LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 29 November 1911, Page 2

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

SUICIDE'S LIABILITY. AN INTERESTING CASE. PEE DNITKI) PEF.SS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI, Nov. 28. An unusual case occupied the attention of the magistrate to-day. Some months ago a man named Gibbons committed suicide by cutting his throat, and incinerated his body on a stack of manuka. The owner of the woodsome 45 cords—to-day sued the Public Trustee, as administrator of deceased's estate, for the value of the wood (£45). Mr C. C. Hutton appeared for Mr Sutherland, and Mr C. E. Mackay for defendant. Mr Mackay stated that the Public Trustee was defending solely because he did not feel justified in paying such a claim without an order of the court. Evidence was heard. In giving judgment, Mr Kerr, S.M., stated that, although Gibbons might have been a lunatic, the evidence showed that he knew what he was doing. He was consequently responsible, and so was his estate. His Worship gave judgment for plaintiff with costs, but limited the judgment to such assets as might be found in the estate.

A NO-LICENSE MEETING

PANDEMONIUM REIGNS

WELLINGTON, Nov. 28

Pandemonium reigned at the Town Hall for an hour and a-half when, in connection with the No-license campaign, a demonstration was held by Victoria College students for the Prohibition League. Five speakers, graduates of the University, Who were advertised to deal with different aspects of the topic, were given a particularly warm time by a band of young men, apparently students of the University, ensconced at the rear of the hall. At times the confusion was indescribable. There was a very large attendance of the public, numbering about 3000 persons. Continued heckling and a volume of mixed noises against which it was impossible to make the human voice heard had to be contended with by the different speakers, and it was not until the aid of the police was invoked by the chairman that even comparative quiet was secured; but oven then loud hand-ekpping almost completely drowned the voice of the last speaker. A resolution in favor of striking out the top line was carried amid •cheers. It is doubtful, however, whether any-

one in the hall except those in the very front seats heard anything of the resolution when it was moved by the last speaker.

OTIRA HOTEL FIRE. HOARDERS NARROWLY ESCAPE. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 28. The Terminus Ko'el at Otira, owned and occupied by James O'Malley, was burned to the groi:- _! early on Sunday morning. Tlv- f.>•<.■■ .-".artod in the lavatory and ran lip th-« staircase, cutting off the retrea: of boarders on the upper floor, who ha•' to escape through windows on t- 'ho < .'randan. One man was badly hurt gtlung out, and was removed to the litii-p'ral. The boarders lost practical 1 ;/ •.-* ything, the losers including the Anil 'iniaster and postmaster, both :-■ ~-l'i v:> '<fg, and Dr. Cairns and family, "ho ' nilding and furniture, valued ?■'■■ O-V'-00, are understood to be insured : ; 'ie State office for £IOOO. AUCKLAND SLr'REME COURT. PKLAND, Nov. 23.

At the Su 1 - .." Court, Clias. Berry if". • ; b«»en found guilty of your.g 'oV-..- letter to-be opened by a rail »•«•.* .ui r who was disappoint* •! in Lis all, was brought up for sentence. I s - \o<> r was a cadet at Hiku;-ri3i£i V\ O'Vo. He was ordered to corne u\> f-- s« ntenoe when called ■upon and was earned as to his future behaviour. .J I vi.tor Rowley, a railway port:-.r w'--> .v?:->itted having opened the love Kict.r in "questifla,vwas ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. "Hie prisoners were inforniei that they would be expected to pay vNi '■■■-•■- ■ ■ >■ ••

Tli-e circumstances in connection with the death of Elsie Alexandra Holland at a house in Kingslaiid on June 13 last again engaged the attention of Mr Justice Chapman and a jury, when Martha Jane O'Shaughnassy, formerly known at Maxwell, was charged with murder. Under this charge prisoner had been tried on two previous occasions; but on both the jury had disagreed and! a retrial was ordered. The Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the case, said that the prisoner was charged with murder as the result of an alleged illegal operation. The case had not concluded when the court rose.

STRUGGLE WITH CONSTABLES. WANGANUI, Nov. 28. A man was arrested to-nigh fc on a charge of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and two constables had a hard struggle with him. On arrival at the •station the man was found to have a fracture of the leg above the ankle. He was taken to the hospital.

ELINCAMI7E INQUIRY. WELLINGTON", Nov. 28. The re-hearing of the Elingamite wreck inquiry has been fixed for Saturday, December 9. and Monday, December 11, at the Supreme Court, Wellington. The inquiry will be presided over by a Supreme Court judge.

Each successive Licensing Act puts further restrictions on the people, and the 1910 Act virtually means that Nolicense is no liquor. General No-license would prohibit all local manufacture and. limit the drinking of spirituous liquors to those few wealthy enough to import from oversea countries requirements for their own use, and not for the use of their friends. This would mean the money so expended would be invested out of the Dominion and be a direct loss to the community. 3