TELEGRAMS.

North Otago Times, 5 December 1908, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

♦— Per Press .Association,

DANNEVIRKE, December I. Doiiiiis Ryan, an old settlor of the district, while returning home to Ramnati/ from tov.n yesterday eveuiij; [VI! from his liorso and was fatally injured, He was removed to his home, nitd died shortly after. At an Wildest, to day llie verd et was dea'.lj from fracture of tho buse of the skull, caused by deceased being accidentally tluown from lih lwrso.

NEW "PLYMOUTH. December 4

An important case on tho subject of Maori adoption was commenced beforo Judge Johnson to-day. It affeots dflio succession to the estate of the late Tcieti Jloera, chief of tho Ngatirahiri hapu of ilia Atiawa tribe, as if the legalisation of tho adoption of Rori Watcna is upheld ho will probably bo declared heir <to the whole estate. In his timo Toiti wasi an ardent follower of Tewhiti, whose funds lie largely augmented from time to time. Deceased applied to liavo the boy rogiatrm) as his child, but registration' ■wo', not completed until after ills ■'.■Bth, and then at the instanco of tho boy's! arent. Tho point now arises for tho first lime whether under such circumstances the registra(ion holds, good. The case is expected to occupy, some Hays,

WELLINGTON;

December 4. •A temporary readjustment ofr portfolios has been arranged by the Primo Minister, The Department of Railway

will to taken' over by the Hon, J, A. Millar, and that of Public Works by the ; Hoiu J. M'Gowan, There arc dG,OOO acres of Crown lands row in the Eiarket for dose Kit'tleinenifc, mostly in tho Auckland, Huwkes Bay and Wellington districts, Tho whole ol the recent Maori land purchases in Auckland, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay arc being surveyed, and will 1)6 available for selection as soon as possible. Thev comprise nearly 300,000 . acres. ■

MASTERTON. December 4,

A petition has been lodged, signed L-y 50 electors, to in'vulidato the local option poll on numerous grounds set out iii the peiition.

INVERCAIiGILL.

December J,

The ratepayers of Invercargill, at a poll to-day, carried by 170 .to 43, a proposal to borrow £IO,OOO in connection with the enlargement of the inuniripial abattoirs. . .

At tho Police Court to-day Bridget Duggan, a girl of IS, who had , been arrested in connection with tho finding of a dead baby near Wrcy's Bush 'on Sunday last, pleadpd guilty to coik coalmen!, of birth,, and was committed for sentence. The polico explained that | the girl told hoc story very straightforwardly. At the Supreme Court to-day a decree nisi, with £2OO damagos against] tho co-respondent, was maao in the case of Phillips v. Phillips and Roberta, the husband's petition on tho ground of adultery. In accordance with the resolution of last month the sawmills in Southland will ba closod down to-morrow. About 35 mills, employing upwards of 100 men, will lie affected. Tho mills ai'o being closed this year about a fortnight earlier than usual in consequent of tlio slackness of trade, and the date of re opening lias not been definitely M