LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9098, 16 March 1901, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. A magisterial . inquiry was held inthe "Magistrate's Court-, before Mr H. W. Brabant, s.M., into the circumstances surrounding the wreck of the schooner Lady St. Aubyn on the North Spit, at the entrance to Kaipara harbor, on the 2Bth ult. The inquiry was held on the application of the Collector of Customs, who conducted the examination of the witnesses. The finding of the Court was that the master had committed a grave error of judgment m not letting go his anchor when his vessel was drifting towards the North Spit, but the error of judgment was not grave enough to necessitate interference with the master's certificate. The master was ordered to pay half the costs of the inquiry, the proportion to be paid by him not to ex- ' WELLINGTON, last night. The Hon, Jlr Duncan returned to-night from his Northern tour, which commenced' on : January 24th. He states that he found the settlers generally prosperous, the chief requirement being good roads. He found that satisfactory work was being done at Momohaki and Wairangi experimental farms. He is of opinion that the worst road of the whole island lies between Dannevirke and Webed. He intends to see if burnt papa could be used m improving some of these bad stretches. Mr Justice Cooper gave his • reserved judgment to-day m the divorce suit Ada Frances Mitchell v. William Mitchell, granting a decree nisi. His Honor said that whereas m this case the husband, with the consent of his wife, leaves the colony with the intention of forming a home for himself and his wife,- and after a short interval suddenly ceases to correspond with her, and continues for a long period to neglect either to write to " his wife or supply her with any means of support, ..there was, m His Honor's opinion, evidence of intention to desert from the time the husband broke off correspondence. Captain Neil McDonald, who was master of the ketch Gratitude, wrecked some years- ago at Macquarie Islands, died at Porirua. At the inquest the medical evidence showed that death resulted from the effects of uraemia. The S.M., who fined two men £5 each for cruelty to sheep to-day, later on reduced the fine to £1, on it being explained to him that the sheep had been brought into town to be sent away by steamer, but that, as the vessel could not take them, they had to be sent back to Petone. They could not be driven at that time of the day, and therefore had to be sent m a cart. The Native Minister left for Papawai to-day to consult the Maoris there m "reference to the reception which is to be - given by the Natives to the Duke and Duchess of York. A case began to-day before Mr Justice Cooper m which Mi's Johanna Flockton sought to compel George Leonard to fulfil an agreement for the sale of a section m Dixon street, with buildings thereon, for £700, a deposit of £10 having already been paid. Defendant relied upon the statute of frauds as a bar to action, and pleaded that if he did agree to sell the property, he was, as "plaintiff well knew, so drunk, and suffering from the effects of drink to such an extent, that he was unable to comprehend the meaning or effect of the agreement. The Court is sitting to-night on the case. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. About three hundred citizens, including many ladies, assembled m the Art gallery this afternoon to" say farewell to Mr W. Recce, Mayor of Christchurch, and Mrs Recce, who intend to leave shortly for a trip to the Old Country. The gathering was thoroughly representative, and during the afternoon a presentation of an address was made to Mr Recce, setting forth the citizens' appreciation of his valuable services as Mayor during the Jubilee year. DUNEDm, last night, ' The Mayor has received a reply from the Inspector of Prisons with respect to the petition praying that the jury's recommendation to mercy m the case of Sarah Fogo, convicted of the murder of her husband, be given effect to. The reply states that the Minister cannot see shmcieht grounds to justify him m recommending His Excellency to comply with, the request, further than has already been done. For the New Zealand Rifle Association meeting at Wanganui entries have been received from 24 volunteers and four members of rifle clubs.