NEW ZEALAND

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3787, 27 May 1885, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND

(Pbb Peess Association.)

Fire-

Napieb, May 27. A fire broke out at 430 a.m. to-day in the store shed at the back of Motley’s grocer and fruiterer’s shop in Emerson street. The brigade turned out with commendable alacrity with their engines, but for several minutes after their arrival little better thau a dribble of water could be obtained. Fortunately the store shed contained nothing very inflammable or else the adjoining premises must have been destroyed. When water was turned on, the fire was put out in a few minutes. The shed and its contents, cases of fruit, groceries, crockery, &c. were totally destroyed. The insurances on the shop and premises did not cover the store shed,

Attempted Suicide. A young man named Dixon rushed into the sea this morning apparently with a view to committing suicide. The incident being observed, three men rescued him without much trouble.

Dixon is a married man and has been in poor health for some time. Ho appeared to be suffering from melancholia.

The Maori Scare* Wellington, May 27. Colonel Roberts will bo appointed Resident Magistrate over the district lying between Woingongoroand Stoney River. Thus he will have civil as well as military jurisdiction over all the disaffected portion of the West Coast.

Waring Taylor’s Appeal CasesArgument in the second case Regina u. Waring Taylor, at the Appeal Court, was concluded yesterday morning. Judgment was reserved, and this being the last case the Court adjourned until Friday when judgment will be delivered.

Contagious Diseases Act* Cheistchuech, May 27,

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr Geetham, R.M., in sentencing two women of ill-fame, said he was sorry to see that since the operation of the Con* fagious Diseases Act bad ceased in Christchurch, there had been a considerable increase in public solicitation of prostitution which was not confined, as formerly, to well-known prostitutes but included young girls and married women. He considered that the sooner the Act was brought into operation again the better it would be for everybody. Gold Yield May 27The Premier Company at Maojtown have obtained 372 ounces of retorded gold from 550 tons of qnortz. Local Government Insurance Boards Objected to-

Ihveecabgill, May 27. B A meeting of policy holders in the Government Insurance Association was held last evening to consider the proposal to establish Local Boards in Christchurch, Auckland, and Dunedin. The following resolution was submitted. —“That this meeting is of opinion the business of the Government Insurance Association can best be administered by one central Board, both on the score of efficiency and economy, besides securing an uniformity of administration; it therefore disapproves of the proposal to establish Local Boards of Directors as being mischievous, extravagant and unnecessary. It was objected that the motion was too sweeping in its terms, and ultimately it was withdrawn in favor of the following, which was carried unanimously—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the proposal of the Central Board to create Local Boards in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin is premature, and further that before local Boards are established a vote of the policy holders should be taken on the subject. During the discussion it was stated that the meeting bad been called out of no spirit of antagonism to the Central Board, but merely to elicit the views of members on the matter, regarding which there appeared to be great diversity of opinion.