AUCKLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2463, 29 May 1901, Page 56

AUCKLAND

Dr Alexander Simmonds Kenny, youngest son of the late Lieutenant--colonel Kenny, died at Onehunga. Deceased was born at Onehunga, where he resided until he accepted a position on the Melanesian Mission at Norfolk Island. Subsequently he -went xo England to qualify as a medical practitioner, and later on held the position of senior demonstrator of anatomy at King's College for 16 years. About three years ago Dr Kenny returned to New Zealand. Dr Kenny was the brother of v District Judge, Eyre Kenny and cousin of Dr Kenny, of Rotorua Sanatorium. Ex-Constable Cullinane, who has been ill, died at Auckland on the 9th. Three years ago Le was brutally kicked by a man he was endeavouiing to arrest, and was retired from the foice on half-pay, beginning tins year. The assailant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The deceased leaves a widow and one child.

At R«wa River, Fiji, a coolie sought the affections of a married woman during the husband's absence. The attention was apparently reciprocated. Another coolie female threatened to inform the husband. The three went into the house. The man sharpened a knife, saying he intended to get food, and then attacked the woman he first met. He severed her head from her body with one slash. The other rushed outside". The man caught her, and took her back into the house with some trouble, slashing her about the arms and head. In the dwelling he also repeated the first performance, leaving the head hanging by a small piece of skin. He was arrested without trouble. The second woman is slashed horribly, her left hand 'hanging by a thread. The light arm was slashed. There are 15 wounds in the head.

The Northern R.S. Company's profits for the year are £6004. JThey have- declared a second half-yeaily dividend of 3£ per cent., and carry forward £1437.

Commandant Booth, of the Salvation Army, accompanied by Colonel Peart, secretary N for Au&tialasia, Brigadier (Jiaham, and Majors Os-borne and Perry, amved from Sydney on Sunday. The Commandant holds a congress in the- chief centres of New Zealand. He lectured this evening on " Soldiers of the Cross " to a crowded audience. He leaves for Wellington on Thursday. At the criminal sittings on Justice Conolly commented on the large number of cases set down for trial, almost every description of crime, excepting such as involved loss of life, being comprised in the calendar. There weie no less than eight charges of disgusting offences upon women and children and boys. If heavy sentences did not deter this class of crime it would be necessary to inflict the lash. The death is announced of the Rev Walter Johnston. Deceased took hi* degree at Trinity College, Dublin, and then joined the army, serving for some years in India m the troublous times. While still a young man he entered the chinch, and was ordained in 1867. The Primate i of Ireland presented him with the living of Connor, County Antrim, and he was nominated Canon of the Cathedral of St. Saviour's. In 1878 he came to New Zealand, and took up land in Katikati, where he resided for 19 years, only coming to Auckland some four years ago, when hi.s health began to fail. He died very suddenly from failure of the heart, at the age of 77 year?. He leaves a, large familj . A number of Austrians booked for Sydney by the Waikare. There has been a steady stream of these Austrians from New Zealand. The number who have left since last Christmas is upw ards of 200. They find that there is not sufficient woik on the gumfields. At the instance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humprey Kaiern was charged with cuielty to sheep by causing them to jump from die top tier of the sheep trucks to the ground when unloading. The magistiate held that the accused had been guilty of uuelty which was not necessary, as gangways were provided for the purpose Kaiern was fined Is and the costs of che case.

Mr Justice Conolly sentenced Robeit Henry Aubury to 10 years' hard Inborn and two floggings for attempted rape on Florence May O'Connor at Waihi. 'ihe evidence against the prisoner was veiy clear His Honor lefeired to the Ch and Jury's presentment regaiding assaults on women. He said he agreed with their icmarks, and must pass a ,evere sentence, such as would lead to a s-uppresc-ion of the offence, as assaults on women and children were becoming too common The sentence would be 10 years' hard labour pnd two floggings of 25 laches each The pironei, on hearing the sentence, became very excited, viciously .*hook his Sst at the judge, exclaiming w ith much bad language "You'll nevei see me flogged." and making loud tlueate. On his v, ay to the cells he used foul language, and stiuggled savagely with the warder Hugh Madden, 60 years of age, pleaded guilty to indecent assault on i girl of five. He vas sentenced to 10 yeais, iin^u»oiiment £ but

Mr Justice Conolly spared a flogging owing to prisoner's advanced years. At the balloting for the right of selection to various Crown land sections in the Kawhia district there were 2192 applications, as many as 161 having been received for a single section. Nearly half of the successful applicants are from southern parts of the colony. The total area of 3861 acres was disposed of, chiefly on lease, with the right of purchase, and carrying improvement conditions and requiring personal residence on the lands withm one year.