NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 37

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. At Dargaville on the 24th inst. Rua Were, a Native of Tangiteroria, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing and shooting 11 calves, the property of Will C. Price, Tangiteroria, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Another Native, Hone Taka, of the same locality, was committed for trial on a charge of stealing bullocks valued at £B, the property of Henry Moyle. At the Supreme Court, on the 26th inst. Daniel Cuthbert O'Brien, charged with a criminal assault on a girl, was found guilty by the jury and sentenced to 10 years' hard labour. HAWKE'S BAY. At the request of several representatives of Labour unions Mr B. J. Dolan, barrister and solicitor, has consented to contest the Napier seat at the general election. Other candidates will be Mr J.' Vigor Brown (the sitting member), and Mr George Nelson. TARANAKI. Messrs Johnson and Loughnan, of Palmerston North, have purchased the mineral rights of the Mangapapa block of acres on the north side of the river, the surface rights to which were acquired by Mr Chambers, of Hawke's Bay. The purchasers of the Mokau Jones property have begun preparations for settlement, and hope to see 50 families on the land in a year. They retain the mineral rights. WELLINGTON. At the Magistrate's Court on May 24 Wm. Stanley Wesley, a young man who recently came from England, pleaded guilty to forging the name of George Walker to a Post Office Saving Bank withdrawal receipt and uttering the same with intent that it should be acted upon as genuine. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. . At the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the report showed that" the revenue from fishing licenses was £531. The number of licenses was—men's, 424; half season, 92; ladies', 91; Boys', 161; tourists', 8. Acclimatisation work done was the rearing and distributing of 100 mallard. A few deer licenses were taken out for the Albury herd, and some settlers obtained leave to destroy some, which were damaging their crops. Mr F. Waldegrave for Justice) will go with Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice) to Raratonga. The Chief Justice will hear a charge of the murder of a native preferred against W. J. Wigmore, a resident of the island. Mr H. H. Ostler, of the Crown Law Department, will act as Crown Prosecutor. His Honor will also inquire into charges made against the administration of the islands. The party will leave for the islands on June 3. Large numbers of native wood pigeons in'the North Island are suffering from a disease, especially those shot about Kaitieke and north of Taumarunui. So far the disease has not been definitely named, but specimens which have (says a local paper) been examined lead the Government Department to say that it is a very acute form of a parasitic disease. Further samples will be sent to the department, and perhaps more light on the subject will ensue. Out of 15 birds shots in one day only one was perfectly free. In the case of far-advanced forms of the disease a thin layer of minute white eggs will be found just under the skin, and a bird may be quite fat and yet not fit to eat. Mr J. B. Harcourt, who was taken seriously ill about a fortnight ago, is still confined to bed, but is improving. The Prohibition party has a clever advertisement at the local exhibition urging people to vote for national no-license.

There is also a glass case showing what a large amount of wearing apparel could be purchased for the £ls odd that represents the average drink bill in New Zealand. The goods are lent by the Hon. Mr Fowlds, who recently opened a haberdashery shop in Wellington. In the Divorce Court on the 26th a decree nisi was granted in the case of Mabel Annie Hadfield v. George Samuel Hadfield on the ground of habitual drunkeimese. Thomas Hoult, of Feilding, was fined £36 at the Magistrate's Court for evading duty on goods to the value of £l2, consisting of gloves, cigars, cigarettes, a set of harness, and a rug. The fine waa reduced to £9, and the goods were ordered to be confiscated.

In the Divorce Court a decree nisi was granted in the divorce case Evelyne Marion Sparling v. Walter Hubert Sparling, on the ground of desertion and misconduct. A decree nisi was also granted in. the case. R. F. Johnston v. Sarah John- : ston and R. Wilson (co-respondent). The case was heard in camera. WEST COAST. The death from peritonisis of Hugh Preston, a well known and highly esteemed resident of Hokitika. occurred on the 20th inst. alter a. brief illness. The : deceased, who was 40 years of age, conducted a thriving bakery business in this town. He had relatives in all parts of the Dominion. He leaves a widow and ;i young family. CANTERBURY. Tho trustees of the Cracroft Wilson Estate have offered £SOO towards the cost of a permanent memorial of the Coronation. The committee of the Timaru High School Board decided to recommend the board to adopt an agricultural course for pupils desiring such, with provision for field, and laboratory .experiments, and to employ a teacher. To make- this possible it will be necessary to erect a new'school. The board has ground enough, a mile from the present school, where the board- : inghouse already stands. The Finance' ' Committee will report that the board can afford to build. The Tiinaiu High School Board baa adopted a scheme for building a new boys' school, and adding an agricultural course (scientific .and practical), the two things being mutually dependent. They will also ask theElducation Board to adopt agriculture'a® ah optional'subject in lieu of a language in senior scholarship examinations. The building is to be erected out of revenue, and the Government will "ba 1 asked for -a grant.