LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 32

LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

AUCKLAND, April 27, The Hon. James Carroll, Native Mirister, who returned to Auckland from koto rua on Saturday, left this evening .01 Kaikohe, in connection with the native land trouble in that district. lie will investigate the trouble and endeavour to effect a settlement. While at Rotorua, Mr Carroll gave a day 'to a conference of Councils under the Maori Councils Act for the discussion of all matters of interest to natives except lands, which are dealt with by Councils under the Maori Lands Administration Act. . garding the Councils, Mr Carroll states Hat tlieio will bo a conference in Wellington during the session to discuss the working of the Maori Lands Administration Act so far as it has gone ,and the direction in which improvements car. be made. Mr Carroll is of opinion that the number of Councillors in each district wdl have to be reduced so as to make the Councils lighter in movement and action, and the best men possible will have to be secured to carry out the Act. Mr Tyson, secretary of the Furniture Workers' Union, interviewed in regard to the Arbitration Court's award, said the unicn intended to “sit tight and hold to the position already taken up." The union would lay the details before the labour unions of the colony to see if the case was not of sufficient importance to warrant legislation to prevent anything of the kind occurring in future. To-night, at about 9 o'clock, J. Moore Hume, aged 60 years, blew his brains out in Symonds street. For some time Hume —who is said to be the son of an Engiisli admiral—was secretary to Mr \\ alter Bentley, the actor, and subsequently was manager of an hotel. He had seen active service in the army. He had been depressed for some time. 10-night he put a revolver in his mouth and blew the back of his head off. CHRISTCHURCH, April 27. At a meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors to-day, it was resolved that the gallery of the public library should be open to ladies only, ana that <£7o be spent in furnishing it. The Board adopted the report of the College and finance and Estate' Committees on the proposals of the Government with regard to free secondary education. TIIO report stated — (1) Tha.t forty-six scholars were now received at the Boys High Schools;' (2) that this number approximates very nearly to the first poition of the Government proposal of one free scholar to each ,£SO of net revenue devoted to teaching in high schools; pi) that the Board be recommended to- increase free scholarships on that basis, and that further increases be made from time to time as occasion requires, and as it is found that the necessary accommodation for such increases exists: (40 that so far as high schools in Christchurch are concerned the Board does not -see its wa-y at present to accept as Government pupils at .£6 per head all pupils passing tho sixth standard who present themselves A meeting of householders in the West Christchurch School District this evening passed, a motion deeply deploring the attitude of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College in regard to secondary •education and urging on the Board the necessity ' of accepting the Government scheme until a better one is devised. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 27. A man named J. George, while riding to work on a bicycle tliis morning, came to tlio ground. He was taken intotho hospital suffering from a fracture of the skull, and died this afternoon. Deceased was a traction engine-driver. Ho had only one arm. having lost the other in a shooting accident some years ago. He leaves a widow and young family. , A man named Newali, who was admitted "to the hospital last week suffering from injuries caused by a fall of earth in a gravel pit near Eltliaiii, died to-dart ' -v■ • PALMERSTON, April 27. While Albert Collins, a hoy or fifteen, was driving along a street in Palmerston to-day, lie was fired at hy another boy of tho same age named Woods, who was amusing himself with a saloon rifle. Tho shot struck Collins just under the right eye, and has not yet been ex.tract c d. M ASTER TO N, April 27. At an inquest on Henry Fee, the victim of tho railway accident near Featherston on Sunday,' tho verdict was one of accidental death. Mr Burkill, for four years rabbit agent fo-r the Taueru-Wliareama district, who has been appointed Stock Inspector for Poverty Bay district, was given a send-off to-day and presented 'with a bandsomo travelling-bag. NELSON April 27. A curious accident happened yesterday. A hoy named Cuthbert Harris, aged eight, was playing whiptop, when a manuka stick in the hand of his companion flew cut and struck tho eye of Harris, destroying the sight. He was taken to tho hospital, where the eye was removed, DUNEDIN, April 27. The Supremo Court was engaged today with an appeal in tho MagorianLaffey case, Laffey having appealed against «tho decision that Magorian had been supplied with liquor while intoxicated. At a meeting to-day it was decided by tho Fortification Railway and Coal Company to go into voluntary liquidation. Tho company’s property is near Milton. Mr Justice Williams gave his reserved decision to-day in the case in

which a writ of prohibition was sought to prrevent further proceedings in tho case in which a Magistrate gave a decision in favour of the Lady Roxburgh Gold Dredging Company for calls. Objection was taken that in the plaint note no place of abode was stated, plaintiff being merely described as the Lady Roxburgh Gold Dredging Company, Ltd. His Honor said: —“I regret that tho language of the statute makes so trivial a matter one of fundamental importance; but as it does so, I havo no alternative hut to order the writ to issue. As tho plaintiff below, however, has followed the usual practice, which had never before been called in question, there will he no costs." Special to the - Times.” PALMERSTON, April 27. A large meeting of ratepayers was held at the Theatre Royal to-night. Mr F. Pirani presided. Mr Dunk, one of the candidates for the Mayoralty, and several of those nominated as Councillors gave addresses. Mr Pirani made a speech in favour of Mr Dunk’s election as Mayor. A vote of confidence in Mr Dunk was passed. PAHIATUA, April 27. The School Committee held a conference with the Education Board inspector regarding the establishment of a district high, school, with Pahiatua as tho centre. A guarantee of thirty scholars was given. The inspector considered there was sufficient inducement, and recommended the Board to establish, the school. Tho general meeting of the Pahiatua Farmers’ Association was held on Saturday. The report and balance-sheet showed the association to be in a sound financial position. It wyts decided to pay a dividend of 6 per cent, on paidup capital. The following directors were elected :—J. McCarthy, IvlcFarlane. Hall, Knox, C. Avery and Cornelius Warren. It was decided to erect a large shed at the yards, and to approach the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, with a view of holding periodical wool and skin sales.