WANGANUI.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4439, 20 August 1901, Page 6

WANGANUI.

A NEW RANGEFINDER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Monday, 5.45 p.m. The members of the Cosmopolitan Club held their annual banquet on SaUU'uuy night. The visitors included Mr Kenuv, S.M., Mr Willis, M.H.R.. and members of the Wairarapa football team.

The trial of Trotter’s patent trajectory range-finder took place at the rifle range this afternoon, under the supervision of Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville, and in the presence of Mr W. Sym.es, M.H.R.. and a representative gathering of volunteer officers. Tests were made, both in actual shooting and in judging distances. Mr Trotter unmistakably demonstrated that by the aid of his simple contrivance ha could pick up an .object at any range and mark it with a bullet. Those present expressed the opinion that the invention was a most valuable one. With his first shot at a range (unknown to Trotter) of between 600 and 700 yards, he registered a bull’s eve.

Paremana, a well-known old native of Pakaraka (near Maxwelltown), died Yesterday. During; the early days of the native troubles Paremana was noted for his loyalty and devotion to the European cause, and his death, removes one of has Majesty's most loyal and bravo subjects. The civil case, the inhabitants of the Mangnwhero road district v. Docald Kos.;, a claim to recover £2O received by defendant as. royalty for stone taken from the Ktiwhaiko block, which was party heard last Monday hy Mr H. EyreKenny, S-M., was continued to-day. The defendant, in the course of his evidence, stated that he had been a member of the plaintiff Board for ten years and chairman for four'or five years of that period. He formerly hold a lease of the Kaiwhaika block, the lease running out a little over twelve months ago. Since then he had obtained a fresh lease for COO odd acres, which did not include the quarries. The land on which the latter were situated he occupied at the will of the natives, and paid £lf)0 per year for it. He had an arrangement with them by which he agreed to collect on their behalf 3d per yard royalty for all atone removed from the block, it being understood that he could collect for himself what royalty he thought necessary. Previous to the contract under notice he had made arrangements with other contractors from whom he obtained royalty or compensation when the contracts were finished, always giving the natives 3d per yard. Ho considered he waa entitled to the compensation, seeing that the surface of the land was damaged bv the contractors working over and camping on the property. Furthermore, he suffered a good deal of loss and inconvenignco through the wool on sheep’s backs being damaged by drifting Band from the quarries. The plaintiffs claimed that Ross had no right to royalty, and that he received it without knowledge of the Board. They hold that if paid it should have been paid j;o the Board or to the native owners.. Judgment was given for the plaintiffs for £ls, with costs £lO 2s 3d.