LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1610, 7 January 1903, Page 33

LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

AUCKLAND, January 5. An influential meeting of members of Parliament and others was held to-day to diseuss the railway question. Resolutions were carried urging that steps toe taken to complete the North Island Mam Trunk and the Helensville North lines as soon as possible.

The adjourned police cases in which W. Richardson, prohibition lecturer, was concerned were heard at the Police Court to-day before Mr Haselden, S.M. In the first case, Richardson was charged with conducting a public meeting in Victoria street so as to impede passers-by. After a lengthy hearing, during which defendant cross-examined witnesses with a view to show that the police had bias against him, the case was dismissed. Richardson charged Police Inspector Cullen with using insulting language towards him. This case also was dismissed, Cullen denying that he used language attributed to him. Some leading citizens were entertained on board the French warship Protet, which leaves for Sydney to-morrow. Congratulatory speeches were delivered. n The iron barque Concordia, which was recently stranded near Kaipara Heads, was sold at auction to-day for £2OO. The purchaser is Mr James Stewart, of Helensville. It is stated that the hull is undamaged, and the vessel is almost afloat at high spring tides. GISBORNE, January 5. The eldest son, aged thirteen years of Mr Hugh Heeney, was drowned in a water hole to-day. He was out with his three brothers and ethers, all younger than himself, who looked on while he went in for a bathe. He got into deep water, and, being unable to swim, was drowned

The final count for the Eastern Maori election shews; —Wi Pere, 2182; Pirin'i Mataiawhia, 1568; Mohi te Atohiahoia, 1515.

The Gisborne police records for the past year show a large decrease in crime. MANAIA, J aiiuar y- 5. Because of the dearth of milkers, farmers in this district seriously contemplate working their places with female labour. Farmers already having girls in their employ state that they are more reliable and effective than men, that cows through the gentler handling give more milk, and that better results in every way are obtained. Good female milkers no# command from 16s to 22s a week, and on the shares system earn much larger money.

WAIF AW A, January 5. An aged Maori, chief, named Hemi Teurupu was burned to death on New Year*s Eve at Kairakau, through his whare accidentally catching fire. Only his legs and arras were found, the body being, consumed. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidentally suffocated and burned.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 10 o'clock last night.

PALMERSTON, January 5. David H. Patton was committed for trial at Wellington for inflicting grievous bodily harm on John Hutcheson. The evidence went to show that there was a quarrel between the parties on account of a Court case.

NELSON, January 5.

A seven-roomed house at Clifton, Takar ka, has been destroyed by fire. The house was occupied by Mr A. Nalder, and owned by Mrs Cave, now in Wellington. The furniture was uninsured. It is not known whether there were any insurances on the building.

In connection with the assault on a schoolmaster at Foxhill railway station the other day, Mr Vesey, the teacher assaulted, has issued a writ in the Supreme Court claiming JBSOO damages against Frederick Mace.

WESTPORT, January 5.

A miner named Kennedy, about 60 years of age, was discovered dead in his hut at Old Diggings to-day. He had bled to death from an apparently selfinflicted. wound in the arm. Deceased was understood to have been an officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 5.

Mr H. F. Wigram, Mayor of Christchurch, who recently visited Auckland, inquired closely into the working of the electric tramway system there. He speaks very highly of the installation and the manner in. which it has been laid, as well as of the general management. Auckland citizens seemed to him to be quite satisfied with the system, and so far as he could ascertain there were no complaints.

ASHBURTON, January. 5. In the final for the Tennis Combined Handicap, P. S. Cox and Miss Whitehouse (owe 15) beat P. White and Miss E. Coch (receive 15) by nine games to two. This game was not finished during the recent tournament on account of the weather.

DUNEDIN, January 5.

An inquest was held to-day at Kaitangata into the death of William Rogers, who had his back broken from a fall while wrestling with another young man. named Bowmer. It was said that deceased tripped and fell, pulling Bowmer down with him. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attached to Bowmer. The first wool sale of the Dunedin season to-day resulted in a deadlock. Buyers asked whether the conditions were to be amended in the direction of giving a rebate of sixpence instead of threepence off delivery charges to buyers who do their own carting. The auctioneer replied in the negative, whereupon the buyers rose in a body and left the hall. Inquiries made subsequently seem to show that both sides are obstinate. On Sunday night burglars entered the Wharf Hotel. The safe was taken but and broken open in Sparrow's foundryyard. The burglars got 'nothing, the proprietress having taken the precaution, in view of an earlier robbery, to remove about ,£IOO before retiring.

Early on Sunday morning thieves entered the Southern Hotel and secured from the safe money and jewellery to the value of £BO.

Special to the “Times.” EKETAHUNA, January 5.

Considerable discord prevails amongst the settlers out Nireaha way, over ±ho question of a cemetery site. ;s£The Nireaha Ratepayers' Association recently had a site gazetted and vested in trustees, but immediately an attempt wasmadeto clear and fence the land a protest was made by discontented ones, who alleged that a a the stream through the site traversed private lands such was undesirable. Two animated meetings, which terminated in disorder, have been held, and the matter is again to be brought up at the Ratepayers' Association meeting next week. An appeal has been made to Mr Hogg, M.H.R., and a local medico Iras been requested to report on the suitability or otherwise of the site.

It is fully expected that the New Zealand Dairy Farmers' Union's new factory at Eketahuna will be ready to commence operations at the end of the month. The factory will be one of the most up-to-date in the colony. The weather during the past week has savoured of winter, retarding the milk supply and impeding haymaking operations.