CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 34

CANTERBURY.

Mr H. J. Ainger, formerly marager of the- New Zealand Trust and Loan Company, died very suddenly on the 7th at Belfast. He was cj r cling from Rangiora and fell oflF the bicycle, expiring immediately. He was a Aery prominent churchman, being a member of the Cathedral Chapter and a eynodsman. In the Christchurch S.M. Court Jno. Doyle was charged with being unlawfully in possossioi of opium for smoking, and alvo with concealing opium with a view to evade the prohibition against the importation of opium. A man was set by tho police tc entrap Doyle* ■who was arrested in a right-of-way, where h-e had taken a tin of opium to sell to an informer. The latter gave the signal by striking a match, and a detective and constable, s piDeared and arrested Doyle. Subsequently the police discovered five tins of opium in the back yard of Doyle's house. A fin« of £100 and costs was inflicted for cciioealing opium, and o conviction entered on tho other charge. Do3'le, who has previously been fined £100, was unable to pay, and went to gaol. Judge Has<?k!en, in the District Court, Timsrni, with a jury of four, has been occupied twe days o\er a suit fo'- damaees. the owner of a farm on Ran^itata Island claiming £97 from the late for hrraones of covenant to kc-op the fences and buildings in r?pair and not <o remove buildina-, etc. Evidence -was given in detail as to the work required to put tho fences and Lu'ldin^g in repair. Claims for removals were struck out, leaving £45 for failure to repair. Tha jury found fcr plaint-ff. and awarded f25 cost® to follow tho verdict. Th& Ashburton police on Saturday raided the premises known as tho Royal Hotel, in. which a grocery business is now carr.ed on. The police were on the premises for about four hours. The result of the search has not transpired.