TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4304, 13 March 1901, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. ‘ CHRISTCHURCH, March 12. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day the licensee of the New Brighton Hotel was fined £5, and costs, for supplying per- . sons not hona fide travellers on Sunday. ’ This was the case in which the Magis- [ trate previously held that a traveller . remained such even after being several , hours at a place, and could have more than one drink during closed hours. The : Supreme Court Upset this decision and directed the case to be re-heard. A case arising out of the stabbing on the steamer Otarama, in Dunedin, came before the Magistrate’s Court at Lyttelton to-day. William Keilson claimed to be discharged from the steamer because ho was bound over as a witness in the case Bex v. Thompson, to be heard in the Supreme Court. Dunedin, in May next. For the captain of the Otarama it was shown that the authorities had stated that there was no necessity to pay off witnesses as their depositions could be accepted by the Court. The Bench decided that as the Crown had taken no steps to compel informant to remain in the colony, it could not take the responsibility of upsetting his contract with the vessel. As the man had taken a proper course in bringing the matter before the Court, the Bench ordered that no deduction be made from liis wages on account of his absence from the vessel that morning. To-day the manager of the German Bay Dairy Factory was fined 40s, and costs, for having exported produce under weight. The case was the first one brought under clause 18 of the Dairy Industry Act, 1898. A shortage of Ipb to 21b per crate of cheese was discovered by the grader at Lyttelton, and defendant was warned. On repetition he was summoned. For the defence it was urged that-the offenoe was unintentional, the weighing apparatus at the factory having got rusty. A general meeting of subscribers to the : Jubilee Memorial Fund selected Market square as the site for a statue of the late 'Queen, the square to be re-named Victoria square. WANGANUI, March 12.

The North Island Baud Contest opened here to-day, the quartette and B flat cornet solo competitions being proceeded with. The former resulted—Wanganui (123 points), 1; Woodville (105 points), ,S; Woodville No. 2 (94 points), 3. The solo competitions were not concluded. TIMARU, March 12.

The Harbour Board to-day adopted terms of settlement with the late contractors for the eastern mole. The contractors had already received £2883, and the Board agreed to pay and they!to accept £6120, including £IOOO deposit, in full settlement. An item of £666 is, however, reserved for the opinion of the solicitors to the Board.

GISBORNE, March 12.

At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this evening a list, of district requifaments was framed, in view of the visit .of the Minister of Lands. This included the pushing forward of the railway; the development of the timber resources of Motu; and telephone extension to outlying districts. It was decided to ask the Government to send a geologist, with a view of reporting on the district, and whether it was likely to be coal bearing or not; also to report on the oil deposits and natural gas. At tbe S.M. Court an interesting case was beard with regard to the valuation of hotels. James Whinray sued P. 11. Campbell, proprietor of the Turanganui Hotel, for £37. It appeared that the plaintiff furnished the hotel some six months age for the defendant, and the latter, in selling out, agreed to take invoice prices for the furniture, less £3O, and asked plaintiff to go through the. list. Mr Do Lautqur, who appeared, for I the defendant; said his client had been employed as a valuator without special agreement, and not as a clerk. The work done, and' the charge - was reasonable. The, S.M. hold that the- valuation had been'made, and that the evidence as to' invoices did not affect the matter in tKe slightest. Judgment would go for ! the .amount claimed, with costs. , Mr Mestayer, who is to advise the Borough Council on a water and age scheme, arrived this morning, ’aad a conference with Councillors has been arranged. . .There is a:conflict of legal opinion as to the roll under which a fresh,'Harbour Board election must be held. A meeting' of the Board to consider the matter was convened for this afternoon, but lapsed for want of a quorum. Mr Stewart, of Stewart and Fenn, Auckland, electrical engineers, will arrive to-morrow to report on the feasibility and oost of harnessing the Te Reinga waterfall Plate-laying for fivo miles of the railway from Gisborne to Karaka has been completed. 1 " HOKITIKA, March 12. The Supreme Court concluded yesterday.. In the re-trial of Ben Lawson, charged with perjury, arising out of the Foley Creek salting case, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. Judge Danr.iston refused probation, and sentenced accused to twelve months’ imprisonment A Coal Prospecting Association has been formed bore to develop measures at Koiterangi, where there are large seams and line samples. Local bodies are giving small subsidies to assist. AUCKLAND, March 12. The criminal sittings of tho Supreme Court concluded to-day. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the case of Rawiri te Ap, charged with the murder of his wife at Miranda. NAPIER, March 12. It is understood that the Hatuma Estate will bo placed on the market by the Government for close settlement purposes in about six weeks’ time. The run has been cut up into 58 sections, ranging from 111, acres to about 150 p acres.