NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 86, 14 April 1888, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

the alleged libel. The jury this evening returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £2000, the full amount claimed and oosts. Sir H. A. Atkinson had a long interview with Sir Robert Stout this morning. Auckland, April 13. The South British Insuranoe Company have declared a dividend for the last half year at the rate of 8 per cent. It is proposed to start a paper mill in the Auckland distriot, the suggested Bite being at : Henderson. Mr A, D. Bennett, who promoted the Tobacoo and Woodware Companies, is taking steps to form a company for the purpose. The following are the proposals submitted to Tawbiao by Mr Mitchelson on behalf of the Government at the Native meeting at Otahnranga :— l. The Government will provide land for Tawhiao and his people in auoh areas as may be approved by Parliament, and in suoh places as may be suitable, and where land is available. The wishes ot Tawhiao and his people will be considered in fixing localities, 2. Suoh of the confiscated lands at Mangere, formerly owned by Potatau, as remained undisposed of to be returned to Tawhiao and his people, and a residenoe ereoted there for Tawhiao if ho desires it. 3. The Government will make suoh provision for Tawhiao as may be arranges between the Government and himself, so as to enable him to live in comfort and work cordially with the Government for the good of the Maori people. 4. To insuze the land to Tawhio and his people it shall be made inalienable by ! sale or lease. The only conditions which I, on behalf of the Government, consider it necessary to attach to these proposals are : — (a). That Tawhiao and his people should generally take the oath of allegiance to her Majesty the Queen, (b). That Tawhiao and his people shall ocoupy the land provided for them.

LAST NIGHT'S TELEGRAMS. Wellington, April 13. The Supreme Court was occupied all day hearing the charge of murder preferred against Mong Chong and his wife (an English woman). The body of their infant child, bearing marks of violence, was found wrapped in a bag on the beaoh at Evans' Bay fn January last. The Jury retired at 7.30, and after one hour's deliberation acquitted the accused on the more serious oharge, aud entered up a verdict of concealment of birth. The Chief Justice sentenced the prisoners to two years' imprisonment eaoh, but reserved the question of corpus delicti for tha Appeal Court, 'and ordered that, execution should be arrested until the decision of that Court is given. A peculiar point arose after the verdict had been given, it being ascertained that none of the evidence had been interpreted to the male prisoner. This, his Honor said, if anything, was only a mistrial, but he was not prepared at present to say what course should be adopted. Dunedin, April 13. At the Police Court to-day Charles Heny Williams, a probationer, pleaded guilty to the larceny of a watch. The Bench adopted the novel course of extending his term of probation for six months. The libel action Dalbedyhel v. Brunton, which has occupied the Supreme Court three long days, came to a conclusion this evening. The defendant, who is an evangelist preacher here, wrote an alleged libellous letter about Mrs Dalbsdyhal to her relations in Tasmania, doing so aa the friend and adviser of her husband, who his estranged from his wife. Voluminous evidence was taken, showing that Brunton seat the letter in question with the view of vindicating tha position of the hus band's request, it being afterwards reported among Mr Brunton' s flock that he had written siandera and falehoods about Mr Dalbedyhel, and some of them desired to obtain copies of the letters. With the idea of clearing himself of the accusation, Mr Brunton read the letter ta various members of his congregation in a meeting asssembled, and also to one or (wo privately, thus further publishing