NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7831, 10 April 1886, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Pbb Pkess Association/] AUCKLAND, Akul 9. The German squadron leaves to-morrow for Samoa. The number of unemployed in Auckland is stated to be ISO. The Auckland Timber Company have arranged to ship 200,000 ft of baulk and sawn timber per barque Waimea for London. The New Zealand Timber Company ship 700,000 ft per Halcione for the same I port. At the Supreme Court, six Natives were charged with libelling Mr John Munro Fraser in a telegram to Parliament, regarding the Maori petition. At the beginning of the case. Judge Gillies raised a point whether anything contained in a petition, or anything in a Native petition, or in Parliament, could be libellous. The argument on this point was adjourned. One result of the bootmakers' strike has

been to drive trade to the south. Yesterday an order for;8700 worth of stuff was sent to Dunedin. Some of the wholesale warehouses have intimated to the.manufacturers that they will not give the increased price for local boots which would be occasioned by the demands of the operatives, but will prefer to import them. Delegates from the Operatives' Society met the masters last night, but no solution was arrived at.

The ball at Government House last night was attended by the German officers.

WELLINGTON, Apbil 9.

In Chambers, this morning, an application was made to have the plea of defence in the case of Forrest and Wilson struck out, on the ground that it was against the law. The case is one in which a man named Forrest, who drew a winning ticket in " Robin Hood's " consultation, entrusted the defendant to draw the money. The latter did so, but out of .£632 paid to him, only paid plaintiff .£l3O. The latter now sues him for .£520. The defence set up is based on the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Act. His Honor held that such a defence was perfectly admissible.

INVERCARGILL, Aran, 9.

John Connell, aged twelve, has been sent to the Industrial School till he reaches the age of fifteen, for breaking into and stealing from a hut a silver watch. There are 633 selectors in Southland under the deferred payment Bystem, occupying 72,303 acres. Of those 388 are in arrears. During last year sixty-one completed purchase, and twenty-six forfeited.