NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3331, 13 January 1898, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. Dunedin, January 12 Thomas Wilson was drowned in a coal pit chair near Cromwell. The hearing of the charge of shooting with intent against S. J. Mercer has been adjourned till Friday. Christchurch, January 12. The council of the Now Zealand Swimming Association is to consider the action of the Auckland Club in endeavouring to form' [an opposition Association at Auckland. Wanganui, January 12. At tho District Court to-day P. C. Sparks, music teacher, was found not guilty on a charge of perjury alleged to have been committed by him in connection with an affiliation case in which ho was interested. Auckland. January 12. _ A fire at Cambridge destroyed the resi- ’ dence of Mr J. S. Bond. The insurance was £3OO in the Norwich Union office. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day a ; young man named James Homan was charged with having assaulted and robbed Grace Milne, and stolen from her two rings. Us Cd in silver and sundry papers. Sergeant Clarke said the case was one of highway robbery. According to the complainant, she was walking in Customs street at 10 30 p.m. in company with a sailor, and was accosted by a man, who struck her on the face and chest, pulled her down, took the two rings and rifled her pockets. The accused, who said he was innocent, was remanded, bail being fixed at £IOO. After a delay extending over a number of years, the shares of the Maori owners of the Orakei block of land on the southern shore of Auckland harbour have at last been individualised. The Orakei block is one of the most valuable pieces of land in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and is of considerable extent, tho area dealt with by the Court being CB9 acres, inclusive of two small reserves. The owners are the members of two hapus of the Ngatiwhatua tribe known as Ngaoho and To Taore, The title of the block was first investigated by the Land Court 28 years ago, when the block, which was then valued at some' £70,000, was awarded to Paul Tuhaere and other members of the Ngatiwhatua tribe.