NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 25

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. The Webb Boiling-down Works at Cambridge were destroyed by fire on the 18th inst. A large quantity of tallow was burnt. There" was no insurance, and nothing was saved from the building or plant. POVERTY BAY. William John Knight was .committed for trial at Gisborne on two charges of sheepstealing. TARANAKI. At a meeting of sweet-pea growers, held at Stratford on January 20, it was decided to- form a New Zealand Sweetpea Society, and a committee, consisting * of Messrs C. Goodson (Hawera), E. A. Osmond (Stratford), G. Holder (Porirua), W. B. Scott (Kaponga), W. C. Armstrong (Hastings), E. C. Bradfield (Pahnerston North), G. W. Plummer (Auckland), and Dr Carbery (Stratford) was appointed. HAWKE'S BAY. A somewhat severe and prolonged earthquake shock was felt at Hastings on the morning of the 20th. A severe shock of earthquake was felt at Napier at 1.28 on the morning of the 20th. WELLINGTON. In the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on the 20th, William Joseph Bray, watch repairer, was charged on 24 informations with the theft ot watches, and . was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on eacn, the sentences to run concurrently. Bray took the watches to repair, and sold them to secondhand dealers. Bert Leslie. a Wellington bookmaker, charged with betting with an infant at the Miramar ponjy races, was fined £lO. Robert Warnes was fined £SO on each of two charge of sly p;rog-selling at Ohakune on the 20th inst., in default three months' hard labour. George M'Williams was fined £-10 for a first offence and £SO for a second offence and two months' hard labour. In all the cases the sentences are to be cumulative. At the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on the 21st inst. a young iman named. , Eberhardt . Ferdinand Renner committed ,■ ..for . ; trial on a ' charge of setting.,fire .to a. house at Wadestown on the night of December 28. CANTERBURY. A meeting of civil servants to consider the advisability of forming a horticultural society was held at Christchurch on the 20th, when a resolu-

tion affirming the desirability of forming a society having for its object the holding of exhibitions of flowers, fruit, and vegetables was cairried. It was resolved that persons who are .in the employ of the New Zealand Government in any capacity should be eligible as members or exhibitors. Mr S. P. Stevens (Chief Postmaster) was elected president, Messrs Shanks and Pirani joint hon. secretaries pro tem, and Mr L. C. Williams hon. treasurer. Should the anticipated support be accorded to it, it is proposed to hold the first show about the end of February. E. J. Heale pleaded guilty to misappropriating £6B odd, the property of the Star of Linwood Oddfellows' Lodge, Christchurch, and was committed for trial. He had been treasurer, and failed to pay sums to other lodges. John Fitzpatrick was committed for trial on a charge of breaking and entering a house at Linwood, Christchurch, on January 14.