New Zealand Telegrams.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11658, 18 January 1901, Page 3

New Zealand Telegrams.

[PW PfcXBI ASSOCIATION. J '

THE COLCHESTER MURDER CASE

Wellington, January 17. The prisoner Lillywhite went into the box and ga?« the history of his life on the lines of what he had previously stated. He produced letters from America, a .Crown grant for land in Tacoma that he occupied before the murder, and a certificate of membership of the Painters and Decorators' Brotherhood of North America. He again denied that he waa the man wanted. During the luncheon, adjournment Lillywhite was shaved, ami the two English witnesses afterwards 'itated that after seeing him without his beard and hearing him give his evidence^ ibey were prepared to say that the prisoner was Blatch. Mr Bell, for the Crown, stated that he would tomorrow apply to the Deputy-Governor to have the warrant endorsed, and during the day would apply to the S.M. for the prisoner's committal to the English officials. The proceedings were then adjourned till the morning. Wellington, January 18.

Evidence in the Colchester case was concluded this morning and Mr Bell asked for the extradition of accused. Mr Skerreit raised technical objections as to the English depositions which bad been produced, and also maintained that evidence of identification was unsatisfactory and was answered by documentary proof that the suspect was Lillywhite, not Bl&tch.

THE ROYAL VISIT.

A number of representative Maoris waited on the Hon. J. 6. Ward to-day and mado a proposal for giving a great native welcome to the Duke of York on his arrival in the colony. The natives propose that war canoes shall be brought to Wellington, and that the leading chiefs shall welcome their Royal Highnesses in approved Maori fashion. Mr Ward promised to put the matter before the authorities when arranging the details of the Royal visit.

FJRB AT OISBORNE.

Gisborne, January 18. The furniture manufactory of Mr John Townley, Mayor of Gisborne, has been destroyed by fire. It was insured for £250 in Ihe Northern Office. The large stock of valuable contents was uninsured, and Mr*Pownley is a heavy loser.

AN INTERESTING FIVD.

(JItBORNE, January 18. Prufeshur Morris, of Melbourne CJnivereiiy, who is writing an Australian history of Captain Oc k. paid a visit to Cook's Core, Tolago Way. this morning. At a spring on the hillside, overgrown with sorub. he found a substantial oaken cask, which it is

thought might nave been placed there by the navigator. On the papa rocks, alongside another spring, are cut letters believed to be the initials of the crew of crew of Cook s vessel. LARGE FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Wellington, JanuarylS* Two three story warehouses in Willis-street-^thwe of Wriggiesworth & Binns, photographers, and the Singer Sewing Machine Co.— were totally destroyed by a fire which broke out at 5 o'clock this morning. The fire is presumed. W have started on the midflhi floor of Wriggleswortn & Bifinfc at the back. Luckily it w*s dead calm, and the Fire Brigade waR able to prevent the spread of the flames to the adjoining buildings. . The insnrance 6n Wrfegieswortn & Binns's building. <*w£e'd by Jacob Josephs, is £1600 tit tne Commercial Union, with r-e-fasurances of £200 in the London and Lancashire, £150 in the Victoria, and £500 in the South British. Tho Siti^fk building, also owned by Josephs, was in sured for £2500 ir> Ihe Commercial Union, and re-Insured to the extent of £2bo m the Sun, £250 in the Alliance. l £150 in the Standard, £200 in the London and Lancashire, £250 in the Australian Alliance. £250 in the Norwich Union, aud £250 in the Liverpool, London, an 1 Globe. The contents of Wriggiesworth & Binns's were insured for £400. in the Alliance, ana £160 in the Standard. The contents of Singer's are said to be i'nsnrwi ft a Sydney office.

AN UNREGISTERED PRACTITIONER.

George Scott wan fined £10 at the Magistrate's Court to-day for practising m«cteme without registration. His counsel stated that he was duly qualified, but his present name was not his real name, and for family Teasons it w«a inconvenient for, him f* recital just now. He was, in fact, a traveller who had fallen fe&& on his profession for temporary support. I AUCKLAND GOLD RETURNS, ! AtfCKLANn, January 17. The Auckland geM returns for 1900 reached a total o? £635,033, as compared with jrtsl,lso for 1899. The decrease is not to be taken as a sign of deterioration as it is more than accounted for by the fact that iv 1899 a large number of companies were engaged in ore treatment, moat of which during 1900 devoted their time to development, and consequently the output had more sources of supply in 1899 than in the year just closed. Details saow there is nt> sigh of falling-off in the returns from tn» great majority of the regular bullion ■producing mines, but that an excellent average is being maintained. The year has b&eh a very prosperous one-.