COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 14

COUNTRY NEWS.

NORTH. ' —a. •

(from our own correspondent.) August 10,

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs R. S. Abrahams and W. L. Hirst, George Hausmann was again brought up on a charge of larceny of two pairs of skates from tlie skating rink. On the application of Constable the hearing of the case was further adjourned until to-morrow. Thomas Evans was charged with an assault on T. Wiltshire, town crier. Mr Mellish appeared for complainant, who deposed that on Wednesday lie was employed by Mr G. M. Snelson, auctioneer, who, on that day, held a sale in Taonuistreet, to show the goods and to give delivery to purchasers on production of receipted account. A mate of the accused named Richards was removing a bed, when he was stopped by Wiltshire, who demanded that the receipt should be produced, whereupon the man Evans violently assaulted him, knocking him down and striking him about the face. The assault was repeated within doors, and plaintiff bore evident proofs of rough usage. Mr Mellish characterised the assault as mean and brutal, and urged upon the Bench that a severe punishment should be imposed, and that defendant should be bound over to keep the peace. Evans was ordered to pay a fine of L 3 and costs, half the fine to be given to complainant, or in default one month in Wanganui gaol. The application for an order binding Evans to keep the peace was not granted. The concert given last evening in aid of the funds of St Patrick’s School was in every way a success. The Bank Chambers Assembly-room was simply crammed, and scores were unable to obtain admission. All the pieces were well rendered, but I may mention more particularly the quintet by Hummel, in which Mr Schwartz took a ’cello part, and which went magnificently. Mrs Eaumstad’s and Mrs Leigh’s songs were highly ap-< preciated, and the pieces in which the school children took part bore witness to the great pains taken with their training by Miss Boylan, the songs “ Killarney ” and “The sweet little shamrock,” with choruses, being charmingly given ; indeed, the sweetness of the youthful voices and the correctness of their singing formed quite a marked feature of the entertainment. _ , I hear that, by special request, the hat and cap carnival i 3 to be repeated at the skating rink next Wednesday evening, when the much-admired march will again be gone through by the ladies and gentlemen who so admirably acquitted themselves on Wednesday last. Popular prices are to be charged on this occasion. August 11.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court today, before Messrs J. E. Eorster, Pratt andM. Prendergast, J.P.’s, George Haus : mann was again brought up charged with the larceny of two pairs skate 3, value L 3, the property of Lewis Lyons, manager of the skating rink. Constable Manning gave evidence as to tlie sending away of the skates by prisoner to his brother Alexander Hausmann, who was arrested in Wellington with the articles in his possession. Lewis Lyons deposed to having engaged prisoner a 3 an assistant at the rink on Monday, the 81st ulto., and as to missing three pairs skates out of 77 pairs. Mr Lyons identified two pairs produced, as those ipissing, and stated in reply to Mr Hawkins, who appeared for the prisoner, that be had no desire to press the case. Alfred McKenna, clerk at the railway station, deposed to having received the skates from prisoner, and to forwarding them addressed to his brother in Wellington. .T. A, McGrath, detective, stated that he knew the prisoner, and that he received the box produced with the stolen skates from Alexander Hausmann at the parcels office of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company at Wellington. Detective McGrath gave further evidence of two previous convictions. Mr Hankins, for prisoner, pleaded strongly in favour of summary conviction, contending that the theft was a petty one, and that the justice of the case might be met by a fine. The Bench decided tc deal summarily, and sentenced Hausmann to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Wellington Gaol. A general meeting of the members of the Palmerston North Public Library was held last evening, when the proposal to hand over the library to the newlyformed Working Men’s Club was considered. About eight or nine members were present, the small attendance showing how little interest is taken in the fate of the institution. It was resolved that the directors shall confer with the committee of the Working Men’s Club, and arrange if possible as to the latter body taking over the books, subject to the rights of present subscribers, and to the arrangement being confirmed by the Borough Council.

Tho Manawatu Road Board’s troubles will never cease—at least so it would appear. As I intimated the other day, the Supreme Court has suspended tho rights of that body with respect to making, levying, and recovering rates by appointing Mr Axup as receiver under the 3rd section. of the Road Boards Act, 1882, Amendment Act, 1884. This proceeding was, at the instance of Mr Donald Grant, a judgment creditor, the Board having failed to satisfy his judgment. It appears Mr Grant has made known another grievance, and a new writ has been issued claiming LBOO damages in respect of wrongful and negligent proceedings of that body (the Manawatu Road Board) to certain land of the plaintiff in the Aorangi No. 2 Block, and also to other land at Kairanga, and G. F. Hawkins, solicitor, of this town, only awaits the advent of the Chairman to apprise him in due form of the nature of the claim. What with repeated litigation between Mr Grant and the Manawatu Board, the late verdict obtained by Mr Milverton against tho Palmerston North Borough Council, and the threatened further litigation with the latter body, the district is having a pretty lively time of it, and a feeling seems to bo growing in the district in favour of a general revision of local government, whereby a radical change may be effected in the direction of increasing the area of local representation, with increased powers and duties, and the abolition of the smaller Boards, whose operations have not lately been attended with marked success.

August 13

In my letter cf Saturday I intimated that another writ was about to be served on the Manawatu Road Board, at the suit ot Mr D. Grant, who is making a further claim of LBOO against that body for damage to his properties in Aorangi No. 2 Block, and at Kairanga, and I now learn that at to-day’s meeting of the Board the writ was formally served on the Chairman, Mr D. Buick, by Mr G. F. Hawkins, solicitor. I also learn that the Board lias decided to defend the action. Mr Axup has not yet, I believe, formally commenced liis duties as Receiver. The funeral of the young man Charles Lai sou, who died last week, took place to day, and wa3 largely attended by the settlers in the district. August 14. At tlie Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs W. L. Hirst and John Mowlem, J.P’s , George Key was charged with a breacii of the 169th section of the Licensing Act, 1881. in supplying liquor to one Pickersgill, a prohibited person. It appears that in September last a prohibition order was granted against Pickersgill, and duly served in the district by tho police. Evidence was given that Key had express notice by the police of the existence of the order, and a caution given to him personally, notwithstanding which it was proved that on Monday, the 6th iust., the accused was visited by Pickersgill, and was then seen to leave his house with a billy, with which lie shortly returned. Qn Mr McMinn, Pickersgill’s employer, inquiring if he was in Key’s house, the latter denied that he was there, but. Mr McMinn saw him on the premises. Pickersgill was put in the witness box and reluctantly acknowledged that at the time named he went to Key’s house and lent him fid with which to pqrchase beer of whiph he, Pickersgill, partook with him. Accused denied that he went out with a billy, but the Bench considered the case fully proved, and fined him L 3 ar.d costs 9s, or in default 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour. The Bench intimated that this being the first case which had come before them, they had dealt leniently with it, but that in any future cases they would be inclined to inflict the full penalty of Lfl. A telogram from Mr 0. 0. Graham, Official Assignee, has been received by Mr G. J. Scott (Deputy-Qfficial Assignee), stating that Henry, saddler, late of Eeilding, the bankrupt who recently received sentence of three months’ imprisonment in Wellington Gaol for attempting to leave the Colony with goods in his possession, the property of his creditors, and who was released, owing to an informality in the warrant (which omitted to state in which of the Wellington Gaols he was to be confined), took his passage for Sydney by the Wakatipu, and left by that vessel on Saturday. It is now under consideration whether it is advisable to have him re-arrested on arrival in Sydney, and Mr Scott will probably proceed to Wellington this afternoon about the business.

I hear that strenuous efforts will be made to prevent the library being handed over to the newly-formed Working Men’s Club, which it is considered would be quite contrary to the intention with which the books were purchased, and entirely deprive those who still support and take an interest in the institution from deriving any future benefit from it. The matter will come before the Borough Council at its meeting to-morrow. August 18.

A meeting of the Fire Brigade will be held to morrow evening (Thursday), at 7.30 p.m., to make arrangements .for meeting the Fire Insurance representatives, and it . is to be hoped, although the hour named for the test 3 (12.30 p.m.) is an inconvenient one for many of the members, there will be such s muster, and so thoroughly satisfaetpry a trial, as to convince the insurance gentlemen that they will be quite warranted in relieving

the owners of properties in the Square of a part of the heavy burden of fire premiums under which they at present labour.