TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 51

TELEGRAPHIC.

A UCKLAXD, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court to-day Thomas Heaps and Charles -vrdern, for cattlestealing, were sentenced, Heaps to three years' imprisonment and Ardern to 18 months’. His Honor Mr Justice C’onolly held a sitting in Chambers this morning to consider a case under the Divorce ami Matrimonial Causes Act, 1876. The case is an action for a divorce, Edward Coffey, of Auckland, telegraphist, being the petitioner; Margaret Coffey, his wife, the respondent, and Carlton (Melbourne) and Michael O’Connor the co-respondents. Carlton is a ship’s storekeeper. The motion to-day was for directions as to the time and place of trial. The hearing of the case was fixed by his Honor to take place on the 12th .Tune next without a jury at the Supreme Court. A Magisterial inquiry is being held today before Mr Brabant, S.M., and Capj tains Fernandez and Clark, nautical assessors, into the circumstance relating to the loss of the mate and three seamen of the crew of the Government steamer Hinemoa at East Cape on Friday, June 2nd. Captain Bollon and six others gave evi-

dence, which pointed to the fact that the chief officer, Mr Win. Brown, who was in charge of the boat that swamped*, had made an error of judgment in attempting to land in the face of the weather, after the instruction of the captain to take no risks whatever, but tc return at once to the steamer if the landing was dangerous. Judgment was reserved till to-morrow. AUCKLAND. Wednesday.

At the Police Court to-day three small boys, named Walter Doyle. Arthur Bassett and Louis Oughton, pleaded guilty to stealing fruit. Sub-Inspector Wilson said the three boys had been before the Bench on the 2nd instant, when Bassett had been sent to an industrial school, and Oughton.who was in the industrial school, had been sent back. Both boys had run away from the Parnell Industrial School. The boy Doyle, whom his Worship had convicted of theft, had been discharged on his father's promise to look after him for the future. Doyle had gone for his companions to the industrial school, and they had all gone to the races and round the country, and had committed another theft. It was the third time that Oughton had been before the Court for theft, and the second time he had run away from the Parnell Industrial School. His Worship committed Doyle to the Takapuna Industrial School, and the other two hoys, Bassett and Oughton. he committed to the Burnham Industrial School, to which institution he expressed a decided objection.

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held to-day to consider the question of railway communication with the South. There was a large and representative attendance.

Mr Hugh Campbell moved that in the opinion of this Chamber railway connection between Auckland and Wellington is of paramount importance, and this Chamber urges the representatives in Parliament of the Auckland provincial district to take united action to secure the best line possible in view of all the circumstances, political, financial and engineering.

The motion was carried unanimously. The Hon W. McCullough moved a second resolution to the effect that as under the present circumstances there is little hope of Parliament authorising a new line of railway, namely that to Wellington via Stratford, and as there arc twelve miles of railway at the north end of the main trunk line uncompleted before the point of divergence •is reached, this Chamber is of opinion that the Auckland representatives should make every effort to induce the Government to construct the said twelve miles without further delay; and also to press forward the work with greater expedition. This also was carried unanimously. AUCKLAND. Thursday.

Mr Joshua Robinson, the father of temperance in Auckland, aged eightyeight, is dead. He was one of the founders of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society in 1842, and had been sixtv-six years a teetotaller. He took the pledge from “the seven men of Preston." and was a native of London. He leaves a grown-up family.

At the Supreme Court to-day Joseph Henry White was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for attempting to discharge a loaded revolver at Mr Strathearn. Relieving Officer.