LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9642, 17 January 1903, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

4 ■— iPer Presß Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. George Thomas luce, who was badly burned on December 11, through his tent being burned at Motuiloti, died at the hospital to-day. Walter Smith, who was charged Avith setting fire to the tent, and inflicting bodily harm, was brought before the Court this morning, and was remanded to Monday, when the police intimaled that they would make the charge one of murder. WANGANUI, last night. At tlie S.M. Court to-day Murdoch Stuart, master of the river steamer Maiiuwai, was charged with having sold liquor contrary to the terms of liis packet license. The facts of the case were that on Boxing Day the steamer left town, for an all-day excursion. She proceeded about 20 miles, where she was moored to a tree on> shore, and the passengers disembarked. Four shortly afterwards returned to the boal, and were served with liquor. The men stayed on board for the remainder of the time the vessel was moored, and were served wiffli further drinks. After a stay of a couple of hours the steamer returned to town. For the prosecution it was held the licensee had by selling when the vessel had finished the journey infringed section 159 of the Licensing Act of 1881. For defence it was argued .that as the trip was advertised as an all-day excursion the Vessel's port of departure and destination was Wamganui ; that the stoppage was simply an incident m the passage. The Magistrate reserved his decision. WELLINGTON, last night. An inquest was held to-day on tlie body of John Taylor Gordon, a tourist, aged 32 years, who died at the Occidental Hotel on Wednesday. The 'evidence showed that deceased was a hopeless dipBomaniac. He had beeu sent out from England by friends m the hope that the travel would cure him of tßie disease. He had admitted to a medical man that he had taken large quantities of alcohol unknown to his friends. Twenty-four empty whisky bottles were found m his bedroom. A verdict of death from acute alcoholism was returned, with a rider that no blame, attached to tlie licensee; of the hotel where the death occurred. ASHBURTON, last night. The first sole of new season's grain for Canterbury is reported, a line of 1500 bushels of Canadian oats having been Bold at 2s 5d jler bushel on trucks at Charlsey. DUNEDIN, last night. Frank Palmer, 50 years of age, was taken ill m High street this afterrioon, and died before reaching the hospital. He had suffered from heart disease for some time. At the Police Court to-day, Patrick O'Brien aud his wife, keepers of a boord-ing-Jiouse, were .charged fwith sly-grog selling. The charge against the male defendant was dismissed, but the woman was fined £20, this being a second conviction. The Magistrate said that as she was a woman he would not enforce imprisonment. _^