NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 35

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. "While the barquentine Neptune was off Whangaruru a whale came alongside and spouted, drenching the deck with water. Six weeks ago Mr Richardson, temperance lecturer, laid an information against Mr Sheehan, a hotelkeeper, for alleged threatening language. The magistrate, Mr Hutchinson, decided against Mr Richardson, who was saddled with court and solicitor's costs (J34 7s). He stated that he would not pay, as he was of opinion the decision was a wrong one. Nothing was done till the sth, when he, at a prohibition -meeting, was arrested on a warrant for not, complying with the order of the bench, and put in the lock-up. Mr J. T. Hill (president of the Band of Hope Union), the Rev. W. J. Williams (president of the Abolition League), and Mr W. L. Salter severally went to the police station* to pay the money, but Mr Richardson would not consent. Subsequently Mr Arthur Myers (of Campbell, Ehrenfreid, and Co., brewers) ■went to the station and paid the amount. Mr Richardson said he did not thank him, and refused to sanction the proceedings. As the police had received payment of the costs they told Richardson he could not remain in- the lock-up, and must depart. He went back to the prohibition meeting, where he wa,s hoisted shoulder high and cheered, and delivered an address. A large body of police and detectives came on the ground, also plain-clothes men. Some hoodlums indulged in horseplay, laying a train of crackers under the temperance platform and firing them, and throwing over-ripe hen fruit. About 500 persons were -present. The present strawberry season is likely to prove one of the worst known, owing to cold winter rains and frost. A slow spring and a dry summer are responsible for this result. There has never before been so large an acreage as this year, and favourable weather would have made a difference of some thousands of pounds to the Birkenhead and Northcote districts. Many plantations are already withering, and rain is urgently needed. The increase of weasels in the district is -becoming greater every year, and farmers are suffering thereby. A Remuera resident killed a weasel and several young ones in a haystack on his property on Saturday morning. Close by was a hen's nest containing eggs, all of which had been sucked by the weasel. Another weasel a day or two ago was chased in Lower Vincent street in the city, but got away. The Hauroto from Samo^ reports that the news of Germany's annexation of the island was received on the day she left, and was taken by the natives very badly. They wou'.d- have preferred being under British rule. . The - Manapoun; Captain Crawshaw, which left here for Tonga._ encountered the easterly gale felt in -Auckland, and lost all her live stock in the gale. She was • hove to off the Great Barrier for 32 hours, and had a narrow escape. , WELLINGTON. Mr Martin Kennedy is reported to have disposed of his interests in Staples's Brewery Company to a local syndicate for £32,000. ' Regulations are gazetted under which commissions in the British army may be obtained by officers of the colonial military forces and students from the colonial universities. „. "Regulations arfe also ".gazetted respecting admission to the Roj*al" Military Academy at Woolwich and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. " j The Department of Agriculture has received further consignments of scale-eating ladybird beetles, tree frogs, and magpie larks, which will be distributed over the North Island. Both birds and frogs are great insect devourers. CANTERBURY. The Timaru A. and P. Association approve of a reduction in the weight of sacks of grain to 2001b, 12 months' notice to be given of any legislation on the subject.