NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2622, 15 June 1904, Page 24

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. A no-license iaeetine, piesided over by Mr Fowlds, M.H.R., was held on the 2nd. Resolutions were adopted expressing sympathy with the electors of Bruos and New--town in the position in which they have been placed by the decision of the Privy Council. Mr Fowlds stated that he believed an effort would be made during the session on behalf of the trade to get concessions mad-e to the trade as a condition of the passing of the legislation necessary to remove the defects in the present^ act •which are responsible for voiding tho Newiown and Bruce pells. Mr liaurenson, 3M.H.R., was one of the speakers. ' An official run to Howick was on the 2nd imcde by the Howick Motor Bus Company. The company asked a number of repi-escm-ta-.tive people to make tlie official trip and Slave luncheon at Howick, and the full number that the busses would contain (20) were carried out to Eowick for the purpose. A poll of the ratepayers on rating on unimproved values was taken at Devonport, and, although considerable interest was taken in the movement, the voting was not as heavy as anticipated. The result of the poll was the large majority of 239 votes in favour cf continuance of the rating on unimproved value ssstem. Devonport was the first borough in the province of Auckland to adopt the Unimproved Values Act for rating purposes. The total number cf votes recorded was 597. out of a roll of 1240. The reault was: Against the proposal to rescind, 4-15; for proposal to rescind, 176; —majority to continue rating on unimproved values, 239. " Nearly two-thirds of the Matamata Etat3 of 42,000 acres have been applied for; 75 out of 117 farms were taken up. The Paeroa-Waihi line is making good progress under Mr James Hay, formerly of Dunedin. Mr Hay has made rapid progress in the service, and is novr engineer in charge of this district. The Waitsmata Council decided on Friday to defer bringing the district under the Orchard Pests Act till Parliament sat, in the hope of the ameliorntion of the act. Members said that under the act there was nothing for it but cutting out the trees. This was what the southerners wanted, so that they could secure trade-. The act was a southern act, aud demanded that the disease should be abated when the Government provided no cure. Large plate-glass windows in five large Queen street drapery establishments have ibee-n scratched with a diamond in the past fortnight. Rewards totalling £75 have been offered for the conviction of the perpetrator. . In a dark Auckland slrcet on Sunday night a young warehouseman named Leahy \ ss violently assaulted by a man, who tried to rob him. Leahy was grasped by the throat from behin-1, and fell on the pavement. Both men struggled hard, and Leahy's assailant tried to grab his watch, but the chain broke. When Leahy began to get the batter of the- struggle tho stranger drew a knife. Leahy grasped his assailant's wrist as he- struck at him, and although the knife cut Leahy's shirt it did not penetrate his Akin. His assailant then ran away. A youns- Maori woman, informant in a case of alleged assault with intent, performed a remarkable feat of endurance. The man was arrested in a kauri forest 25 miles from the Thames and brought in. Tho woman left on Sunday, and walked the whole distance, carrying a baby, in pouring rain. She was soaked to the skin, and shcTtly after leaving reached a river swollen by the rains. She attempted to ford it, •but found this impossible, and swam the river. She was buffoted about considerably, but reached the shore safely, and walked toe rest of the distance through almost impenetrable bush. She arrived considerably cxbausted. The case was adjourned till Thursday.