occupied by Thomas Henry, compositor, was destroyed by fire this afternoon. A portion of the furniture was saved. Insurances —furniture. £2OO in the Equitable; building, £2OO in the National- The fire occurred in the kitchen and the origin is unknown.

Among the Age specials is a telegram that in the New Zealand appeal case of Williams v. the Queen, the Privy Council affirmed the dechion of the New Zealand Court. This is probably an fiction brought by Captain Williams against Government for damages sustained through the sinking oi the s.s. Westport in the river at West-, port. Captain Williams gained the case in the New Zealand Courts, and it will be seen that the decision of the latter has now been affirmed by the English Court, to which Government appealed. At the inquest on the body of the boy Spackman, drowned in a well at Featherston on Sunday, the verdict was “ Accidentally drowned through the insecure fastening of the lid of the well."

BLENHEIM, Aram 22. Thomas EUors Hiley.anold Marlborough resident, and formerly a wool scourer in a large way of business, was found dead in his house this morning. Deceased had been in bad circumstances lately, and was drinking heavily. Death is believed to have resulted from an epileptic fit brought cn by excessive alcoholism- The Coroner withdrew his warrant for an inquest in consequence of Dr Cleghom certifying that the cause of death was alcoholic epilepsy. DUNEDIN, April 22. The Premier purposes leaving Dunedin for Christchurch on Friday, and speaks there on Saturday. At the Police Court to-day, what the Resident Magistrate termed an extension of the dummy system was exposed in connection with hotel-keeping. Arm Diamond was charged with selling liquor in the Clarendon Hotel without a license. It was shown that she had recently gone into the Hotel, and that the license was still held, and had been since December, by one Antony, who stated that he never had any interest in the business. He was simply the servant of Mr Wilson, the brewer. Mrs .Diamond was fined £3: and the ii.M. said he did not think, in face of the conviction, she could get a license. It is probable a charge will also be laid against Wilson or Antony. In another case against Daniel Buchanan, of the Bay View Hotel, he was fined 40s, and his license ordered to be endorsed, for selling on Sunday. He stated that he was only landlord on- wages, and that the house was carried on for the benefit of Mr Speight, the brewer. At the meeting of the Otago School Commissioners to-day Mr Pearson proposed that one-third of certain educational reserves should be disposed of on perpetual leases, but the motion did not find a seconder. The Hons Reynolds and Menzies were among the members present. The land will be sold on deferred payments, and for cash.

INYEECAEGILL, April 22. The Supreme Court opened to-day, before Judge Williams, and all the criminal business was disposed of in about three hours. Three boys, charged with breaking into a store, were dismissed on the parents undertaking to find sureties fop their good behaviour, i homas Wilson pleaded guilty to the larceny of a cheque, and received a sentence of twelve months' imprisonment. Alfred Norris, for unlawfully wounding his ■wife, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. The Grand Jury returned no true hill m the ease of Sarah Jane Plett, a nurse, charged with manslaughter. She was discharged. There are a number of civil rases to be beard.