NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 819, 6 February 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night* , Obituary: Captain John Maekay late of the barque Northern Chief.

The Arbitration Court awarded Annie Eliza Warrington, of Opotiki, £309 compensation against the Opotiki Town Board. Claimant’s husband was a surfaceman, working for the Board on the road, and owned a horse and cart, for which he received extra pay, and which he was to use at his discretion. On going to harness in the horse to take the cart home .at lunch-time he was kicked, and died next day. The Court held that the work was industrial work, and that deceased was employed by respondents at the time of the accident.

In the Compensation Court, in the caso of Stevens v. the Kauri Timber Company, claim for injury to the right hand. Claimant is still employed by the Company, and asks for a nominal award to prevent the lapse of his right to future payments. The Court aw T arded Id a week, payments to be reviewed when incapacity ariseß.

WAIROA, yesterday

James Johnstone and Patrick Sheehan, cnarged with robbery with violence at Clyde Hotel last night from Makoare Pex>uore, wore before the Magistrate’s Court to-day, and were committed to trial at the Supreme Court at Napier, The sum stolen was £3.

WELLIN GTO N, yes ter day. Reports received by the Agricultural Doxmrtment show that if the woather does not prove unfavorable, the yield of grain in the colony will be fully as large as that of last year. In the Supreme Court to-day, “Major” William Runciman was found guilty of false pretences. Tr applied for probation, but TT " J - L0 pointed out that R - -‘-‘.is. Honor case of ° - ' vas no * i an ls °l a^e d 1 single cheque being passed, out there were a number. A sentence of 12 months’ hard labor was imposod.

ASHBURTON, last night. ■ The hearing of the petition against the recent local option poll at Ashburton, whereby no-license was carried, concluded at Ashburton this morning before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M. All the grounds of the petition were abandoned, except those dealing with alleged over-crowding of two smaller polling booths, and non-simultaneous delivery of local option and electoral voting papers. The former ground was practically abandoned this morning, and legal argument centred round the second. Evidence was given that at two booths officers handed voters local option papers first and electoral papers afterwards, although na inconvenience was caused thereby. Decision was reserved. The Magistrate gave his decision regarding the Ashburton local option poll. He found irregularities at two booths and overcrowding at others, but not sufficient to affect a result which had been so unmistakably expressed.

NAPIER, lace night. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company cable: “ North Island mutton has fallen a further farthing. The mutton market is depressed and declining. There is no demand. Quotations are : Canterbury sd, Napier, Wellington, and North Island 4-jd; lamb, first 7d, second 6fd.”