NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 81, 25 March 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. Per Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. A test ease involving tlio question of infant adoption was decided to-day liy Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.il. Defendants were charged with having received in consideration of payment or reward and retained in their charge an infant for a longer period than seven consecutive days without being licensed as the foster parents. For the defence it was contended that no license of exemption was received as in the present case, solely for the benefit of the child adopted. The Magistrate convicted the defendants; but, as they had acted bona lide, a. nominal penalty of one shilling only was imposed. GISBORNE HARBOR.

Gisborne, Tuesday. The (.lisborne Harbor Board discussed reports prepared by Mr. Marchant, of Timaru, and Messrs. Coode and Matthews, of England, on the proposed new /harbor. Both were in agreement on the main features, but differed in detail. The cost will be about £400,000. Members agreed that the Board was in a position to undertake the work. It was decided to refer the schuiues to the shipping companies for their opinions. FARM PROSPECTS IN CANTERBURY. Christehureh, Tuesday. It has been raining since Thursday more or less. Reports from the country are jubilant. Pastures and feed crop's are showing improvement. It is still rti'iuing to-day. This is the first fab' of any consequence since October.

AN INTERESTING POINT. Gisborne, March 24T™ In the prosecution of a farmer for failing to cut blackberries, the point was raised that cultivated plants did not come under the law. Decision was reserved. AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.

Wellington, Tuesday. When the Civil Service Superannuation Act was passed, all tile temporary clerks in the service were placed on a permanent footing, and became .subject to a law which required them to either to join the superannuation fund or to insure their lives as provided bv the Act of 1893. The latter rule doe's , not appear to have been generally known, and a circular- was issued this ynonth drawing attention to it and insisting on the law being followed. As this involves deductions from salary, the circular has come as an unpleasant surprise to newly promoted temporary hands. RAID ON AN ALLEGED SLYGROGGERY. Tailiape, March 24. The. police raided a billiard-room at Waiouru, on the Main Trunk line, suspecting it to be a sly-grog shop. A prosecution will follow.

PERMANENCE OP RYE GRASS. Masterton, Tuesday. _ The rumor that rye grass is dying out in the Wairarapa does not, after careful inquiry, appears to have no foundation. A either the Agricultural Department nor the Crown Lands Ranger considers it likely, and several prominent farmers have confidence in rye and know nothing of its dying out. b

jerry-built houses. . m ,„ ~, , Auckland, Last Night. All the borough councils which met hist night declined to investigate the .trades and Labor Council's allegations us to jerry-built houses. A ROUGH PASSAGE. Auckland, Last Night. fm t^' 1 !"-' Kln P ri « l . which arrived loin Ldithsborough to-day, experienced boisterous weather on the 'passage which occupied 30 day,. A number 0 the jail* were damaged. The Empriza s- t S nd «T U ° !W,Bting ° f m to,ls of salt and 2o tons gypsum. NELSON ITEMS. , Nelson, Last Night. ' I-or some tune (here has ben, a "cling or uneasiness regarding the effie.e..o.v of the fire brigade amfils plant. 1ho■( ouncil has resolved to hold an in-Jl^-nlo .the ,v,,0,e „„es tioil ol flro Jif Nelson two distinct shocks of earllintmlce were experienced to-night, the first at 10.48 and the second, at 11.2.