TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 7282, 8 January 1889, Page 4

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[UjBTITED PSESS ASSOCIATION.'] INTERPBOVINCIAL. WvKUNGToir, Jan, 7. At the Supreme Court Criminal Sessions this moraing, the principal point in tha Chief Justice's addresa was in reference to a ca<?e where a constable shot the man White in the wrist when endeavoring to arrest him upon a charge of horse stealing* White presented a gun at the constable, and endeavored to escape under its cover. As he turned the cod • table fired at the gun with the intention of disabling it or making White drop it. He bit White oo the wriat and the man was then secured. The judge laid it dowa that the constable nnder the circumstances was quite justified in what he did. No bills were found against William Hoppy (indecency), Maud Martin (pasting valueless coins), Adam | Armstrong (perjury), and William Speckman (perjury). James White pleaded guilty to a charge of horse stealing. Sentence was deferred pending a charge of resisting and assaulting the police being heard. The Chief -Juetica inflicted £5 fines on several absent jury nun. After four hours deliberation the jury in the case against Jamas White returned fa verdict of not guilty. Whits was charged with resisting and assaulting the police, while an attempt was being made to arrest bim on a charge of horse stealing. He covered Constable Slight with a double barrelled gun and threatened to ■hoot him if he advanced a step. It was only after slightly wounding the prisoner in the wrist that be was eeoared. The jury, in answer to the Court, said they were of opinion that White did not mean to shoot Slight, and that the latter had acted in a harsh manner in wounding bins. The Chief Justice in discharging the jury commented strongly on the verdict and upheld Slight's conduct. A return compiled by order of the Minister of Education shows that for the last 10 years £37,958 has been expended by Education Boards on plans, specifications, and architects fees, for school buildings. The highest amount was £5906 in 1879, and the lowest £2482 in 1884. The expenditure in 1887 was £2580. A letter has been received by the Education Department from Mr Roger de Grey of Oetend, Belgium, stating that he is engaged on a work entitled " Contemporary Literature of the Anglo-Saxon Race," and asking for books and reviews bearing on New Zealand literature from the foondatioK of the colony till now to help him in bis work. The Department intend to afford Mr Grey every assistance they can. r l he action of the Hon. W. J M. Larnacb, y the New Zealand Herald, alleged libel, is fixed for the 21st met., before a special jnry. A Cabinet meeting which was to have been held to-day to decide the judgeship and railway commissionership, will not be held owing to the absence of Ministers, who are expected to arrive to-morrow. The body of a boy found floating in the harbor yesterday is identified as Ernest Winters, aged 6 years, missing for several days past. Ohbistchurch, Jan. 7. William Swanson, senior, an old resident of Baagiora, died suddenly last night from effusion of blood on the brain. He was 68 yearß old, and had been in Canterbury 31 years. In the Supreme Court to-day John Powell for stealing a bicycle was sentenced to six months hard labor. Jane Clarkson, forgery and uttering, six months hard labor. Albert Anßley, larceny from the person, four months hard labor. John Fletcher, Herbert Fletcher, and Henry Holmes, three lads, for stoning some pigs to death were ordered to come up for i sentence when called on. W. Bentley, charged with forgery, was acquitted. The grand jury found true bills in all the cases except that of Thomas Brown Bain, charged with libelling John Ollivier. The Maori buTglar, Murray, shortened the proceedings considerably when charged with breaking into various houses and shops at Eiccarton, Lyttelton, and Kainpoi t by saying, " not much ; I ran away from gaol and I took them things," He was sentenced to five yeara penal eervi* ! tude, the sentence to rnn concurrently on several indictments. All the oases bat two are disposed of. Wangahdl, Jan. 7. At the Harbor Board meeting to*day the matter of Thatcher's scheme' at the Heads was considered. After a long debate it was decided to form a committee to meet Thatcher and suggest an alteration in a clause of the specifications, and if he agreed to the same the committee to b*v#

power to accept the tender and authorise bim to go on with the work. DtJHiWH, Jan. 7, At the Supreme Court Thomas Gleeson pleaded gnilty to breaking prison and sub- | sequent burglaries, but not guilty to burglaries for which he was at first com* mitted. He was found guilty and sentenced to six years in all. As to his former career he was several times convioted at i Auckland under the name of Patrick | Gleeson. William Roach, aged 71 , charged with an unnatural offence, was found guilty of indecent assault and sentenced to j four years penal servitude. Alfred Yorke, for passing a valueless cheque, was sento eighteen months, and Henry David Blozham, for housebreaking, to two years hard labor. At a meeting of the shareholders of the Exhibition to-night it was announced that 10,293 shares bad been poid for and completed ; 250 bad been applied for but not completed, and there was a sum of £375 by way of adveit sing. The Bank of New Zealand intimated they would respond to the oall, and it was believed other banks would follow. A vote was then taken as to the cite, when by a large majority the central site in Crawford street block, recommended by the directors, was carried. Auckland, Jan. 7, A totara bush, of 2000 acres in the Waotu district is reported to be on fire. The Chamber of Commerce met to-day to consider the proposed Duuediu Exhibition. Nothing however was decided and a full meeting is to be held on Wednesday.