LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11089, 2 October 1907, Page 3

LAST NIGHT'S NEW ZEALAND NEWS

(Per Press Association.)

NEW .PLYMOUTH, last night

The Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Denriiston, was occupied nearly all day with civil business. In divorce, a -decree nisi, to bo made absolute m three months was grantedt to Arthur John Taylor from Elizabeth Taylor, for failure to obey an order for restitution of conjugal rights. Regarding the throwing out of the 'bill m the Opunake case yesterday by the Grand Jury, which at the time appeared inexplicable to the Judge as well as to the public,' it is now understood that the jury acted on good groiinds, the principal Crown, witness failing to positively identify accused on oath when "under examination by Grand Jurors. j WELLINGTON, last night. What counsel described as. a case without parallel was brought before Dr McArthur, 5.M., . for decision. Plaintiff was, a young unmarried woman, whose illegitimate child had been maintained i by the father for a number of yeaTs m a home. Some time ago the father of the child married another wxrauCn, who bore him a child which died. ; Armed with a removal wai-rant the wife went to the home and took away her husband's child. The mother sued for recovery of the ohild from the possession of its father. The case 'was adjourned for a week. '

Air Ben Tillett arrived m Wellington to-night, and (was met by the leaders of the Socialist party and trades unions, including the Hon. J. Pauir M.L.C. Mr Tillett goes South m about a. week. NESON, last night, , The steam trawler Nora Niven put m this evening and landed Mr L. P. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, for 'medical attention. Mr Ayson, who is m charge of the trawling operations, metr with an accident, some weeks ago, from the effects o£ which he is still suffering. The trouble was aggravated by a fall on the deck of the vessel a day or two ago. He was attended by a doctor here, and later 'was able to continue the journey to Wellington m. 'v the, trawler. Captain McAllister reports that since leaving. Westport a week- ago. the trawler encountered heavy weather, but satisfactory hauls had been made. ; ' CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Webb, the champion sculler, who arrived from the North Island to-day, stated that the match with Tressider for the championship would foe rowed on the Wanganui river m February next. After doing some -preliminary practice, Webb intends to undergo t\vj»-'««*jpntbs' hard training. ,' v^ The 'Y.Mi.O. A. twelve V«/s' canvass for £15,000. for the erection of a large and up-to-date building for the " Association, closed to-night, when it was announced that the amount had been over-subscribed to the extent o£ £354. The amount col-)ected^6-day was £1739. The Canterbury Philosophical Institute, who are organising a seient-ific expedition to the Auckland Islands, have decided to invite Professor David, of Sydney University, to join the party as geologist. \ At a meeting of the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it was decided to protest against* the imposition of small fines when convictions were obtained against offenders. It was also re* solved to suggest that legislation should be passed prohibiting- th© shooting of live pigeons m matches. Reference was made to the practice of drugging racehorses for the purpose o£ giving them pace, and the inspector stated that such practice caused cruelty. It was illegal, and the society could proceed against offenders.

TTMARU, last night. Late to-night a fire broke out m Caldwell's block of buildings, m the centre of the business portion of Stafford street. The fire started m Kelly's tailor shop, which was completely burnt out. Caldwell's ironmongery and the stock m other shops m the block was slightly damaged by smoke nnd water. The brigade were very smartly on the scene, and though nthrst the fire looked eevious, it was soon got under. DUNEDIN, last night. A 6even-roomed house- amd outbuildings m Queen street, owned and occupied by Sydney Brake, builder, was completely destroyed by fire about 10.15 to-night. Mr Drake was the only person m the house at the time, and was sitting before the fire m the dining-rooniod and dozed off to' sleep, and woke up a few minutes later to fiiid the room filled with suffocating smoke, and he had to rush out of the house. Almost the next moment the building was enveloped m flames, and as the bouse wag on a hill, at a very high altitude, all the water that the fire brigade coulcl get to play on the building was nothing more than a trickle. The "house was insured m the Victoria office for, it is said, £350, and is valued at £900, ibeing; practically a new building. The furniture is insured m the New Zealand office, but the amount is not known. Nothing was saved, and the loss m this connection is estimated at over £300.

JNVEItOARGILL, las* night. In reference to the Auckland telegram re the probable sending of a Dominion team of bowlers to Australia, it should be stated that it has been already privately arranged to send a team of about 30 leading players, representing Christclrarch, Wellington, Waimate, Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore, and Invercargill, to Victoria and New South Wales next April.

Hie Court statistics for the quarter show a decrease m the number of persons charged and convicted for offenceg connected with the supply and receipt of liquor. Sixteen persons were convicted of drunkenness, 5 of offences directly traceable to drink, and 10 prohibition orders were issued, as against 32, 20, and 8 respectively m 1906. •■