LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9662, 10 February 1903, Page 1

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Per PreHs Association.) AUCKLAND, lust nigbt, The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court commenced this morning. The Judge said that the cases set down for hearing were numerous, especially when it was considered that a number of cases had been disposed of through- pleias of guilty being entered m the Lower Court. Most of the cases were simple, but. several were of grave character, though happily not involving loss of human life. A remarkable feature of the calendar was the great number of charges of an indecent character. His Honor concluded his charge, by characterising the latter part of the calendar as a chapter of horrors. The judge this afternoon declared, with something akin to despair, that the young men of to-day instead of working as their fathers had done, preferred to steal. Nearly all the prisoners before him to-day were youths. NAPIER, last night. At the Supreme Court to-day John Johnston and Charles Ellis were charged with burglary. The former pleaded guilty, and was remanded for sentence. Ellis, who pleaded not guilty, and conducted his own defence, was acquitted. Muhu and Harry Robinson, both Maoris, were cliarged with breaking and entering and theft at Wairoa. The Crown Prosecutor intimated that he had gone carefully through the depositions and could not find the slightest evidence against Robinson. His Honor concurred, and Robinson was formerly charged, and found not guilty. Muhu pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Robinson., was further charged with the theft' of- a* watch. 'at Wairoa, but the" jury returned- a -verdict of not guilty. NEW PLYMOUTH, last night/ The police have received ward that a man named George Lang-man was killed this afternoon, while felling a tree on his farm near luglewood. WELLINGTON, last night. John Williams, aged 63 years, a carpenter, was found deitd at the Princess hotel this evening. At the Supreme Court, Charles H-ar-land, alias Charles Wilson, and James Wyllie, were found guilty of entering the National hotel with, intent to commit a crime, and the theft Of several documents. They were remanded for sentence.. John Shanaghiou, who broke a plate glass window of a jewellery shop m the centre of the city m broad daylight and stole several (brooches, was adudged to be a lunatic, and unable to plead. He was remanded at the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary. John Shanahan and Walter Simmons, fouud guilty of assault and robbery, Mere remanded for sentence. Mr SeddoiL, m replying to a deputation of Unionists to-night, made further reference to the presence of a Supreme Court judge on the Arbitration Court. He had, he declared, always thought the presence of a judge of the utmost importance to the Court, strengthening it m the eyes of the workers and employers. He wbuid regret it very much if a change liad to be made, but rather than have the Supreme Court plaoed m an invidious position, it w ould have to be done.. It, however, would not happen unless grave necessity arose. With regard to preference of employment to unionists he would be quite prepared to ask Parliament to make it compulsory. He told the deputation that they might take it as definitely ax-ranged by the Government that -provision, would be made for paying inspectors to see the awards were obeyed. The inspectors of factories would become inspectors of awards. Ex-Sergeaut-Major Ramsay, formerly a well-known member of the police force, from which he recently retired on a pension, died to-night. He had been forty jwirs iv the police service. WALMATE, last night. Mrs Mitchell, wife of Mr J. H. Mitchell, farmer, Studholme, was found drowned m a pond near her house, about one o'clock j-esterday. At the inquest before Mr Keddell, S.M., to-day, the- evidence showed that deceased was lost seen alive at 11 jn the forenoon, and about one her body was found m the pond, fully dollied. Her husband was at another of Ins farms, a few miles away, at the time, and the body was first seen by the children, and taken from the pond by employees on the farm. The jury returned a verdict that deceased drowned herself while temporarily insane. WESTPORT, last nieht. At the district Court to-day the appeal case the Minister of Railways v. Car-ruthw-s, an appeal case from the decision of Mr Hawkins, S.M., awarding the respondent £33 for alkged injuries received by a fall from a train at Sergeant's Hill, was heard. The appeal was upheld oil the grounds that their had been contributing negligence on the part of respondent. CHRJSTCHUKCH, last nighrAt the Supreme Court to-day; Michael Burns mus found not guilty of breaking and entering the premises of F W Blighting, and John Haekett was senl tencod to six months' imprisonment for breaking and entering the shop of Lan K - dea und Steele, butchers.