TELEGRAPHIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4310, 20 March 1901, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, March 19. The Sinclair and Gillies Scholarships Fund is now in receipt of an annual income of £l6O, a larger amount than th© endowment hitherto yielded. This enables the Auckland' University College Council to give £75 per annum to each of the scholarships, instead of • £SO as formerly. The Gillies Scholarship is now vacant, and an examination of candidates will take place shortly. The scholarship is tenable for three years, and can only be held? by a> candidate whose parents are unable to give him. a University education without pecuniary The statement made by Lieutenant. Oofimel Gudgeon, the British Resident at Rarotonga, with reference to diverting the orange trade from Auckland to Wellington on tho ground that the natives of Rarotonga were not receiving remunerative prices for their fruit, has been brought under the notice of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, mid the executive of that body discussed the matter at a special meeting to-day. It was felt that tfio information at the disposal of the Chamber was not sufficient to enable any definite action to be taken, and the question was- referred to the Produce Committee,with instructions to report to the executive at as early a date as possible. A regrettable incident occurred in Shortlaud street at an early hour this morning. Mr H. C, Woollmer, manager of the Waitekauri Extended Gold Mining Company, arrived from the Thames -about 2*a.m., and had occasion to go to his office. On coming out a pair of arms gripped him. Thinking ho was being attacked by robbers, Mr Wpollmef struck at the man, at the same timo calling for help. His cries brought two other men upon the scene, and they Joined with the first maiVin endeavouring to secure him. Presently one- of the men, feeling blood .on his hands, called out. “I’m stabbed.’’ It transpired that the blood he felt was really Woollmer’s, but he was struck several blows on the head, with his own walking stick. Just then a policeman in uniform appeared with two or three others, and Woollmer at once gave himself,up, under the impression that his supposed assailants would be arrested also. On his suggestion, the detectives, for such they proved to be, took him to the Auckland Club, I where he was at once identified and re-

leased. It is evident that there was a misunderstanding on both sides, the detectives apparently believing they had caught a burglar, while Woollmsr was not unnaturally under the impression that ho was being robbed. CHRISTCHURCH, March 19. Mr W. Reece (Mayor of Christchurch), who is leaving on a visit to Europe, will take with him copies of plans for

an electric plant in connection with the Waimakariri scheme for supplying power to the city. He will obtain estimates of the probable cost, and make inquiries as to the most suitable premises. DUNEDIN, March 19. The City Council will formally take over the tramways from the City and Suburban Tramway Company on Thursday, when, in the afternoon, all the available cars will be thrown open free to the public. The question, of wage's and. (Hours of employees is to be at once considered. The Tramway Committee recommended! the Council to get from, the general manager a report on the hours and salaries, with a view to favourably considering an increase in wages. i

The hearing of the chargee of sly-grog selling at Tapanui was resumed to-day. James O’Dowd l , charged with selling liquor on New Year’s Eve, was convict, ed, and fined £4O and costs, to be recovered by distress, in default onemouth’s imprisonment without hard labour. The Crown Prosecutor said hard labour would' be preferable, but Mr Stratford, S.M., thought persons convicted of such an offence should not altogether lose their character by (feeing set to work with ordinary criminals. Two informations against Patrick McCann were withdrawn, the Crown Prosecutor saying he had only one witness, afld he did not think it prudent to proceed.