NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 25

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. At the Supreme Court four Austrians — Patrick (2) and Pcsnikovich (2),— charged with violently assaulting a fellow countryman named Lanavich, at Hokianga, were sentenced, the two oldest to two years' imprisonment, and Tom and John Posnikovioh each to 18 months. The fisherman William Reid, previously charged with assault on Mary Donovan by catching her by the throat, was on Wednes- , day charged with the major crime, an attempt to murder. X is alleged that the accused, mho kept the woman on his fishing boat, was drinking hard with v others on Sunday last, and in the row on board seized her by the 'throat and threw her overboard. She screamed, and police assistance was at once forthcoming. The accused denied the charge. -He said Bfe._ knew -nothing about the '-woman, who was drunk, and fell overboard while crossing over to the other boat tied to his own. The case was adjourned till Friday,, to enable the accused, to get further evidence, bail being refused.

Evidence for the defence was taken at Auckland on Friday in the charge against Wm. "Reid of attempted murder of Mary Kate Donovan on the fishing boat Christina <on Sunday last by seizing lier by the throat and-, holding her under the water. The evidence -was \very contradictory. The (magistrate, in committing the accused for trial at the Supreme Court, said he had doubts whether the attempted murder charge was sustained sufficiently for a committal, but he was quite satisfied that the evidence was sufficient for commitment on a charge of aggravated assault. It would he competent for the Crown Prosecutor to Sndict the accused on either charge or both. Dn bail being asked for, the chief detective alleged that several of the witnesses would go in fear of the man if he were liberated. 3Bail was granted in approved securities of £75 and the accused in the sum of £100. News from Tonga states that the High Commissioner recently visited there in H.M.S. Torch. It is announced that the return of the deported Premier has beer, postponed indefinitely. Though the King is depressed, owing to his protests to the Imperial Government being ineffective, affairs are working smoothly under the new Government. Lake Waikaremoana is at a record Iheight. The gardens at Oporo Lake are submerged, and the outlet is a miniature Niagara —a magnificent sight. William Taylor, a prominent resident at Ahuroa. was found "Not guilty" of a charge of stealing two bulls. _ The judge and jury expressed strong disapproval of the arrest of such a well-known settler when he could have been dealt with by (summons, there being not the slightest chance of his going away. News of a second volcanic eruption in the •Island of Saarii. in the Samoan group of islands, was received by the Union Company's island trader Navua. Captain M'Lean states that when that vessel arrived at Apia-, an the'lsland of Upolu, on the night of the 7th inst. a great volume of flame suddenly shot up into the air, and as the 1 crater on Saavii "Island, about 40 miles distant, had been active some three years previously it was conjectured that it was there the erupifcion was taking place. This proved to be correct. The Tolcano continued 1 active throughout the 7th and 9th, and when the Navua sailed the following evening it was etjll belching forth smoke and flames. The officers and passengers of the Navua had a eplendid opportunity of seeing the display. There are about 2000 natives and a number Of white traders on the island, but there are believed to be no casualties. Moses Cohen and his daughter Becky were extradited to New South Wales on Monday. The former 19 charged with departing from New South Wales within four months of the sequestration "of his estate with £500, with antent to defraud his creditors, and Becky t!ohen is charged with receiving £100 with Sntent to assist in the fraud. Cohen's wife was coupled- with him in the warrant. She Sis understood to be in America. The Rev. Father Hays on Monday addressed a great demonstration of scholars of all the public and private schools m Auokland and district. The educational Sbodies and Roman Catholic authorities granted a public holiday, and a procession, from Albert Park was witnessed by thousands" of people.' At the close of a most ampressive address 5000 children, representa*ive of every denomination, took with tne father a resolution to practise total abstn> fence to the age of 25, and by good example, jbhrift, and industry become useful citizens and practical Christians. Five thousand souvenirs were presented to those present.

POVERTY BAT.

A mimic representation of Captain Cbok'e first landing took £laoe. at Gisborne on j

Wednesday foi the purpose of obtaining cinematographic views for Major 7 Perry, for the Salvation Army's biorama. The scene was at the historic , landing place, and it is believed that highly-interesting films will be the result. The proceedings were watched by a large number of people. | : ! | j 1 i i

TARANAKI.

At Ney Plymouth on Thursday Mr Hutchison, S.M., reheard a case in which the landlord and barmaid of the Commonwealth Hotel had been fined £6 and 10s respectively for > eupplying an intoxicated Maori with liquor. ' Additional evidence was brought forward, and the police withdrew the information, the oonviotion being quashed. The magis- ' trate further laid it down that the barmaid was the responsible party.

WELLINGTON.

A two-storeyed building in Palmerston North was destroyed by fire on 'Wednesday morning. The building was recently vacated.' by the Working Men's Club, and at the- time of the fire was occupied by J. Graham (electrician), Nott (billiard saloon), Leigh and Co. (land agents), Robertson (watchmaker), Beattie, Lang and Co.f Aliss Culling (Sandow exponent). The building belonged to Mr W. S. Munro', and was insured for £50 in the Standard office. The loss is estimated at £400. The stock of "the various tenants was practically covered by insurance, with the exception of Mies Culling, who lost all her property. Some apprehension existed as to the fate of the latter and of two young ladies who occupied rooms on the first floor, but subsequently it was ascertained that they were absent from town. The Health Department is satisfied that the man Newall at Shannon is not suffering . from smallpox.

WEST COAST.

At a very enthusiastic public meeting, held on Tjmrsday, with reference to taking steps to improve Hokitika Harbour, resolutions were carried to make every endeavour to raise sufficient funds to pay off the present indebtedness to the Postal Department, and proceed with the necessary harbour works. The meeting further affirmed the desirability of placing- a special rate upon the town and portion of the County of Westland, as security for any loan that might be necessary. The meeting also formed a Harbour League to confer with the Harbour Board to carry out the resolutions arrived at. A deputation will be sent to Wellington, with a view of getting ' the necessary legislation passed this session . to give the rating power squired. \J

CANTERBURY.

A man, a visitor from the country, was ' standing on the tramway track in Cliristchurch on the 15th inst. when a car ran into him. The cowcatcher caught him, and he rebounded out on to the track again, but. was dragged clear by the qua.rd before the wheels could reach him. It is expected that several thousand cyclists will take pai-t in a monster cycle and motor run, to be held on September 2, from Victoria square to the Metropolitan Trotting Grounds, Aldington, as a demonstration in support of the agitation for better roads for cyclists and motorists. ; The writ in the libel action. Taylor, j M.H.R., v. J. M. Twomey. Temuka, in which the plaintiff claims £1000 damages, has been issued by Mr Taylor's lawyer in Christchuroh. The Borough of Rangiora, which has been without a public debt for 27 years, now proposes to raise a loan of £oT)00 for gasworks. The retailers in Christchurch have taken advantage of the "comer" in onions, as cabled from Melbourne, and have raised prices 50 per cent. The City Council resolved to support the agitation in favour of the completion of the Midland Railway, and appointed four delegates to join the deputation proceeding to Wellington on the 28th inst. to urge the matter on the Government. Notice has been given that the District Court case, Carr v. Sergeant O'Malley ai.d Constable Heffernan, of Masterton, a claim for £200 for assault and false imprisonment is to be discontinued. Two or three police sergeants, In the ooniree of their evidence before the Police Commission at Wellington, made no secret of -the fact that they consider themselves to be underpaid and overworked. All complained of the high oost of living in Wellington. One, however, had a tilt at Auckland. He stated that in the three years he spent there it had cost him £150 more- to live than he drew in way. Another, dealing with expenses in Wellington, said: " Some married constables in this city can hardly pay their way; in fact, sonic, actually can't clo. , L it, and are. iv dehtM "*"" ""