NEW ZEALAND ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3154, 25 February 1911, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND ITEMS.

POLICE PROMOTION. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Fein 24. Sergeant Cruickshanks, _ of Napier, who joined the police force in 1879, and was appointed sergeant in 1900, has been promoted to be sub-inspector. COAL-MINES IDLE. WESTPORT, Feb. 24. The mines in the district are having a very slack time just now. Sedclonville and Stockton have done very little work this week, and the Westport Coal Company’s Granity mines have been idle two days, their Denniston mines also being idle yesterday. It was anticipated that all would be working to-day, but broken time is looked for up to the end of the financial year, owing to . the large stocks accumulated during the strike scare. ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION. ASHBURTON, Feb. 24. Walter Wilkes, who stated that lie was a solicitor practising in a Taranaki town, appeared on a charge of having deserted his wife at New Plymouth. Wilkes, who was remanded to appear at. New Plymouth on Tuesday, protested that some great- mistake had been made in the issue of the warrant, as lie had only been away from home seven clays. Bail was allowed. • 1 ' A TRYING CASE. DUNEDIN, Feb. 24, At the police’ Court George Austin, who defied the Court, refusing absolutely to obey a maintenance order in resnect of his illegitimate child, was sentenced to six.months’ imprisonment. The Magistrate, Mr. Widdowson, exhibited the utmost patience' .in what was a trying case. -