LATE TELEGRAMS. Auckland, July 2.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 20

LATE TELEGRAMS. Auckland, July 2.

The schooner Christine, from Norfolk Island, I put in last night at Marsden Point, Whangarei, for shelter. The vessel had a rough passage, and when off the North Cape one of the seamen was lowering the mainsail, when he was washed overboard in the heavy sea. A boat was sent out, but no trace of the unfortunate man could be seen. The name of the seaman has not yet been ascertained. Wellington, July 2. About half-past 8 this evening Messrs Cato and M'Lennan, accountants, entered the strong room of the National Bank, Lambton Quay, and struok a light. A violent explosion followed, and Mr Cato was knocked down, while Mr M'Lennan was severely burnt about the face. Exaotly opposite the strong room is the entrance to the bank. The plate glass in the inner door was shivered to fragments, and the heavy double outer doors torn off their hinges and thrown upon the pavement in a shattered condition. There were three windows in the front wall belonging to roome of which the doors happened to be open. The plate glass in these windows was also shivered into small pieces and hurled across the roadway, which they covered for yards. The Venetian blinds were ton rup, and in one instance entirely thrown out into the street in the shape of matchwood. Considering that they were in the direct line of an explosion powerful enough to smash up a double set of doors 60ft away, Messrs Cato and M'Lennan had a wonderful escape of their lives. No damage was done in the bank room itself through which the whole of the blast passed, except that two lamp globes were broken, and but little in the strong room beyond blackening and slightly charring books and documeuts and some injury by water. On examination it was found that one of the gas pipes had -a large hole in it. Strange to say no one appeared to be passing the bank at the time, though it is in one I of the principal thoroughfares in the oity, otherwise they could scarcely have escaped serious iujury from the shower of glass and wood. The bink is exactly in front of the tram crossing, but no cars were there at the time. Westpobt, July 2. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, Thomas Johnston Jones was committed for trial a a the District Court on a charge of assault with I intent to do grievous bodily harm on John Marshall, manager of the Westport Wallsend coal mine. Timabtt, July 2. The body of a man about sfb 9in in I height, well built, was found in the harbour to - day. It was naked, except that it had on boots and socks. There are no other means of recognition, and as no one is missing in this district, the body is supposed to have come on the current from the south. It has been a fortnight or more in the water. Intebcabgill, July 2. The body of Bernard Milligan, a settler at the Spar Bush, has been found in a ditch containing 18in of water. He was last seen alive on Sunday, when he accompanied anothet farmer halfway home. Deceased was a single man. A case of interest came before the Land Board to-day. A revalued deferred payment section was applied for, but the previous holder (Macallister) who had forfeited, asked the board to reconsider their decision to forfeit, with a view to giving him the land if possible. It was stated that be took up the land at 100s per acre, improved it, and paid instalments totalling 325, when, being unable to continue payment, the board declared the section forfeited immediately afterwards a revaluation under the act of last session was legalised, and the valuers assessed the land at 30s per acre, or 2s less than the first settler had paid in instalments. The applicant therefore thought he had a claim in equity to be placed on the land again. The chief commissioner (Mr Spence) was of opinion that the board could do nothing, as the previsions of section 73 of the act on which it was argued a rehearing oould be granted applied only to cases of dummyißm, and that in other cases the rehearing must be within 30 days, a period which had long since elapsed. He read a memo, from the department on a similar case, in which it was stated that no relief could be granted in such circumstances, the first selector having been out of possession before the Revaluation Act was passed. Mr T. M. Macdonald, for applicant, said that he (Macallieter) had interviewed the Minister of Lands, who had expressed au opinion that the boarcThad power to nndo what it had done. Mr Denniston, a member of the board, contended that they had power under the Land Act to deal with Euch matters independent of any expression of opinion from Wellington. Eventually it was decided to refer the matter to the Minister for Lands.