SATURDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2240, 18 November 1907, Page 1

SATURDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. AUCKLAND. (Forty navvies working _on a cutting livo miles from _ liauriinu are on striko owing to eight Australians having been sent to join the original gang. The Australians filled 'a dray, which, it is .alleged, tho strikers capsized, and prevented work continuing. Work on the section is at a standstill. Air Kellar, of the Public Works Department, has gone from Itaurimu to "investigate.

At the Supreme Court to-day, beforo Judge Denniston, Ed. McDonald, a young waiter who hit another with .a. filo, was ordered to come up for sentence if called on. His Honor remarked that if prisoner had not pleaded guilty ho would probably havo been .acquitted on the grounds of great provocation. In the case of Kit-hard Marl and, 43, charged with a criminal olfonco .against his own niece, the jury found a verdict o'f guilty. Counsel for prisoner asked leave to apply to tlio Court of Appeal for retrial on the ground that ,tho verdiot was against the weight of evidence. The sjieciiic question put to -the jury by His Honor .was, “Did prisoner believo the girl was over 10?” If' ‘Yes,’ had lie reasonable cause for such belief?” Tlio jury i»ad ignored the questions, and found: “We .think thero are reasonable grounds for believing that the prisoner knew .the girl was under the ago of IC.” Counsel submitted .that the jury had practically disregarded the whole evidence except tlio fact of relationship, which weighed .against him to .an undue extent. His Honor said the question was, “Was prisoner’s intimacy with tho family sufficient to justify the jury’s finding?” Ho did not feel quite clear in the matter himself, and promised to consider it. CHRISTCIiUIRCH.

Tho late All- Allan .McLean’s estate amounts to over half-.a-miUion, about one-third of which is to be devoted to making provision for women •who aro in need. Holly Lea mansion in Manchester street, Christchurch, which Mr McLean built seven yeans ago, will become an endowment for •a home for indigent gentlewomen and their young children. Tho will makes special provision for the selection of .women ’whoso education and upbringing make them congenial companions in an institution intended solely for gentlewomen. Tlio home will be controlled by a Hoard comprising the Anglican and Catholic Bishops,_ two Presbyterian .an cl Wesleyan clergyman, "a Stipendiary Magistrate, tho chairmen of several local bodies, and two women selected by tho Board. Tho balance of the money, making up one-third of the estate, ■will bo .used by .the Board to provide for needy women and .their children under 10 years. Tho balance of tho estate is left to relatives and friends.

The fact tlhat a. huge fire could break out- in Christchurch and reach an absolutely uncontrollable stage, apparently without detection, or without, at any rate, any official knowledge of its existence, has caused curiosity in tho city, .and the .astonishment has been made greater because the fire was visible a long way off before the bells rung out. ■Though it is certain that .at the hour of the occurrence there must’ have been people in tho streets, no one close handy seemed to see anything unusual until too late to do any good. The Fire 'Board will make close enquiry. DUNEDIN.

At a meeting of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society, Mr J. A. Torrance, agent for 30 years, was presented with a purse containing 532 sovereigns. Tho .presentation was made .by Mr Justico Williams, •who referred in terms of the highest lira iso to the faithful manner in which the recipient had devoted himself to the work of the society, which he termed the work of his life. Mr Torrance is now retiring, after having engaged in mission work in .the city for 40 years. INVERCARGILL.

.Peter Alorrissey, Michael Alorrissey, and Fernandez Pobar, bookmakers, wero charged yesterday with trespassing on Winton racecourse on November 9. The Alorrisseys wero sent to gaol for two months, and Pohar fined £5 and £2 6s costs. TAIHAPE.

At the Police Court, Robert Bunt, •a well-known .axeman, was committ‘•ed for trial for alleged .arson. The evidence adduced showed that accused’s watch and chain wero found on a ledge, and .a tin of kerosene had been removed from the washhouse, hearing blood stains. There was ia wound on the back of accused’s hand, which, it was certified by a doctor, could not bo inflicted by a knife or bottle. Accused said ho fell on a bottle.

WELLINGTON. A first notice was given by the post .office several months .ago that tinselled post-cards would bo prohibited transmission through the .post unless enclosed in covers. Aliany cards, subsequently sent to the dead letter office because they were not enclosed, havo as a matter of grace ■been specially delivered to addressees. It is now finally announced that in future such cards not enclosed .in covers will he destroyed.