TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11197, 20 August 1898, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

; (PjER'UNIItEDiPBESS AsSOCiItION.) ■ , AUCKLAND, August 19. It is understood' that as a result of the judgment given by Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., in the recent Police case arising out of a fracas in the Albion Hotel between Constables M'Pae, . Jackson, and Scott,-, and several civilians, the department Kave authorised the dismissal of, the three policemen mentioned, and have also asked Constable Skinner to send in his resignation. •■-... ■A well-dressed woman, Mrs Edith Hargreaves, appeai-ed before the Police Court on a 'cliarge of stealing an " English Illusirated Magazine" from the Eree Public Library. Slio' pleaded not guilty. Siie;'admitted taking the magazine, but said she only borrowed it, as she had clone before. The case was 'dismissed with a caution. ■:'

At a meeting of the Exhibition- Committee, last night the question of the sale of alcoholic liquors was discussed. Ten members were present, and five voted each way. The chairman declined to give his casting vote, so the matter has been left to the decision of a future meeting.

■ WELLINGTON; August 19. For some days a warrant has been out for the arrest of J?. 8.. Muir, well known in cycling circles. Information was received to-day that' he had been found at Culverden, whither he had made his way from Blenheim. The. warrant was issued at the suit of W. P. Shortt on a charge of obtaining £110 by false pretences.. \ ... .._ \-.,'\ .

' At the conference of local bodies inithe immediate'vicinity'of Wellington, a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Government and'urge the necessity of straightening and' duplicating the railway line to Petone, and the need of improving and widening the Hutt traffic road. i

. The Gazette contains a'proclamation prohibiting the' introduction into the colony of scale-infested ' trees and plants, , and appointing Auckland and Wellington as the only-ports of entry for plants as defined, by "The Orchard and Garden Pests Act, 1896." This step is. taken owing to the fact that considerable quantities of fruit trees and,plants infested with'various' species of scale insects have been and are still imported into New Zealand to the danger and detriment.of the fruit plantations in the colony. .

•••.:■ ' r CHRISTCHURCH, August 19. The death is announced of Mr David Hume Christie, an early Canterbury colonist. He was a prominent member of the Orange Society, and in 1882 represented the New Zealand Grand Lodge at the triennial Council of the.Society, held in London.

A case of interest in connection with the new ward at the Christohurcli Hospital was heard this morning by Mr R. Beetham, S.M., sitting as arbitrator. The contract for building the Hyman . Marks ward was let to W. H, 'Bovren, . who sublet the plastering contract to T. Andrews. The •walls when finished were full of; cracks and fissures, and Dr Maegregor condemned : them. The Hospital Board suspended the Contractor's final payment 0f£1785. and the contractor commenced pro-ceedings-in the Supreme Court to recover the amount, but stayed them pending the result of the present arbitration. Evidence ■was led to show that the work had been carried out in accordance with the specifications, and that the board's architect had given a certificate tm that effect to Bowen... Three architects called by the board attributed the defects to tho materials used. , The decision was reserved.

INVERCAKGILL, August 19. At Gore to-day William Eae was committed for trial a.t the Supreme Court for stealing a horse from a contractor's camp. A charge of stealing a watch was adjourned.