CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 23

CANTERBURY.

As a result of the agitation in a Christchurch evening newspaper, several fortunetellers were 'brought up and fined 40s and costs^on 23rd. The magistrate commented severely on the practice, and said that he would inflict very severe penalties in future.

Mr Thomas Martin, father of Mr Ju&tice Martin, died on 23rd inst ; aged 75 years.

The Diocesan Synod concluded its session on 23rd. A motion by Sir John Hall that women shoiild be allowed to vote at parish meetings was lost by ore vote. The voting was : — In favour of the motion : Clergy, 15 ; laity, 18. Against the motion : Clergy, 23; laity, 11.

At a meeting of the Board of Education on 24th inst., Mr H. W. Perryman gave notice of the following motion : — " Having in view the wonderful liberality of the Government at the last session of Parliament in raising the honorarium of all members of both Houses of Parliament, thereby setting an example to all public bodies in New Zealand to be liberal in the administration of the law, that the 5 per cent, reduction on teacher 1 :' and staff salaries, 5 per cent, reduction on ' incidentals ' to all district school committees, as well as on the travelling expenses of members of this board, recently made, and &tiil in force, be henceforth discontinued."

R. Elms, an old Pareora farmer, now butchering, has been arrested for stealing sheep from A. S. Elworthy's run.' He was caught by two constables in ihe act of killing.

A man named William Fahay, who is at present awaiting trial here on a charge of house-breaking and the theft of jewellery, is also wanted in Auckland. It is alleged he broke into a house there, chloroformed the servant, and committed a criminal assault. When the Christchurch charge against him is disposed of, he will be taken to Auckland to appear before the court there.