TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 18

TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.

The Gazette notifies the acceptance of the resignation of Mr John M'Kenzie as a member of the Otago Land Board. Mr Jaa. Walker Bain is appointed School Commissioner for the Provincial District of Otago, vice Mr W. H. Pearson resigned. Mr Frederick Wm. Frankland is appointed Deputy- Commissioner of the Government Insurance department. Thomas Patterson is appointed clerk licensing committee, Balclutha ; and Nicholas Thomas Maunders, licensing committee, Mangapopo. A curious double bankruptcy has occurred at Masterton, Wellington. Mr and Mrs F. Pelling, formerly carrying on a confectionery business, having been adjudged bankrupts on separate petitions.

A young girl, named Matilda Simpson, wassent to the Industrial School, Wellington, for stealing several gold bracelets and lockets from Hislop

and Littlejohn's, jewellers. She made, a practice of pricing goods, and, when the shopman's back was turned, pocketed the articles. The immigration and emigration returns for the month of April last give the total arrivals in the colony as 775, and the total departures from the colony 1725. The total estimated population of the colony on the 31st March last was 646,913. Information has been received at Wellington of the death, in London, of Mr William Bannatyne, head of the firm of Bannatyne and Co., merchants, Wellington, aged 71. Deceased had been a resident for 40 years here, but five years ago, owing to severe illness, left for England. St. Patrick's new Roman Catholic cathedral at Christchurch was formally opened^on Sunday by Bishop Grimes. There was a. numerous attendance, and the collection amounted to over £400. A man was arrested at Waddington, Canterbury, on Saturday on suspicion of being Jonathan Roberts, the Timaru escaped convict, but he proved not to be the man. A petition to the Government is being numerously signed in the Waitaki district requesting that the Hakateramea, Te Akaterawa, and Station Peak runs be cut up for settlement. It is stated that Station Peak alone would support 30 families, and the land in the other runs mentioned as many more. During this season the Taratahi (Wellington) Dairy Factory disposed of 50 tons of cheese at 4§d f.0.b., or 4d at the dairy. The dead body of a Mrs Mary M'Kenzie, a dressmaker, living at Mangawhare, Auckland, was found on Tuesday afternoon on the bank of the Mangawhare river at ebb tide. There was a severe wound on the mouth, apparently from a blow, the front teeth of deceased having penetrated the lip. Mrs M'Kenzie was at church on Sunday evening, accompanied by two gentlemen friends. About 9 o'clock screams of a woman, apparently proceeding from the direction of the river, were heard, but no one was seen. The case has created considerable excitement, as the circumstances point to murder or suicide. Deceased on returning from church on Sunday in March last found some men in her house, and she had since been in great fear. Her husband is said to be working at the gumfields.