NEW ZEALAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4440, 16 July 1887, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, July 15.

With respect to the am-iferous deposit recently discovered on the estate of Mr W. B. Smith at Waitoa, and regarding which Professor Hutton has reported favourably, Mr Smith leaves for the south to-day for the purpose of raising capital for the floating of a company to work the deposit. He also sends four samples of stuff for assay by the Geological Department at Wellington. The case against Charles Aitken, late ledger-keeper in the Bank of New Zealand, charged with forgery, was dismissed at the Police Court to-day, the cheque alleged to have been forged, not having been produced.

WELLINGTON, July 15. Sir Julius Vogel left for Lytteltfti this afternoon in the Hauroto.

The Compensation Court this afternoon awarded Mr Samuel Wood £250. The claim was for £ISOO as compensation for deprivation of sea frontage and consequent loss of trade owing to the construction of the Te Aro reclamation.

The premises- of Mr S. Hoffer, fancy goods dealer, were broken into last night, and jewellery valued at £4O stolen.

GREYMOUTH, July 15,

In various places in the Grey Valley large encroachments have been made on the banks. A large slice of Oobden Flat has disappeared, and the demands on the County Council for immediate expenditure are numerous, and many which are necessary will have to wait. The damage to the main Grey, bridge is estimated at £2OOO. Amongst the subscriptions to the relief fund is a private donation of five guineas from Sir Julius Vogel.

OHK BTCHUROH, July 16. Charles Brown was committed for trial at Lyttelton for the larceny of £lO from Henry Hansen. To-day a deputation waited on the Hon. E. Richardson, and requested that some arrangement might be made by which the families of men employed on relief works in country districts might be able to draw a certain proportion of their wages on account, so as to prevent them from having to come to the Charitable Aid Board for assistance as had occurred in a number of cases. The deputation asked that the old men employed in Hagley Park should be put to some different * work than drawing cartloads of earth, which they do at present, and that the wages of men on relief works should be paid oftener than monthly. Mr Richardson replied that arrangements were being made by which the families of men employed on relief works at a distance could draw a certain proportion of their earnings inOhristchurch; and that he was much opposed to putting men to the kind of work at present done by men in the park, but that the Public Works Department was not responsible, as the work was provided by the Domain Board. It would occasion great inconvience to the Department to pay men on relief works a long way from Christchurch ouce a week, but he would see what could be done, and had no doubt some arrangement could be made to pay those employed at Christchurch oftener.

DUNEDIN, July 16,

The new Chamber of Commerce, with a present membership of thirty-four, was fairly floated to-day. Mr Denniaton was elected President. About £2OO has been so far collected (or the Queen’s Jubilee Convalescent Fund.

A peculiar case came before the Resident Magistrates Court to-day. A man named Bennett sued C. Wilkins for £7O odd. It appeared from the evidence that Wilkins undertook to obtain a purchaser for Bennett’s bottling establishment, and received a reply to an advertisement from

a man named Sutherland, and arranged to go into the business with him. Wilkins paid Bennett part of the purchase money, and by arrangement gave a cheque for £45, which was to be returned. Bennett sued now on this cheque, and for other items. The magistrate, in giving judgment for £6 2s 6*l, money lent, said it was evident the cheque had been given with the purpose of working a fraud on Sutherland. It was perhaps superfluous to say anything, but he was sorry he had not the power to give both Bennett and Wilkins 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.