INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9193, 24 March 1908, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

— . — « [Per Press Association.] . GISBORNE, March 24. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, the Inspector of Noxious Weeds proceeded against a farmer for failing to cut blackberries. The defence contended that the cultivated plant Lawton berry could not be brought under the designation of Rabus f-uticosis in the Act. The prosecution, however, asserted that any blackberries not properly cut and \ trimmed, though they were improved varieties, became noxious weeds. Tlie | Magistrate reserved his decision. The Harbour Board discussed reports presented by Mr Ma reliant, Timaru, and Messrs Coode, Son and Matthews, England, on the proposed new .narbour. Both reports were in agreement on the main features of the work, but differed somewhat in details. The cost will be about £400,000. Members agreed that the Board was in a sound position to go on with the works, and decided to refer the "scheme to the superintendents of shipping companies for their opinions. TAIHAPE, March 24. • The police raided a billiard room at Waiouru, on the Main Trunk Line, suspected to be a sly-grog shop. ' A prosecution will follow. MASTERTON, March 24. The rumour that ryegrass is dying out in the Wairarapa district does not, after careful inquiry, appear to have any foundation. Neither the Agricultural Department nor the Crown Lands ranger considers it likely, and several prominent farmers have confidence in ryegrass, and know nothing of its dying out. WELLINGTON, March 24. A test case involving the question of infant adoption was decided to-day by Mr Riddell, S.M. The defendants were charged with receiving, in consideration of payment ov reward, and retaining in their chai ; ge/ an infant! for a longer period than seven consecutive days without being licensed as foster-parents. For the defence, it was contended that no license or exemption was required if the premium or consideration paid to the adopting parent was received, as in the present case, solely for the benefit of the child adopted. . The Magistrate convicted the defendants, but as they acted bona fide, a nominal penalty of Is only was imposed. Tradespeople of Sumner have recently received the following notices from the town clerk of the boirough: — "I have the honour, by direction of the Council, to ask you to be good enough to state at the foot hereof " to what extent, if any, the business conducted by you is benefited by the daily trippers to Sumner. The amount of business in cash is not required ; merely the percentage of the whole business which can b 3 traced directly to the daily tripper." No explanation accompanies the request, but presumably the Council is endeavouring to prepare statistics for some reason regarding tramway trafficto the borough. One indignant business man sent the> following reply to the Council : — " Not keeping an elaborate staff of certificated book-keepers, I am not in a position to accede to your request, but can safely say that I do better out of the daily trippers than I do out of the Borough Council or councillors." WESTPORT,, March 24. Mr A. C. Hansen has definitely decided to offer himself as a candidate for the mayoralty of Westport. Mr Greenwood, the present Mayor, will again be a candidate. Resignations from the local railway service are frequent. Some half-a-dozen young men have their notices in at present. The rate^of pay appeal's to be the chief cause or^complaint. Colonel Davies has completed his inspection of the Volunteers in this dis- ; trict. Tlie Hawea will load Admiralty coal for Melbourne. DUNEDIN, March 24. In the Divorce Court Mr Justice Williams granted a decree nisi in 4_ie case of Porteous v. Porteouß, the wife's petition, based on the husband's noncompliance with an order for restitution of conjugal rights.