CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 33

CANTERBURY.

During the hearing of a land ease at the Supreme Court on the 23rd, Mr Justice ! Oooper stated that solicitors should not eomj bine land business with ordinary practice, for the same firm might, as land agents, be acting for a vendor and as solicitors for the vendee. He could not help thinking that such combination was contrary to the best traditions of the profession. Action has been taken by the police authorities in connection with the recent death of a young lady under distressing circumstances at a nursing home at South Opawa. An information has been laid against the keeper of the home and the nurse employed thereat, charging them with manslaughter. The hearing of the charges will commence on Friday. Mr Matthews, Government forester, with the members of the Domain Board, visited the Domain on Friday in connection with the board's proposals to cut down certain trees. He confirmed the proposed action of the board in moat instances, but recommended iii others that judicious pruning" would be sufficient. There was considerable agitation at the time when the board's proposals were first made. The Government intends establishing a maternity home in Christchurch, and a report is being made on two sites under* offer as to which is the more suitable. At the Magistrate's Court on Friday Susan Wood and Mabel Atkinson were charged with causing the death of Constance Comfort Cuddon, by placing her in a strait- jacket and strapping her down to the bed, thus committing the crime of manslaughter. Mr Russell, who appeared for accused, said they were not present. Mrs Wood was in delicate health, suffering from heart disease. He asked for bail formally, and accused (who were not under arrest) were admited to bail in £50 each. The case was then adjourned to May 31. At a meeting of the Christchurch Hospital Boai.il Dr Jennings, president of the Christchurch branch of the British Medical Assbeiatioa, stated that the branch intended to collect a sum to build and equip a consumptive sanatorium, to be handed over to the board to maintain. The board passed a motion expressing its full sympathy with th© proposals of the Medical Association, and would afford it every assistance _ possible. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Timaru on the 23rd a motion urging the minisi ters, office-bearers, and members to keep ' before their congregations the question of no-lioense -.was carried after a discussion, in which two ministers (the Revs. Chappie and M'Donald) proposed an amendment in favour of State control. The minority, of two condemned prohibition as unscriptural and ineffectual. The others, in reply, declared thai State control had been everywhere a failure. The first oase of the kind under the Licensing Act of last session was dealt with at thei court, Timaru, on Monday, when a publican and' ln's barman were charged with having supplied intoxicating liquor to a child under 13 years of age. The person who sent the child (her father) was also charged with this offence. The three defendants were fined 10s each, the magistrate intimating that he made the fine lig-ht because this was the first case, but future cases "would be severely dealt with.