CHRISTCHURCH. February 28.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6978, 1 March 1890, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. February 28.

At a meeting of the Railway Employees Society last night, the balancesheet showed the receipts to be L 15 6135, with a balance of Ll4l 14s &L There are 854 members oa the rolL It was agreed to federate with the Maritime Council. Nine delegates were elected to attend the general conference to be held i in March. At the wool sales to-day there was a disinclination to boy large dips. Merino and broken wools were in good demand. Duncan Martin was committed for trial to-day on several charges of stealing articles of ironmongery, of a total value of nearly L5O, from his employers, Mason, Struthers, and Co. The magisterial enquiry lasted all day. The evidence showed that Martin has been employed by the firm for three and a half years, daring two of them as foreman at Ll7 10« per month. His pilfering* extended over nearly two years. Whenever he wanted ironmongery he helped himself from the stock. He was building a house at Sydenham and abstracted a boiler and other necessary fittings from the firm's goods. Mr Struthers susptckm became aroused, and on February 18 he taxed Martin with taking goods without paying for them. He afterwards extracted a full confession from Martin, and handed him orer to the police. Other charges arependutg against the accused. The body of the boy named Albert Edward Laurie, who was drowned while bathing at New Brighton this morning, was found this afternoon. Deceased was eight years old and went to bathe with an elder brother and get beyond his depth.