LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12930, 28 July 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Herbert Pearson, livery stable-hand, who was arraigned on a charge of criminal assault on a married woman at Cambridge on October 5, 1905, and was on his fourth trial yesterday, was acquitted, the jury, after four hours' retirement, bringing in a verdict of not guilty. When the verdict was announced there was applause in Court. The Chief Justice sternly relinked those who Were applauding. Pearson was given three cheers by the crowd, which had been in. Court most of the day, when he left the Court building, a free man. It is not uncommon in criminal history for a prisoner, to be put upon bis third trial for the one charge through the disagreement of the jury in each trial, but a fourth trial is believed to be unique in the history of crime in this colony. New Zealand juries have not hitherto disagreed three times upon a similar case. There were nearly 30 witnesses examined in the Cambridge case, nearly all of whom were residents of Cambridge, and had had to be in attendance daily during the four trials. "

Mr. C. C. Kettle, Stipendiary Magistrate, acting as Commissioner under the Native Lands Act, held a sitting of the Native Lands Court on Tuesday, to inquire into an application for the conveyance of certain land at Mangarere. The vendor, an old native woman, objected to the order being made, and was represented by Mr. Earl. The case was adjourned, to be taken by the Native Lands Court on Monday next.

The young man, Frank T. Rose, who shot himself with a revolver at the Thames Hotel, Queen-street, on Tuesday last, died at . the hospital yesterday morning. From the time of his admission the unfortunate man's condition held out no hope of recovery, and lie gradually sank. The coroner (Mr. T. Gresliam) will hold an inquest at the hospital at eleven o'clock litis morning.

Inquiries made yesterday into the assertion of the member for Masterton (Mr. Hogg) that there was a rumour current in Auckland that the bonedust imported from India was the product of human bones collected in the plague-stricken districts, went to show that, while the rumour was prevalent, it had for its basis a joke. A prominent merchant spoken to by one of our representatives confidently said that there was no other foundation for the rumour. ,

The directors of the New Zealand Insurance Company have declared the usual interim dividend of three shillings per share for the half-year ended May 31 last, payable on August 9.

Messrs. H. W. Bishop, S.M., and J. W. Poynton, members of the Commission appointed to inquire into the Police Department, arrived by the Rotoiti yesterday, and will sit to take evidence at the Supreme Court Buildings at eleven o'clock this morning.

A ballot was taken before the chief clerk of the Crown Lands Department, at the Government Buildings, yesterday morning, in connection with 344 acres 2 roods 6 perches of second-class surveyed land, which had been thrown open for selection in the Orahiri survey district, Waitomo County. The land was offered in two lots— of 197 acres 2 roods 36 perches, and the other of 146 acres 3 roods 10 perches. .Sixteen applications were received for the former, and 22 for the latter. The first section, consisting of 197 acres 2 ,roods 36 perches, was allotted to Ellen. E. Larsen, and the second, comprising 146 acres 3 roods 10 perches, to John Williamson.

The question, of the erection of saleyards at the Mat&mata settlement was brought, up at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Land Board by Mr. H. J. Greenslade, who urged that the yards would be a great convenience to the settlers. Messrs. McNicol. and Co., Hamilton, had consented to proceed with the erection of 6aleyards at a cast of about £400, provided the site selected by the settlers was transferred to that firm, and the compulsory residence clause dispensed with. Mr. Greenslade said that, no provision for saleyards was made in the Land for Settlement Act. He was pleased to learn that the Minister had so promptly recognised: the importance of (lie matter, and had agreed to approve of the transfer, and, in the circumstances, dispense with the residenoe condition.

H.M.s. Prometheus, which is to relieve the Challenger on the New Zealand division,

left Sydney for Auckland yesterday. The

Prometheus reached Australia, in -April last, having 'been selected to replace H.M.s. Pylades on the Australasian station. .She is a third-class cruiser, with a displacement of 2135 ton's, having a length of 300 ft, and beam of 36ft 6in, her draught being 13ft 6in. She was built at Hull in 1898, at a cast of £135,916. Her engines are of 7000 horse-power, giving a speed of 20 knots per hour. Her armament consists of eight 4iu guns, three-pounders, and two machine guns. She is fitted with two torpedo tubas, and has a coal capacity of 250 tons. Her complement is 224, all told.

At the ■ Wa.ihi 1 Magistrate's Court on Wednesday afternoon, the Katikati Dairying Company proceeded, against W Hume for the recovery of tHe value of eight boxes of butter. Mr. C. McMillan, secretary of the Katikati Dairying Association, deposed that an arrangement was made with W. Hume to bring the butter from Paeroa, the price paid for cartage and storage being 30s per ton. It was Hume's business to distribute the boxes among the various grocers, and when witness was going through the books it was discovered that eight boxes were missing, only one of which was accounted for. Defendant said Mr. Holmes got four boxes and Mr. Heron, of Karangahake, three. The association sued Holmes, but failed, because there was no proof of delivery to Holmes, and the company was nonsuited, and had to pay costs, £7 5s 6d. As a result a demand was made upon Hume for the value of the missing butter, or to account for .the delivery of the butter. This he had failed to do. The case was eventually adjourned by mutual consent.

A gumdigger, 86 years of age, named John Morgan, was found dead in his hut at Albany yesterday. The deceased, who was in receipt of an Imperial pension and an old age pension, had complained of being ill, and talked-of going to the Auckland Hospital for treatment. Yesterday some of his friends went to his hut, and found that he was dead. In view of these, circumstances, the coroner lias decided that an inquest is not necessary.

,| On Monday last about £150 worth of j On Monday last about £150 worth of : oaten sheaves were destroyed by fire on the property of Mr. A. R. Harris at East Tamaki. Mr. Harris was in Auckland when the mishap occurred, and is unable to account for the fire.

; Amusement was caused during the application for a prohibition order against an old man at the Onehunga Police Court yesterday. He was willing to have the order made, subject to the condition that he could enter hotels on business. He knew that he sometimes exceeded the necessary amount of liquor, but by accident. As 'he was 75 years of age, he thought that the Bench might take _ a lenient view of the matter. J-he magistrate replied that it was time- the old gentleman knocked off taking drink to excess, for it would soon be too late. A son of the old man was called in support of tlie. application, and was at once asked by his father if lie himself had not arrived home the worse for liquor on occasions. The son admitted the impeachment, whereupon the father solemnly ejaculated, "Well, I am not the only one in the family to make mistakes." The son retorted, "But I do not come home that way always!"

Mr. 0. C. Kettle, S.M., was engaged all day on Wednesday and yesterday in hearing objections of the Kauri Timber Company 'to assessment for income tax by the Commissioner of Taxes under the Land and Income Assessment Act, 1900. Mr. Cotter appeared for the company, and Mr. Napier for the Commissioner of Taxes.

At albout half-past one o'clock yesterday afternoon the fire brigade received' a call from the alarm near the Choral Hall in Symonds-street. On arriving they found that it was a false alarm.

One man, charged with being drunk and ■with using obscene language, was lodged in the watch-house last evening.