A CHILD ACCUSED OF – MURDER. BIRTHS. DEATHS. LATEST SHIPPING . LATEST SHIPPING. LYTTELTON. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING. EXPRESS PASSENGER LIST. LOCAL AND GENERAL. CITY EDITION. IMPURE BEER. COMMERCIAL. ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. WRECK OF A STEAMER. ACCIDENTS AND SEA. A BOATING ACCIDENT. DROWNING FATALITY AT NEW BRIGHTON. MINING. LAWN TENNIS. THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA IN PURSUIT OF DE WEST. THE REPULSE OF A BEER ATTACK. OPPERATION IN THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL. THE AMEER ON BRITISH SUCCESSES. ' THE NETHERLAND AND ARBITRATION. RETURNING TROOPS. GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS. DEATH OF TROOPER SMITH. FIRES. THE CRISIS CHINA. A WARNING. AMERICA'S LATEST DECISION. WELLINGTION MANSLAUGHTER CASE. CONFERENCE OF MAORI STUDENTS. THE POSTEL DEPARTMENT. LAND SETTLEMENT. THE JUBILEE EXIBITION. BOWLING. PERSONAL SPORTING. AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH. AUSTRALIA. A SERIES OF CHARGES. SUPREME COURT.. DUNEDIN NEWS. SCHOOL COMMITTEES. OPERA HOUSE. CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 69701, 7 December 1900, Page 2

A CHILD ACCUSED OF - MURDER.

BIRTHS.

DEATHS.

LATEST SHIPPING .

LATEST SHIPPING. LYTTELTON.

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING.

EXPRESS PASSENGER LIS T.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

CITY EDITION. IMPURE BEER.

COMMERCIAL.

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

WRECK OF A STEAMER.

ACCIDENTS AND SEA.

A BOATING ACCIDENT .

DROWNING FATALITY AT NEW BRIGHTON.

MINING.

LAWN TENNIS.

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

IN PURSUIT OF DE WEST.

THE REPULSE OF A BEER ATTACK.

OPPERATION IN THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL.

THE AMEER ON BRITISH SUCCESSES. '

THE NETHERLAND AND ARBITRATION.

RETURNING TROOPS.

GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS.

DEATH OF TROOPER SMITH.

FIRES.

THE CRISIS CHINA.

A WARNING.

AMERICA'S LATEST DECISION.

WELLINGTION MANSLAUGHTER CASE.

CONFERENCE OF MAORI STUDENTS.

THE POSTEL DEPARTMENT.

LAND SETTLEMENT.

THE JUBILEE EXIBITION.

BOWLING.

PERSONAL

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

AUSTRALIA.

A SERIES OF CHARGES.

SUPREME COURT..

DUNEDIN NEWS.

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

OPERA HOUSE.

CYCLING.

.*ei^*£sS^*».*. wife „G. W. Deal of a son. „ ... tferton, Wadrarapa, the wife of Mr Alex. , M'Bky. of a itoß. • WEmHT.^Ben. «, 4t fchristchurch, th* wife cf Geo. F. son.

♦ — ■ SECOND ARREST PROBABLE IN TEffi PENZANCE CASE. A very pathetic scene was -witnessed in. PenzanCo (England) on Saturday, Oct. 21, • when, in a crowded Court, Fanny Maddera* twelve years of age, was again pfoeed itt the dock, charged- with the murder of h'tt" brother William, aged seven. The allegation is that she pushed ban Jftto the harbour at Newlyn. The little girl was in a. most pitiable, condition, «nd froflft the moment the Magistrate's Clerk called b«* name until the close of the proceedings, sbsfe. sobbed bitterly. She is a small girl, and scarcely looks her age. When seated in the dock, at'flie sio> of her father, only her white Bailor cap was visible above the rail. : Contrary to expectation, the prosecuting, counsel offered no evidence, but applied for. a further remand. It was, he said, a fnosfc painful, and certainly a most extraordinary,: case, but. at present he did. not feel justdfie&i in going. further into it. . , The sensational incident in the short pro-' ceedings was prodded when counsel re-' marked that it was possible, and not. im-' probable, that he would have to indlude another person in the charge jointly with tha accused girl. The remand was granted, and the girl, ; who cried hysterically, was led out of Court by a police inspector.

. ;^ll*2S^i*?£^Jlai^S?<toSS?« •S^SMT&'&ra ILADI)£3Ieo. 8, 1J», at Ml lite teiideiio., iiitofeirsVa"°aSsS ; NlTHenryEdwaM Lake, eldest and dlarly ■ s&uf, sb fflWssr^* ot . late of F Brigade, Royal Artillery, India, !• SStiS- SSS" -*

-.ii™ 's^^^^lli^^^^Sfi^S !SSr, i^te. Passes-Misses eS Iwards, Horning, Ballih, Duncan, O'Loughlin iß^^woSi^BlJ^JSrSS ;and infan^ Allan Ronald, M'Gowan and St^tS£TS^&SHIS^BZ i^O«^fr«??^:BS2l,BSl: JMa^e QMBAa-ttd koSU, and twent^ ftfK^BtS ton, Nevill. ;£rdnt WelHrtgtdu. Unidn SteaWahip Company, jaSfeSBBSrSSS.-SS!- Si jßroto, CapUin Bone, Hum Soobl., J.ok»on J_X Compaay, agents • n*, -Aru- • SAIL?^I * c• , , 'ifdK'tete vt^ntWn2iSf n?T,,?PinJf' f °r .^S^^U^SS^^B^ dan«.Misseß M. Graham aM Brown, Mesdaines Z^^^JZlfS^A '.fcnSJTrtJl^ Wattß> AT? H> ThonMon. •Bands (2), Harria and Watts.

' ***-***, Btoamo?LS'p? rT-Cnal-men. «...««»«» »«»m ±-ort Ohul- '

Amved-Rfttfikmo,^froto. Aiacklhnd. Th« V,-htn,.;.-o «, FREMANTLJ 3. Dm. -7. a« ImmlTt^X Men^ ( t r %?" ealaild r«V7nd 4"c and Mrs BTdLn 1- 11011 T< F"" Mrs Bullen.

ipSaSS-&i. s'Sl J^fflT" D^^» iIS: fflta A 1 ? ??'*^. 188 FJ- RoB8 ' >D. Yule and a.^JohnTto? ' J'Y"le 'B> Biohards, Rev F. Chapman DD fN«w :SSAlvlAß>>J lr on. d Mr 9 Masaey, Mr H. p. p ar 7 Sdd%%^ D- M>G"'. Messrs MJ! yodd, F, r, c ampton j. Roland — =■■

» #J ■tt? drt«?«*V* Dunaandel held a picnic ■!J en fch^ W€nt *> Itffctelton P by a SKii^^l^?^^lo-*^* prooeeded thence, to the number of iW to Governor's Bay by Mes^rT Agar and .amomasfl trteam Jaunchet. .^dneßSTOay bring its reward in heaven *ut it does not always do so, on earth A 'lady who had taken in and tended a mi' RB™ ;ble little dog with a brokenleirwlTtT^l Magtetrate^ Court this Irntg Sed 10s *nd costs for not having registered it In consequence nf Ln I \- -11^ .BJusScST;iTlMtiS 11" V"8,011? 1 op«*g «f a ,o»m in ti, B °S,TtS fte btneat of anaU cWHren in th« li«S mers,J.P. AnEastlndkn whoatfiwif; from Dunedin by the s.B. Waikare. g : School bein P g ie^PZl •tody, ? S of opinion tha.t, if suffiS .nMtom denied thotenaug, ifc«« would *I*> be rofflcieni rcagoriß fol. itg re.o ni a Btate school. gaßa fiiderably increased, and the official have been almost tumbling over each other for want of proper office^ccommStionVSs ™ma*J^h/s}to§^l£. •providted in the Legislative CouncTparto^ the Parliamentary Buildings. P : Colonel Gordon, the commanding officer .of the district, has given permtafoi toe? Volunteers under his iurisaiction to talft part, in the military manoeuvres at Championship R«SrCa?iSv'iT on D.r. *er will constitute the "victim." - N • The question of mm a,nd means came tetmJLm^rt^^g^jSi .•dndstx.hurch School Cojn^ttee la^t nighit. aeprat*tio!n fromtha comonittee should' wait up«a the Premier, and .poiirt oat ttot % , vaßimpossible to carry out tne affairs of 4k* &&£%_£ gdiwation Board. It waa «feo resolyed to d^ai^.oilherciiyselioolot^.titoof^e «mhi opinion to be represented on *he <teF l™* l^Celebrateithe Jubilee by getting a new E We confidently recommend the Sips^ beUsi lubriSn?? iS R. ?{. 5 machineaßmrio^.^S-- -«^ ci .'i nd fa, S, i,i sandwzes at clearSfi P7£? ■•*!. Zealand Cyde Co., the D.1.0., and 226, High Y_£n«. «.*.._«» ,v X1916. rS"_S.IS.X. lb- X"5K "5^ 7 2 ' ImUI Mduotten at Ktacaid'. Q. 1.0. wJ^in™ ~ * t X2547 Wedding presents. Large assortment Btery^g marked in plain figures We defy competition. Pletoher Bros Direct Importers, High Street, Christohnrch jjjggg Enjoyment of cycling depends largely «pon a machine being fitted with reliable tyjes. Idenl tyres are thoroughly reliable, give every^ satisfaction, and carry a liberal

cSS^tt^^l^ S cursion fa- this morning.

'"•"•SUSSSai"-* 1 * (Received Dec. 7, 10.19 a mY) ™™°*. £• * curred from thinking poisonous beer during L°"* *"•" *" br6""dM "*

4 ™>a P« 8a A^oo^-By Electric . _ (Received Dec. 7, 10.19 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 6. J£ A-erican visible supply of wheat is 86,591,000 bushels.

«R"-d fi LONDON, Dec. 6. Ti»-^«»—-«-*-.. i. _. thick night,' vrm iweoked Mar Cwtam, in of^™^

Received Dec. 7, 11.26 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 7. Tie crew of the ship Occident, which; was o-ed at sea, have arrived in Sydney, by The steamer Naming, which recently brok. down, has arrived here. "

REAUCKLAND° N Dec 7 ' » fißherma^ named Kasore and a lady named Miss MLean was capsized three miles off the shore. Rasore put the lady on the bottom of ihe boat ' md to Swim ashore and was downed. Miss °'clock °n M°nday moming-

THE BODY STIDENTIFIED. Shortly after seven o'clock last night, it was reported to Constable M'Glone, stationEd at New Brignton, that the body of a man had been washed ashore on tne belch, about two miles to the north,'of the oier «-*«. secured Mr A. H Wyatt's van, and went to the spot, where he found, just below high-water mai'k, the body of a man ' **"! dtessed in black astracaa coab and vest and tweed trovers, but the boot, and socks were missing. The deceased had apparently been but a very short time in the water, and there was, aC? overJ*tf ¥ fc e y«..JhicVwf rau? swollen ' and Dl6od Was Btall «°«»ng from th« wound when tho body was found. The deceased apparently about thii-ty.five ?™» « *&> <* Mr ™&™™> *& Mr curly hair and a heavy moustache. There was nothing on the body by which it could be identified. It was taken to the New *Be identit/ot th. decked. «^. "I™ h. ««xjl«d_tl.e E^t Bel*, tie frontlfork of tie midMne gave TOy. He son ™ Mr^John WrfSft of Se Riw7

P*« **** Assocxation.] DimBDIN, Dec. 7. . Sales on.ihe Dunedin Stock Exchange:Electric Emended 225, Ms 3d and fflf 3d, Fourteen-mile Beach 31s 6d, Grand Junction 9d. NeUon Creek 435, Bifrhards's Beach !20a! Roxb"rßh J«bilee 2s 6d,. Wareatea 3s, la 6d, 2s and lsA^U^ aret<vday 8 quotations of A?i &&IT^l^St<!SUlZ:~?uyeri--20 8 Grevßiver^ t«??t me S?l£Px%l$ tA s^^ ff'^mS^LfodSS 6d, Golden United 6d, Grey S Extended Is, Grey Monarch Is fld. Perritfs J«^f 3d, Reefton United Is 3d, Waiora i ß> ter8 f na Consols Is 6d, Waipuna Creek Jacks, SuihvansLead. The aw-IwT" JJS^&^^S?^^^ «^^B tons of concentrates Wedby'thi ' T the ™ t Wi ck" The gol<l show" The %T atto D^lT TB" »'* * . the El Sado Poi7h • sfca^ cs that i^iw«^fa^c?^ tf£ a £S between Eoclclands Beach and the 5d SS ginga claims) We had the goodLfortunffo ««iuire conttacts nearibg completion, at an extremely satisfactory figure, for a dredge to 4heir claim. The Bucklerburn Dredgc"ntr32"" 1 iTiJ'*loll'"W ™r ?i h red Se 8ho«w bo irking S;!^' Th 6( oi(l Di?TO'Company ,re b™Wing their pontoons, and when the Mokoia higher up) gets another'start, things should b 6 extremely brisk on tho Buller during the cdming year.

The followrtig are the namts of the Victorian tennis players who propose to visit Representative Team-Messrs A. W. D«nlop, S- R Diddams, E. Waters, L. Saxon and H. V Keßn- « The following are to.play in the handicap Tto^Fuß^en^Tl ?' DuSf^ 1 'oi\f , layer"lia/e Stiniattl their desire to play with some oYtho K ladies in the Combined Handicap, and have

A SPIRITED fUMING MOVEMENT. a rand rifle corps. perverse pastors. t-m>TTZ t TV7r.cn> DATVTTk nnivr GJ__ 8 ' LONDON, Dec. 6. Colonel Pilcher, in a battle on Dec. 4, . ' spiritedly Outflanked De Wets right, enabling General Knox to expel the Boera fron, aII theiv positions, and drive them northward.. Twenty thousand Rand Rifles are being y t(> of volu_teer ing for defence purposes. They are intended TtZt^^co^l^uZntZ SS a P throughout the °f »* ***** *"» «** condition of peace: . a__-d»»-7.10«) Pour tandrca Afrikander Bond delegates, ParliamentwiUa.tendtheCongressatWorcester, Cape Colony.

O^. mrt-.«-.0-,-.-n PRECAUTIONS AT WORCESTER. „«, n-n.DrPAwns iv THE DUTCH INHABITANTS ANNOYED. .^^ " * tack of 200 Boears, killing «be. Lcxd Roberts received an ovation at Dur-( Deaths from enteric—Sergeant M'Gowen, Victorian and Private Morris of the of the Victorian ana i-nvate .uoms, oi t-ne New South Wales Bushmen. Detacknente of Canadian artillery and So^W*.!-*-. encamped on tie ** A"^ ""^ tween the Australians and a local team had to be postponed, owing to the troops not being allowed to enter *he town. The Dutch residents are incensed at the British BWrtll1 I f.nn, th« mmmmmawi Precautions, especially at the guns commandthe meeting place of the forthcoming ccoigress. ■' ___--_____---_-_,

-(Received Dec. 7, 11.46 a.m.) General French, operating in the Eastern , „ irM _ , , _ Transvaal, expelled 500 Boers from the Losberg district, and captured many prisoners thousands of cattle. - ■ fr

(Received Dec. 7, 10 a.m.) rATPTTTTAT» o a CALCUTTA, Dec. 6.

THE HAGUE, Dec. 6. Tll.p Mm:..^rt „,k , . „ ™able to foresee the psychological moment Tllß rpnj:ftll „ ■ n , '^ i , Boers and tJiereb, endangered Portugal's' a™^ble relations witk Britain.

,;* „ Jhe; Sopaocleti brought eateen returned officers and seventy-four men, including the lowing New Zeaiknder,:-Lieutenant STSu loTfte^^^ T'Tf J?^ tOn tie Mounbed Infantry). The Mayor «iui a number of iprwnment citazeiw c^d the m,n at . tQic To^vn Hall, and *tey entertained at night ait the'bartracks. The Omrah also brousrht a number «f fr2Z ™l7hZ hT wr^ * v

A TRIBUTE TO THEIR CONDUCT. TPer Press Association 1 l wSIS™ dL 7. Mr Seddon fcas received the foUcwing ried the enemy's position after the Yorkshire and Irish infantrY had been reputed" Mr Seddon received the followScS B *e^Jel^So^(&oSOSffi.DS 6:-" Whilst deeply grieving at the deafh of our gaUant men on Nov. 29, lam pleaded to say that the doctors inform me thatthev anticipate no danger to life op limb amongst the. twenty-one wounded on the same day, except No. 418, Robert Edward tingents were despatched. He is a son of Mp E. Oppenheim, of Oxford Terrace, Christdhuroh.

IKUUII^. mMa^^^K&L. from Crotein; Criirttay, statins tliot

[PER Pr£SS A^SpSS Dec 7 , .1, . iU* ■ An imoccupiM four-room^ cottage owned by Mr F. Nicholls, was totally destroyed to. nwr^, nnd an adioining C°ttUge ' °CCU?If d ??" Ml ', W< Readl "?' f^ T Mr Nicholtes houee was meured m the lm-

,-n A FRESH OUTBREAK PKE" ' TiTPTim »___»• KKAPPEARANfTI'! OF POKER . fL™milT, ,r. ,-«mf7T. TrTO nn,wc<> THErI™ E pnwr« ROT ©«rtea Pww Aasoodatien-By ElechM HONO KONa:;i. 6. (Received Dec. 7, 10.19 a.m.) Boxer placards have re-appeared in Ti«nt«Tientsin. ~«^ P^ at Court and tlw troops for those of Tung-fuh-siang. Ll Htm S Chang states that Shil-li-harig, fte new Governor of Shansi, has publicly tie Boxer leaders, and is prot^ting the missionaries. ■

-d the exemplary punishment of the rinsleaders, and an acknowledgment of ifc. ._„_, „_, Chinese to pay - in4emnity prior to opening lip negoti.tions for ■ ( WDNEY Dec 7 *.??,• r ■ 1 «h, SeVen men J bers the China Contingent have returned invalided.

j ■ N DEFERRED [pTpk^ SS WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. When the ca.e of Mi-s Henderson, found mated that he could not see hia way to reserve the point raised for the defence as to { deceased &Jrl' s deßOsi. tions Sent6nce unffl to. tn.rrow. .'■

»■ - [Fkk Pkes, Assoc^.T ' WANGANUI, Dec. 7. A conference of Ie Aute students, past and present „, -being held at the Putiki Pah, just outside the town. The object of t^^^S^^Z^l^^ to tne bßtterment ot the race, as viewed by are Archdeacon Williams, Mr Thornton (principal of the college), and Mr Ngata, an Auckland barrister. Politics are being disenssed Ihis afternoon. The question of liquor in the King Country will be conside£ d to-morrow anorning. In the evening the visitors will be entertained at the Collegiate School. '

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. The penny postage rate, which will come will alia begin on to. 1. l4 e ntyScvcu

♦ KAIKOURA, Dec. 7. Section 1, Robert Fleming, Cheviot; Sec.Boyd, ■ Kaikom-a.

NOTES. One exhibitor with a nice conwderation feZ feeing^^ of IcertaiJ eLs of voters, Sf.J °any oT hS' bots «T S y are a£ away any of these bo^s, as they are all emPjy- „,. J^h sSombo"tas ? f the&ndol^ Avenue was busy last "*?' 3; n „ "IS, of tlas and e7enm? «»tnoutong samples oi was anu P^Pfr handkerchiefs. me vases were stolen whie sateen ana a, half dozen of the onnstcnurcn i\mst:iy Company's rose blooms were also stolen.

An eight-rink match between the Christr church and CanterDury Bowung Clubs wil be played to-morrow at 3 p.m. There mil be four rinks on each green.

Captain Bone arrived from Wellington by the ss. Tarawera this morning. D ie Stewart, and Messrs W. Wavdell and WH ' Cufiten were passengers by the «n,rfl, VxnreM this morninir" south expiess tins morning.

„. . d d( . . a b church by H. Thomson, who leftior Melbourne this morning.

THE IMPERIAL REPRT^w vta Trim CORPS. . THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL __. EEJUMESSAGE TO THE AUSTRALIAN '""^tISSSSgr* 1— (Beceived Dec 7 10 iq »«, \ l™rSL 6. representative corps will probably W« »»«•• i- !-- i corted by H.M.S. Royal Arthur. Earl Hopetoun left; the foUowing message for the neoule of Australia- «Tt « J*fc tZiiJZ * i Aust J aJia ;;— »1S J_^ deeply consciox. that a responsibility S upon my shoulders in that I have been selected as the first representative of Her Majesty in this great Commonwealth. I regret that I should reuch its shores with, my health temporarily impaired, and I reP* •!« that a serious illness from which -w -rcifully recovering, prestored to hek and be able to Jvc our best energies, both mental and physical, to •j-^-.-jM*. -«-«■—^ r«P=« Md l»ve. . AustraUa. The years fpe f , ere «» happiwt of .hi» life, He add«d that atWaSagreatdelight to Great Britein th _ Cf)lonieg had e_te^ Unionj (Received Dec. 7, 11.46 ,ffl.) , MELBOURNE, Dec. 7. The Government will «, 500 troops, representative of the various branches of the service, to Sydney for the Federal celeJ™^' 10° Wh ° retUrned

United Press Association-^-By Eleolrio -- • Telegraph-Copyright. (Received Dec 7 1141 am^ V DolfEsS'o TRAPfSv A DOMESTIC TMGm parrel took place between a married couple named O'Hey, and their daughter, Ix> protect her mother, shot her fatner with a re^ volver. The victim died in a few hours. VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT. MELBOURNE, Dec. 7. In the Legislative Assembly, the Old Age Pensions Bill and a Bill to reduce the m ™ )° reauce «c hZheTi^lluZ^ 7'^' na\e oeen introduced. . Thfi p™L£™ °ABLE, ' rhe after going through the documents in connection mth the negotiations with the Eastern Exten«on Cable Company over the Cape TaWe *„_-,,„ +1 „ , p aDle> favo"rs the granting of the company's deman ?' and has strongly recommended the Cabinet to sign the agreement. '

TSRTTT\tp hw vatttpt^' JSSUI&G OF VALUELESS CHEQUES, a™«t^~7" - wi™u|'^ill£■ "J? . »v » dWrtn, ol tt,K^ Se MhUnJ to£ mint :^ That after cashiM ftieiw'SS. Chmtchurch, the particulars of the offence, trol render it necessary that ray whole life ?o?any 0311^ avocation K?l"S Jljed Dr of Cao-igt-chSch and sevei'al phrSns state that SSL is 1 hoZ of effeSs a cure I whilst provision is made for persons afflicted wth permanent blindness, there are no institutions suitable to the the onlj^alternatU cf starving in the sfcreets sto voluntarily md deliberately commit crime, for the express purpose of getting into gaol. The Cooler, ifGH, knows the facts of the ca*e, and I have no doubt will corrobwate this statemient to R it is "foreign to my motive to set forth that there are any causes which, the man was deaf, and he had been conncted severtJ time« previously. Kennedy had him that he had formerly beea a lttJsS!fllS Jv^Trvstal said he had onhspector Ellison in regard to the case, and get him to have further mouines made. Chief-Detecave Chrystal said that InsnecW ElWwa, out oMown aad would not return tiU to-morrow mght. His Honor said that he would see Mr El-ison on Monday morning. Meantime, tno P"soner would be remanded till 10 aim. on Saturday, Dec. 15.

— i — — ♦■< „. CIVIL SITTINGS. . Friday, Dec. 7. The civil sittings o(f the Supreme Court were resumed at 10 a.m. to-day, before his Honor Mr Justice Martin. JAKINS AND BOWEE V. UNION, STEAMSHIP COMPANY. Thia was an action brought by George S. Jakins and William Bower against the Union Steamsh;p Company, Limited, claiming £166 6s 10d) damages. ■■-..-. Mr Strimiger appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Beswick for tiie defendant com 1 pany. The statement of claim set out that, on or about Junte 8, 1899, the plaintiffs delivered to the defendants 724 sacis of onions, to be safely, and! with all reasonable despatch, and by direct route, carried in the steamship Talune from Lytteltan to Sydney, amdi the defendants, in consequence of the payment by the plaintiffs of certain freight and Charges, undertook and agreed to carry the *aid onions in tibe manner mentioned. In breach of its eaid Tmd«rtakin>g and agree- ! •menifci the defendant company carried the onions from Lyfetelton to Norfolk Island, in oomeequence of which the voyage of the Ta.hune was greatly delayed, and the onions became damaiged, atfdl were delivered at Sydney in Ibad 1 ordter and' condition, to tlve loss and <Uim»ge of ifae plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, therefore, prayed for judgment for £166 6s lOd. The statement of defence gave a general denial of the preliminary paragraphs of the statement of claim. For a further defence, the defendant company said that if it did undertake to carry for the plaintiffs from Lyttelton to Sydney any quantity of onions as alleged, the same were received by the company to be carried tinder a special contract between the plaintiffs and defendants, and subject to certain jußt and reasonable conditions, contained in the contracts. Three of those conditions were : — (a) Steamers to have leave to deviate from any advertised route for any purpose, or to touch and stay at other ports either in or out of the way, to tow and assist vessels in all situations, and to sail with or without pilots ; (b) The company is to be at liberty to carry the goods to their port or destination by the withinimentidhed or other .steamer or steamers, ship or ships, either belonging, to itself or to other persons, proceeding by any route, and whether or indirectly, to such port ; (c) fruit, . Ehrubs, trees, meats, game, oysters, vegetables, and all kinds of perishable property, to be carried on deck or below at shipper's risk. Further, the cpmpany said that if the onions arrived at Sydney in a damaged condition, it was owing to their bad condition when shipped. Mr Stringer, in opening the case for the plaintiffs, said that the claim arose out of the voyage on which the Tdlurie picked up the disabled steamer Perthshire. It was contended, on behalf of the plaintiffsi that in consequence of the delay in landing the onions at Sydney, they had become damaged, and when sold had resulted in a loss. Of the number of sacks mentioned, 300 had been shipped to the order of a Sydney firm, but they had been rejected on account of their condition. It was argued by the defendants that they were justified in making a deviation, but Mr Stringer said ho ventured to think that .that was not law. If that were the case there would be ho limit to the deviation a vessel might make j she might go in search of the North Pole. He understood that Captain Spitiks, who had been called as a witness, had to sail from Lyttelton that morning, and his friend wished to call him at once. He himself was quite agreeable to that course being adopted. Christopher SpinkSi now captain of the Mokoia, stated that in June, 1899, he was captain of thfe Talune. On the voyage on which the Talune picked up the Perthshire, she left Lyttelton on June 8, .and Wellington on June 9. The usual trip from Wellington to Sydney was about four and a-half days, but on th^s occasion the Talune did- hot reach Sydney until June 19, a Monday, between 7 and 8 a.m. The Perthshire had broken down, and had been so long at sea that there was danger of loss of life. When they picked up the Perthshire there was a light head wind, but after that they met gales. When sailing^north, they only went to the edge of the Tropics, but on. board ship the difference in temperature would not be noticed until one was well in the Tropics. The hatches tare off more or less the whole Voyage to let the draught into the hold. He did not think that on this particular voyage there was any increase of temperature, which would affect the onions. To Mr Stringer: It was in Wellington that he received instructions to go in search of the Perthshire. The ordinary advertisement was inserted announcing the sailing of the Talune for Sydney, via Wellington! When he left Wellington he decided to steam in the direction of Norfolk Mand. When they were at Norfolk Island the weather was a little wanner than when they left Wellington, but it was hardly perceptible. They should have arrived in Sydney on Wednesday, June 13, on an ordinary trip. Mr Stringer then proceeded to call evidence for the plaintiffs. George S. Jakins, member of the firm of Jakins and Bower, stated that he had been making shipments of onions to Sydney for 'a number of years. He was in Sydney in 1899, from March 30 to June 10, looking after the shipments arriving. He had read the evidence taken on commission in Sydney as to the condition of the onions arriving by the Talune. A shipment arriving in Sydney by the Waikare a week b>6re the Talune landed there in good condition. In June they never shipped onions to ' Sydney by way of Auckland, on account of the lengthened voyage, and in a deviation of six days, every day would make a dif* ference in the quality of the onions. He was not in Christchurch when these onions were shipped, but had he known that this deviation was proposed, he would not have shipped onions •by that steamer. Of the onions sent by the Talune; a line of 300 gunnies had been sent to the firm of Bridge and Co., who had rejected them, and had made a claim of £38 8s 3d on the plaintiffs for loss sustained by them. A shipment of onions had been sent by the Mokoia, which reached Sydney two days after the Talune. These had completed Messrs Bridge and Co's order, and they had been accepted without complaint. The arrival of the Mokoia's shipment so soon after the Talune's caused a glut in the market. Evidence was .given by William Bower* George B. Joss, produce sampler, Hemiy John Tisch, fawner, awdi Chanies Hobbfc, storeman. in Christckurc'h for the CSTfe."nr Zealand Loan and 'Ms* cantiie Agency Cojapany, as to the condition of t*h,e onions Wore shipment. E. D. Willc&x, produce merchant, also gave evidence. Mr Stringer put in the evidence taken on commission in Sydney, and with 'that closed his cast. Ma* Beswick said nliat, apart from questions of law, the defence was that these onions, or the greater part of tihean, had been in such a condition that they were not fib to be shipwjei. Out of about fifteen shippers, Messrs Jakins and Bower and' Willcox were the only ones who had made any com.plaint. Alexander Rhinid, produce -sampler at Lyttelton, stated that he had rejected some of the onions shipped by the Talune, from a previous vetael, on account of Meters Wood Bros. • William Jone*, nurseryman, stated that he bad made experiments in regard; to the length Of time in which onions would 1 germinate. On Nov. 22 he had put an onion in a hothouse, the temperature Of which ranged from 52deg at night to 92d«g in the daytime. The onion was syringed, daily when the other plants were syringed, the heat in the house thus being a moist heat. The witness pi'oduced the onion and cut it open, showing thnt the sprout had only now formed, and would be tnrowgb in about four days. The time of germination de^ pended a great deal on the manner in which they had beeft harvested. If the onions Were in good condition when ehidtoedi at

Lyttelton they could not make sprouts in a voyage, of eleven days. Thos. Turner, seedsman and practical gardener, stated that he had put an onion into a hothouse on Nov. 24, and had taken it out that morning almost as sound : as when it was put^in. If the onions/had been properly harvested, and shipped in good condition, they would not have shown sprouts one or two inches in length. William James Milher, Railway Clerk at Lyttelton, and George Porteous, AssistantStoreman. at the Lyttelton Harbour Board's store, also gave evidence. Percy Mason, produce clerk in £he employ of the Canterbury Seed . Company, stated i that his firm had shipped onions by the Taltrae on June 8, 1899, for Sydney, Newcastle aid Townisville, and had had no complaints. Herbert J. Bowlker, clerk in the eminloy of Kaye and Carter, stated that that nVm had also shipped onions by tlhat trip for -Newcastle, and they had had no complainlfcs from the purchasem. Evidence was also given by Hugh. G. M'Clatchie, freight clerk in the Union Ompuny's office at ChristohuTch, and Poier Ealem, stevedore. Charles Ho>bbs, George R. Joes and Georite S. JaScins were recalled. The last-named stated that the onion produced by Mr Turner was not the onion of commerce as sapped to Sydney. ' This closed tho evidence. [Per i?Bfiss Association] WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. The case of John Clancy, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm, is being tried to-day.

[Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Dec. 7. .William Woebling, master of the ship Alexa, pleaded guilty, in the Police Court, this morning, of arriving at Dunedin with his ship bo loaded as to submerge .the PJims'qJl mark. As the Collector of Customs did not press for a heavy penalty,. a fine of £5 with costs was inflicted. Peter Laing, for carrying a quantity of sawn timber on the deck of th© schoonier Isabella Anderson, without first obtaining the permit of the Collector of Customs/ was fined 40s and costs. James White and Frank Matson were charged, on renia'nd, with attempting to steal £110 from Joseph, Auberly Braithwaite in." tie Bank of New Zealand. The case is proceeding.

A meeting of the East Christchurch School Cotmimi.ttes> was 'held' in the edhoolroom last evening ;. present— Messrs J. R. Brunt (chairman), <*•• F. Henry, J. D. Perry, T. G. St-ieunge, S. Clarke.. G. E. Franklin, T. E. Fr.aser, D. Lumisd'en. and A. Marshall. A quantity of cowespon'dence : was dealt •with. It was decided to ask the Board! to improve the di % aina>ge at the caieta'ker's cottage, aiiid also to connect tine Phi'lipstown School with the mam sewer. The question of organising fire alarm -da-ill was. referred' to the Visting Committee, to coiifeit with the head master. '■ The head master's mooiit-hIT repbi-b ishowed! tth© 'roll number to be WOS, aiid a.n airera-ge attendance of 1170. It was reported that the Board intended painting the scOicol buildings during the Chri?bmai3 holidays, and also enlarging one of the class rooms. It was resolved to -ask the Board for some new desks -nihakfe these im.provements were being carried out. It was resolved; that six weeks' hfliidiay should, be granted, from Dec, 14. The Visiting Committee reported on various matters, statifiig that 'the general appearance of both school premises was very good. The Ballh Go-rninitUe -stated that further improveahents and reipaire to the bath premises were being carried. our. A Bainbei' of accounts were pais^dl for payment. A deputation, oonsisitin^r of the Chain-nan, Messrs. Eraser a,"nd Fa-aTMin, was appointed to wait on. the Premier 'to ui-ge upon him the necessity for an increase in the cap'tatipn .gramt, in order thafthe current liabilities for the ecteool mamt«n!a.nce might be wet* I* V^s resolved to forward to th& Boai-cli an emphatic protest aigaiirist the suggestion that the South BeTt School should be leased to a denomanational (body, -the ."committee, bemlg of the opinion thait, if the demand 1 for its use' for denominational education exists, the necessity for iie-<ipenir..g if for Sbaite ediicataon is even more urgent. It was decided' to again wait upo,n the Bbaard relative to the ecftool beino- re-openedj for infant classes. SSleesrs Strata, Perry and Fraser were appointed the ' Vkifihg Committee for mo ensuing nionth. ..

— __->^ List night Dixs Gaiety Company had a full house. Mr Tom Leonard, the popular comedian, his audience -with his business. The Williams quartette, as usual, was one of the features of the programme. Miss Flo, Williams mad© a great hit with her marvellous one-wheel ride. Mr Arthur Ha'hn Miss Ida Clarisson, Mr Bob. Hall andi Mr Joe Dane all gave items. To-night wijl be the last appearance of Mr Tom, Leonard.

— — — ♦ A meeting of the committee of the Christchurch Cycling Club was held last evening; present— Messrs W. F,. Thompson (in the chair), J. Boyd, G. Martin, R. Beveriidge flojd J. Broom. Mr Sutherland ■mote. forwarding an enlarged photograph of himself, taken before his trip to Paris, to be placed in tihe clubroom. The tender of the Lyttelton Brass Band was accepted for the club's Wheel Race meeting. It -was decided to make the meeting a three-days' one. the first day on Saturday, Dec. 15, second day on Monday, Dec. 17 (Jubilee Day), and third day 'on Dec. 18. Messrs Oates and LifwryV offer to run their motor-car Was accepted With thanks. It -was decided ta invite R. Murie, of InveroargiU, to take the place of E.; Reynolds in the' Invitation Scratch Race.