NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9189, 17 September 1891, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

ACTION AGAINST HOSPITAL BOARD. Auckland, September 16. The Supreme Court has been occupied for the past two days with an action for £100 damages brought by a labourer against the Hospital Board and Dr Collins, for unskilled treatment of a fractured leg. A model of the leg was produced, showing the bones overlapping instead of joining end to end. The case against Dr Collins was dropped, the Board only being sued. The defence is alleged contributory negligence. The case is still going on. AUCKLAND BOOT STRIKE > ENDED. The boot operatives' strike has virtually ended. The local Executive of the Bootmakers' Union has, decided to accept the employees' statement, and to allow the men to return to work. The reason given is the lack of funds to carry on payment to strikers. The strike lasted six months, and cost £6000. EARTHQUAKE IN CANTERBURY. Lyttelton, September 16. Two very severe shocks of earthquake were felt at 11.50 a.m., accompanied by a loud rumbling sound. RAILWAY SERVANTS' INSURANCE. Dunedin, September 16. An adjourned meeting of railway servants favourable to the establishment of an insurance scheme adopted the previous resolutions, with these alterations : — They retain a clause in the bill relating to sick pay ; separate tables for each of the benefits to be provided in the bill ; exployees to have no option in joining one or all, minimum time for which sick pay is paid to be not less than six months, and Timaru amendment respecting payment of death claims approved.

'\",te wfirrrs bankruptcy. At a public sitting of the Bankruptcy Court to-day (Thursday), Mr Samuel, as counsel for .the Deputy Official Assignee in the bankruptcy of Te Whiti, brought under the notice of the Judge the fact that Te Whiti had all along set the Court at dedance. He read correspondence with the Minister of Justice, showing that the whole of the facts had been submitted to the Minister, and that he had been made fully aware that there wore no funds, and that the Deputy Assignee had already incurred expenses to the amount of £10, and that the Judge had pablicly announced that it was absolutely necessary that steps should be taken to compel the bankrupt to obey the law as other persons were compelled to do. Tho Under-Secretary reply was also read, to the effect that at the present stage of the proceedings the Government does not feel justified in interfering in the matter. Mr Samuel pointed out that this meant that Te Whiti coula now safely continue* to set the law at defiance, and that his example would no doubt be followed by other bankrupts. His Honor reiterated the same statement as made on a previous occasion as to the necessity of pr. ceedings being taken to vindicate the law, and said that he had little doubt that the Government would eventually pay the Deputy Assignee's expenses. Mr Samuel replied that it would be wiser for that officer to resign his office, if necessary, rather than enforce the law at his own expense. This matter is of j great public importance, and will go far to weakon thr. authority of the law among Natives, and probably Europeans also.