SUPREME COURT-CIVIL SITTINGS.

THIS DAY.

, (Before His Honor Mr Justice Ward.) ! The adjourned Civil Sittings were taken at i 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Auckland Hospitals and Charitable Aip Boaud v. Waipa County Council. __ Claim, £238 14s Bd, being the of defendant Council's assessed ■contributions for last year towards the maintenance of the Auckland Hos ' itaL -The amount was equal to a rate It one-twelfth of a penny in the £. iHr Theo. Cooper (instructed by Messrs iTTesketh and Richmond) appeared for the mlaintiffs, and Messrs H. 1). Bell (Crown twciitor of Wellington) and John Hay (of Waikato) for the defendants. The i^g by the same plaintiffs against the jWaiiato- County Council for the" re covery of £277 was a^so called, and 1*1,2 * same counsel ap-peared in ifc. 'Mr. Cooper stated that ; the defence was ifounded on two propositions :. Ist, That the Weral effect of the Amendment Act of iISSO wSs to destroy any right of action which the plaintiffs might have had. 2nd, 'That if they s^ stained their right of 'action, yet as they had not performed the icondition precedent in subdividing the dis tricts, they had noright to levy contributions Win,-those districts. In reply to his •tfgior Mr Cooper admitted that the districts » er e not subdivided.—His Honor said : Mat appears important.—Mr Cooper con tended th'it there was no necessity under the Act for the Board to subdivide the district in order to levy the sums which e y Squired from the local bodies for the Maintenance of institutions .therein. — His Honor remarked upon the intricate and jnyolvbd character of the Act. —Mr Cooper he had never come across an Act which took so long a time to construe. Mr Cooper then proceeded Co deal with the second question raised by the defence, viz., irhether the plaintiffs' corporate capacity ■pas destroyed by the amendment Act of 1886, or in other words, whether, when ■the 'Amendment Act was brought iiito force, the defendants were in the plaintiff district., The plaintiff district under section, 34 of the Act of ISBS included amongst others the counties of Waipa and ■\Vaikato, but section 30 of the Amendment Act of 1886 repealed section 34, dissolved the old district, and created an Auck land district and a Waikato dis 'tncfci? tiie latter consisting of the i Counties .of Waipa, Waikato, Raglan 'and; Piakb. ..This alteration, however, was only to take effect from the Ist of "April, 1887, up to which time the liability of the defendants for contributions towards ■the. plaintiff district continued. Sec tion ■-'•40 of -the Amendment Act was merely expiatory of section 30. The position of . t: defendants was that while hoVering between heaven and earth they had schedules of a separate district before any separate district existed, and that con-, sequently any existing liability was pit "an .end. to v by section 40., He .contended -that such a construction could not be placed upon the amend ment Act.—Henry Nelson Garland, Secre tary of the district of Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was then called. He stated that it held its first meeting on Sth Sovember,lßßs,asgazetted, and Mr Waddel 1 -m appointed by Gazette notice. Subse ■pjnfc.meetings had from time to time been 'held, and Mr Waddel was still Chairman. Qn'thelSth March, ISBO, a meeting was - -iyd/at which a resolution was passed for Itie levying of contributions. They had pre viously ascertained that their expenditure up toApril,lßß7, would be£9,96S, and that the /dftltietiphs referred to in section 24' would •ItawrtvA to 13,210 19s 2d, leaving a balance \iofi:6,7[>7 7s 6d. The amount payable jwas. equivalent to one-twelfth of js"vpenny' in . the pound, and the ■amounts chargeable, against the C'oun ities of JVaikatoi and Waipa respectively ■were £277 Us 7d and £238 14s Sd. Notice of the resolution was sent to both bodies, but "they hadnot-yet paid. Cross-examined by Mr Bell: The levy was made upon the basis jof the.Property Tax Commissioner's assess jment. of the rateable value of property in the comities of \Vaikato and Waipa. The esti mate of expenditure for the only in stitutions which the Board had to jprovide .for was £C,G32 for the Auck iland; Hospital, and £2,650 for the Ee foge. Re-examined : The Hospital was the Hospital for the whole-provincial district. Mr Cooper intimated that he had no further evidence to adduce.—Mr Bell, in opening , the case for the defence, said he did not intends to offCF any evidence at all. He:"; simply asked His Honor to :nonsuit the plaintiffs upon grounds •which he would proceed to disclose. There •was one thing about the Act of ISBS about .which there could be no dispute, viz,, the i distinction made in it between charitable aid and institutions. This was a broad and i cardinal feature of the Act. Charit ■/ablef aid nlight be dispensed ■by the ; same Board that administered the institu tions, or it might not. Two boards might unite for the purposes of .charitable aid and. yet be separate for the purposes :of institutions. Bearing this .distinc- Anin; mind the meaning of the Act "Would be simplified. Now the first point of the defence must be fatal to his learned friend's case. It was that Boards for the purposes of institutions must subdivide the district, but this had not been :done in the present case. The Auck land Board had disregarded section 22, and Tfitt; reference to his learned friend's con tention re that section ho submitted that tekg compulsory it was merely repealed in order to? be replaced by sections which should bs directory only: There could be no contest as to the meaning of sec tion 22—the question .was whether, it should have been complied with. He argued that it should: The learned gentle- ; ma.i_ proceeded to contend that the word ' Wajiin thissection hada eompulsorymeaning. • «c district of Waikato came into existence v®. the passing of the Act of 1886, otherwise jne district would be taxed twice over for -wesame thing. Since the passing of the had been making provision writs ovm poor and sick.—Mr Cooper said tM.hehad not been aware of this before.— wHonor remarked that at any rate'an ijttuoahle arid equitable settlement between weparties should not be difficult-of attain ment. ■If it were true that Waikato had neen providing for its poor; and sick since ™6 Posing of the Amendment Act in 1886, ' wen the Auckland Board might reasonably De expected to make due allowance for i#/act • whereas, if the Waikato district !^' men'dependent upon the Auckland .-'■fw for any time after the passing of the <«V it should not grudge' paying in -Proportion therefor. Mr Cooper re- his learned friend's statement {^.^P first he had heard of any separate 'imitation- in the Waikato. In any case,, T'ft^ir Onor' s Suggestion was a good one, 'y ne would strongly recommend it to his S It,would come with very great ■,-^ight;Jr oHl the Bench, and he Jiad i™ doubt would be accepted. If the ■Wato Board had made any offer to com / mPSB- otters might, have been settled "? wl¥Q; -~Mr BeU explained that , the viSnmTu Board had offered one-half the w«h whichit was charged. —Mr' Cooper -lv g ißuch an offev would be accepted.— ; oS^ r ■■'«» then adjourned, till 10 ■Sft mQrning in order to afford op ■gj , for conference botween the

THIS DAY.

iti O i? n % sumption of the Court this hulbp ' i k°?per explained that nothing ■ Co»»t T losince.theadjournment of the ** ywwrdtty, "His}' Honor's svigges

tion, however, would be submitted to his clients (the Amkhnd Board), and he was sure would receive careful considera tion, leading up no doubt to an amicable settlement. His; Honor considered his sug gestion tho only fair way in which the burdens in dispute should be regulated.— Mr Cooper added that Mr Hesketh had told him that he had communicated this morn ing with the Chairman and Secretary of the Auckland Board with a view, if possible, of obtaining a meeting of the majority of the Board in order to determine whether or not the arrangement suggested by His Honor should be accepted.

The Matamata Ejectment Case.

Josiah Clitton. Firth v. Pakapa, Te l£a, and otuf.k aboriginal natives.— Action for possession of 2,554 acres of land at Matamata South, squatted upon by de fendants, and £100asmesne profits from the time of defendants' alleged unlawful entry. Messrs C. E. Button, Theo. Cooper, and John Hay appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr H. D. Bell (Crown Prosecutor of Welling ton) for the defendants.—Tho statement of claim and pleadings were taken as read, and Mr Edward Hammond was sworn in as interpreter.— Mrßutton submitted that upon the pleadings it was incumbent upon Mrßell to prove his case. Everything necessary for plaintiff's case was admitted on the plead ings except the question of damages, and iii respect of that he was prepared to give an undertaking to the Court that he would not prove for. more than nominal damages. Mr Bell assented to the proposed arrangement. He understood that the plaintiff sought mere y the eject ment of the defendants.—Mr.Button : Yes : excepting Is as mesne profits. — Mi- Bell then proceeded to open his case. He said that the defence was founded on two grounds. In the first place it was founded .upon a number of decisions in the Australian Courts upon the Land Transfer Act—a defence, viz., of fraud in obtaining a certificate of title. The second defence was a defence which attacked the title behind the certificate of title, and that raised, of course, a counter-claim. Hiß learned friends rested the plaintiffs title upon a Crown grant and a certificate of title issued under the Native Lands Act upon that Crown grant. That he would submit with confidence that tlieir case be carried no further than the certifi cate, because it was plain law that a certifi cate wipes out the previous title, and the plaintiff must therefore come into Court on the certificate of title. If he was a certificate-holder, he was not a Crown grantee. , The learned gentleman then pro ceeded to explain the difference between a title under a certificate and one under a Crown grant. For instance, the Statute of Limitations could be pleaded under a Crowjn grant title, but not . under a certiticate of title, and as the Statute of Limitations had not been raised, in this case the pleadings were under a certificate of title. He would have no difficulty in proving that Mr Firth had put in an incorrect application, for the Land Court when he got his title, That was beyond question. That he was iinwise in his form of applicarion his learned friends would probably not deny. At this stage Mr D. A. Tole (Commis sioner of Crown Lands) was > allowed to produce from the., .Crown Lands Office the certificate of title.-—Mr Bell, in continuation, said that, the incorrect ness in plaintiffs-form of application was his- declaration that no persons were in oc cupation of Matamata adversely to his in terests thereon. Yet the present defen dants were in occupation of it. Such an error in the form of application vitiated in title and vpided jjlaintifFs right to take action. In answer to His Honburt Mr But ton said- the plaintiff did nrs admit the alleged error.—Mr Bell remarked that the contest would take plape upon the word "adversely."— Mr Button suggested that the ease should be treated as twojjtrials, and that the question raised under the Land Transfer Aet'should be taken flrst; for if the plain tiff failed on that point there was an end to defendants case, .whereas, if he succeeded the other question could then be entered upon. ■ After some discussion this course was agreed to. Mr. Bell then called Panapa (Barnabas) Te Pea,, who deposed that. he lived at i Matamata on the por tion of it alotted to Mr, Firth by the Native Land Court at Cambridge. There v rere other natives living on the same portion of the block. They had houses and cultivations then, which were destroyed by Mr Firth's cattle.. They had dead buried there. It was an old burial ground - some having been buried there before he was born, and it had been used continuously since. Some of the whares were old and some' were new. The first Cour,t to investigate Matamata was held in 1860... He and liis people were then living on Matamata at the same place, and pre viously, as well as ever since. There were thh'ty of- them living there how Neither, he nor any of the dofendants had paid .rent, but, he had received rent from Mr Firth for occupation of the whole block. Sometimes it was paid by Mr Firth—some times by his son. Cross-examined by Mr Button :• He knew William Thompson, the king maker. He was chief of their tribe. He was aware that Mr Thompson gave Mr Firth possession of Matamata in ISC7, under a lease of-the whole block. Witness erected the ditch and fence upon the land. Mr Firth did not, in 1867, take a crop of pota toes or of anything else from the land in question. He never either ploughed or fenced it. His cultivation was outside it. Mr Firth did not erect a stockyard upon it.—At this stage Mr Firth appeared in Court,- and on Mr Bell's application, was requested to withdraw, as the defendants had been ordered out of Court. He retired after saying that it was but his wish that the defend ants should have -been kept out of the; Court—Examination continued : Between April, 1885, and July, 1886, witness planted oats, corn, and potatoes, and sowed grass upon the land which he, occupied^ Ihey were planted in August and' September, 1885.^-Kereama Tauwharo deposed that he was a chief of Ngatihaua and Ngatirangi,. living at Matamata near Panapa's settle ment. Panapaand his people had hve(* continuously on the land at one or other or his two settlements since 1866, and had cul tivated it. They had only been away to meetings. . ( . ~ ■

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY.

(Before.Mossrs,McMillan and Duncan, • Justices.) * ■ ■'_....

Drukkeknkss. —/Maria McGuinness and Timothy McCarthy were each "fined 8s and costs, or ,iri default twenty-four hours' im prisonment, for having beeri'driirik. Gum Stealing.. — John was charged with feloniously entering the dwell ing of Charles Spranz, at Brigham's CreeK, on the 20th of April, and stealing therefrom 201b of kauri gum, value Bs, and one.silver ring, value 3s Cd, the' property of the said Charles , Spranz. On .the application oi Sergeant Pratt the case was remanded until next Tuesday, as time had not been afforded to get the complainant .in attend ance. ■. ....-■■

Shopkeepers should' beware of leaying their goods outside their stores, especially after dark. About S o'clock, last evening a grocer in Victoria-street discovered n.maii walking off with a liain that; had been hanging' on V nail at the door: We promptly,caught hokUpf the offender, who gave up^possession without a murmur, ana tho'ham'Syfts'TestQi.'ed. to its naii r

THE PONSONBY TRAGEDY.

Inquest on the Body of Bliss Miunie GiedhiH.

The recent lamentable, occurrence at Kornoka formed the subject of a coro nial; inquisition this forenoon at the residence of deceased's parents, Kor noka, Home Bay, Ponsonby. The in quest, which was on the body of Minnie Kuth Gledhill, was held, before Dr Unison- and the following jurymen -Messrs W. J. Courtney (foreman), j' Armitage, William Mason, James O. Leary Anderson, and Alexander. Stewart. Ellen Maud Gledhill, younger' sister of the deceased, was the first witness Her right arm was bandaged, but otherwise she did not appear to be injured by the accident.- She gave her evi dence with firmness, as follows:-I am a daughter of George Gledhill, who is a cordial maker, residing at Home Bay, Pon sonby. I Have seen the body of deceased this day. She was. my sister, aged 17. On the evening of the 19th, at 8 p.m, we were going to bed in ma's room. My sister always slept in ma's room, and I was goin» to sleep with her till ma came home! My mother and my eldest sister were in town, my two brothers being at instruc tion class.and vny father also in town. We wero turning down the top of the bed clothes to get . into bed, she being at one side and I at ' the other, I was undressed ready to get into bed, and she was dressed. My sister suddenly saw that the ' window curtains, composed of cotton, were on fire. It must have come in contact with the gas. We both rushed together-towards the cur tain, and my sister pulled it down and threw it on the floor. By that time the window-blind had caught. My sister's dress,which was of cotton, took fire from the curtains on the floor, 1 told her that her dress was on fire, and she had better attend to it, while I would attend to the blind. Then she looked back over her shoulder and saw. J her dress blazing, and im mediately rushed out of the house, into the yard. I ran after her and picked up the rug in the kitchen. I caught her at the little gate, and putting my arms around her legs pulled her down. Beforo I could put the rug Over her, she was up again and at the top gate. She leaned against the fence at the side, and the needles from the pine trees caught fire. AVhile she was leaning against the fence I was beating her with the rug and trying' to put the flames out. Myscreams brought some neighbours, including Mr Furby, Mr Foster, and Mr Western. My mother, who was returning-, came first, and caught my sister in her arms. Then my eldest sister told her to lie down. They rolled her in sacks, and put out the tire. During1 all this time, de ceased did not scream, but only moaned. She did not scream when she first took fire. After the fire was put out, I went into the house, and found that the room was also in a blaze. Mr Furby and Mr Foster came and put that fire out. I was only burnt on my right arm, but not severely. After this, they got a blanket and carried my sister down, and put her on the bed. My eldest sister cut oft*' the rags, and oil was poured on the burns on the body of de ceased. The burns were principally on her chest, legs, shoulders, and jtrm.s. Her face escaped. She was quite sensible at this time. Then they put wadding on and sent for Dr. Kenderdme. We " rang up ■' for my father, and the doctor arrived with him soon afterwards. The deceased did not sleep, but did not complain much. She was very hot, and said she felt miserable. I was present when she died at eight o'clock yesterday morning. The only way I can account for the ignition of the cur tain is by the fact that the gas jet must have been pushed round in some way. 11 was too close to the curtain. We do not usually light that jet, and no acci dent had ever occurred before. My sister lighted tbe gas herself. There was no draught, nor were the windows open. By Mr Courtney : If my sister had not got alarmed and lost ■ her presence of mind, J could have , saved her, life. When '. she got outside, the wind fanned the flames. I do not think that children are taught in schools how to extinguish fires of this kind. I believe if my clothes had taken fire, 1 would have lost my presence of mind also. By Mr Stewart: Ido not believe the light was a naked one. 1 think there was a globe on it.

Dr. Kcilderdine deposed that -he was called to see tho deceased at her father's house on the night of the 10th. She was lying on the bed, and her clothes had been removed. He found that she had been extensively burned, and that a portion of her wounds' had been dressed with oil. The burns were On' the upper pai-t of the back, shoulders, a>"m pits, legs, and back of. the thighs. The skin had peeled, aiul was hanging off the hands, and the backs of the thighs were completely baked. The wounds had been partially dressed with 'wadding and oil, and he dressed the remaining portions,. some with wadding and others with linseed oil and lint. She wjvs quite sensible, and com plained of great pain,especially in her arms, saying she did not know where to put them. The nerves in the thigh had evidently been destroyed, and had no feeling. The pulse was weak, but there was not much collapse. She said she was a little cold, but only the sheet was over her. He told them to give her a little warm gruel, and he also administered opiates. He thought she might get over it, but he was very doubtful. He saw her next morning about a quarter to eight o'clock, and she was alive then. She was quite unconscious then, in a state of collapse, and in a dying state- He gave her some stimulants. SI: s took tho first dose, but could not swallow the second. He was present when she died at about a quarter past eight o'clock. The cause of death was the shock to' the nervous system. : He saw the gas jet, which lie considered was dangerously near to the curtain. Gas jets should not be fixed in that position at all, and he would not have one so fixed in his house. It was frequently done for the purpose of giving, a lifht to the looking glass. Mr Furby was. also called, but the coroner did not think his statement necessary. Miss Nellie Gledhill had given her evidence very clearly, and in a manner that left no doubt as to the cause of death. On the suggestion of Dr. Philson, the jury inspected ''the gas jet in the bedroom. It was a short bracket, moving either way, and within reach of the bed curtains on one side and the window curtains on the other. The wall and the ceilinc in the vicinity of the jet were burned. Mr° Courtney wished to have a rider added to the verdict impressing on the instructors of children the necessity of im pavting knowledge relating to best means of extinguishing a fire of this kind. Some of the' jury thought presence of mind was what was required, and Mr Stewart pointed out that nothing more could have been done than what Miss Nellie Gledhill tried to do. She behaved like a little " brick." A verdict ■of accidental death was returned. Some reference was made to the dangerous position of the bracket, but no adefition was made to the verdict concerning the matter. _ • An expression of sympathy with Mr and Mrs Gledhill in their sad bereavement was made by Mr Courtney on behalf of the ■jury-''r '■■;]-—» •■''- :--!u".7T'

A lai^e number of children attending the rv,,W,V'schools, in charge of their teachers, CSS ™* thC Fre° *f IU'T at Avb Serv this morning, and evidently re ceived-mugh iwefuiintormation. •

DEATH OF MAJOR GREEN.

Expressions of Regret From Bench and Bar. \, ,

Mr Justice Wabd, in taking his seat upon the Bench at the Supreme Court this morning', took the opportunity to make tho following reference to the death of the Sheriff, Major Green:— Before commencing the business of the day, I desire to express my sincere regret fob the loss we have recently sustained by the deathof the Sheriff.Major Green—regret iv which I am sure that the members of the Bar join. I should have adjourned the Court for the purpose of attending the funeral under ordinary circumstances, but the trial of tho case now coming on was fixed for to-day two months ago. A leading counsel has arrived from Wel lington to conduct it, the numerous wit nesses, I am informed, are here, and the day's adjournment, which would bo necessary would mulqt both parties in heavy expenses, which I do not feel justified in inflicting upon them. For this last reason, therefore, I must be content with expressing from the Bench my sorrow for the loss that has befallen us, and my sincere sympathy with the relations and friends of the late Sheriff".

Mr Button said :—On behalf of the Bar I may state that the members of. our profes sion thoroughly reciprocate your Honor's feeling of sympathy in the loss we have sustained by the death of Major Green. We also feel that your Honor has con sulted tho convenience of a very great number of persona as well as counsel in not adjourning this case, as tho present circumstances are rather unique. That is not the only reason why, in the interests of the Bar and the public, the course referred to of not adjourning- tho Court should be adopted, for I believe it is a fact that your Honor has pressing busi ness engagements at a distance, which necessitate your Honor's early removal. I just mention that as an additional reason in support of the conclusion that has been ar rived at. We all very much regret the death of the late Major Green,

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

(BY TELEGRAPH - OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day. Cambrta.—The quartz being put through the battery from the stopes on the cross leader at No. 2 level continues to shape satisfactorily, 08 loads 'having been crashed during the past week for 2190z amalg-am, or about 80oz gold. A third stope has been started on this leader, and in a day or two should bo along to tho run of gold, so that a haul of specimens should be obtained. The winze from No. 2 level has attained a depth of 26ft, and colours of gold are seen pretty freely in the quartz, which in about four inches wide, while a few pounds of picked stone are occasionally obtained. The crosscut on tho same leader is in 70ft, and colours of gold are sometimes observed, so that the quartz is about payable. The usual works are proceeding on the hanging wall reef, from which quartz of fair grade is coming to hand. The southern crosscut at No. 4 level is in 770 ft, but tho country is rather tight.

Saxon. The rise, which has beon. com menced on Connon's reef, near the boundary of tho tributcrs, or just hillward of the "break," Ls up a distance of sft. Colours of gold are seen in the quartz, but no specimens have yet been secured. The manager is continuing the drivo at No. 3 level, where it Avill be remembered the reef (Connon's) was cut off by a clay seam. A dark seam of sandstone is still being fol lowed, but the reef has not yet been picked up, although some distance has been driven. At No. 4 level colours of gold have been seen at the junction. Crushing is proceeding at the Golden Crown battery with ten head of stampers, and the quartz is shaping payably. Calkdoniax. —:Tho drive on No. 1 reef has been discontinued, atrial crushing, of 8 loads having only yielded 4oz. 2dwt gold. Driving has been started on a small leader in the hanging-wall, but the quartz is rather white-looking. Colours of gold.are seen in the winze on No. 1 reef.

Cambria.—2slbs picked stone from third stove on cross leader.

OHINEMURI.

(BY TELEOKArU.—OWN COnRESrONDE^T.)

Karangahake, this day,

A meeting of miners was held here yes terday, when the following resolutions were carried unanimously : — Proposed by Mr Tapley, seconded by Mr McCombie, " That this meeting, in view of the stand taken by the Minister for Mines anent the charges for crushing at the" Karangahake Quartz Reduction Works, suggest to the proprietors of that plant the aclvisability of altering the present tariff of charges to the following scale - namely : Five tons and under, 40s ; ten tons and under, 35s ; twenty tons and under, 30s per ton respectively." Large parcels as per agreement. Proposed by Mr Hogg, 'seconded by Mr Clements, " That the Chairman of the meeting forward copies of the foregoing resolution to the Minister of mines, to the legal manager of Quartz Reduction Works, and to the legal managers of all the mining companies inter ested. Mr Cock, County Chairman, pre sided, and the meeting was a fairly representative one, all those present being mine owners or mine managers, and therefore the resolution may be taken as a general expression of opinion on the subject. If Mr Larnach is satisfied, tho Battery Company most certainly should be for the adoption of tho above-mentioned scale will place it in a much better position than heretofore.

Captain Richard of the schooner Torea, •which arrived from an island cruise to-day was at Samoa on tho 27th March. Every thing was quiet ashore then. It was rumoured that there had been a heavy hur ricane at Tonga, and that vessels were ashore at Nukulofa, but this is probably the same hurricane of which we have already had particulars. No news respecting the Tongan " atrocities," beyond what lias al ready been published in the Star,, had reached Samoa up to the time the Torea left. . ,

The lecturing tour of Mr PJ. Brame in the interests of the Industrial Association has been suspended for the present. An impression existed that the lectures should be postponed till a date nearer to the general elections, and Mr Brame relieved the committee of any difficulty in the mat ter by cancelling his engagement. The general opinion of the jury at the in quest on Mis 3 Minnie Gledhill was that had the deceased preserved her presence of mind the sad fatality would have been avoided. Admiration was expressed at the brave con duct of Miss Nellie Gledhill, who, however, admitted ihat if her dress had caught tire she believed she would have lost her pres ence of mind as her sister had done. Sin cere regret at the sad occurrence, and sympathy- with Mr and Mrs Gledhill was expressed by the jury, and the same feel ings pervade the whole district, in which, the family are held in'high esteem. Messrs B. Tonics and Co. sold by auction to-day, by order of the liquidator, the pro perty, building plant, rights, etc., of uhe frew Zealand Iron and Steel Co. (Limited) The purchasers were T. and S. Mornn ana Co., and the purchase .money £1,1<j9«

DEATH OF MR J. E. BREWSTER.

Mb J. E. Brewster, manager of the New Zealand Sugar Company, died at 3.30 this morning, affeer a long and painful illness. The deceased gentleman has been in a precarious state of health for some time past. Six months ago he was treated by Dr. Haines for brain fever, and more latterly he had been undergoing a course of electrical treatment. at the hands of Dr. Wilkins, the immediate cause of death being inflammation of the lungs. Mr Brewster was born at Ipswich, Queensland, in ] 852, his father being one of the earliest settlers in that colony. Mr Brewster, sen., who is a man of considerable wealth, is at present residing in Cheltenham, Eng land. Mr J. E> Brewster arrived in this colony about ten years ago, and was fora number of years in the service of the Bank of New South Wales, both as secretary to the Inspector at Christchurch, and as man ager of the New Plymouth branch. He was appointed to the management of the New Zealand Sugar Company about three years ago, and during his residence in this city made himself very popular in business and social circles. He was married to a daughter of Mx- F. A, Carrington, formerly Superin tendent of the Province of New Plymouth, and his wife and two children survive him. Tho body of the deceased was taken by train to Onehunga this afternoon, whence it will be shipped per s.s. Macgregor to New Plymouth, where it will be interred. Mrs Brewster acompanies her late hus band's remains.

DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Mad Act of a Dunedin Lawyer.

(by telegraph. -t-press association.)

Dunedin, Wednesday. Mr E. S. Hay, a well-known solicitor, committed suicide this afternoon by cutting his throat. The suicide appears to have been of a most determined character. He was living with his sister, who left him in the house. On returning, she found that he had taken a basin to hold the blood, and then hacked away at his throat with a blunt knife, the basin being- full of blood. He appears' then to have gone to a bath-room, where the bath was found with blood and water mixed. Tho sister at once pro cured medical aid, and though when the doctor arrived he was pulseless, he tore away at the wound with his' nails. He died shortly afterwards. Ho was a single man, and had been indulging rather freely. It is supposed ho committed the rash act while suffering under some strange dolueion.

Fuller Particulars.

(BY TELEGRArH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT,)

Dunedin, this day, Mr Hay, solicitor, was discovered at his residence, George-street, at 4 o'clock in a dying condition. He was undressed, and had evidently committed suicide by cutting his throat with a table knife, which was found on a chair near his bed. Deceased was unmarried, and resided with his sister, who is a school teacher. Miss Hay had seen her brother twice yesterday morning, and knew ho was in a nervous and unsatisfactoi'y mental condition, but she never apprehended that he was in a state that rendered it un safe to trust him alone. On returning home after a short absence he visited his bed room, and discovering what had occurred, summoned . Dr. Stirling, who lives in the adjoining house. When tho doctor arrived deceased was pulseless, and blood had ceased to flow although death did Dot actually take ptoeie lor an hour afterwards. Canghtrey was also sent for, ■ but nothing could be done. The deed had been accomplished witha certain amount of deliberation, but the manner "of its execution neverthe less showed clearly the mental condition Of the deceased'at tho time. . 'As evidence that he was subject to delusions it is stated that the " night before ho refused to take a sleeping draught which was pressed upon him, assenting that it was poisoned with antimony. Deceased was of considerable literary attainments.

EXTRAORDINARY SOMNAMBU LISM.

Ax extraordinary case of Bleep-walking has occurred in Auckland, Several evenings ago a young man who resides in Ring Terrace, off Hackett - street, Ponsonby, .retired to rest about ten o'clock. Two hours later (midnight) he found him self in Hobson-street, and walking hbr riedly in the direction of his place of busi ness in town; He was fully dressed, and carried with him his lunch, which he trkeswith him to town every morning, and which he must have prepared while asleep. He had walked fully two miles while asleep, and though addicted to som nambulism, this most recent oxploit as tonished him. These facts are vouched for.

THE MURDERER PRENDERGAST.

A difficulty has arisen ■ between the authorities respecting the future custody of the prisoner Prendergast, who was convicted ,of .murdering his wife at Pokeno. It will be remembered that he was committed" to the Asylum as insane, but has since returned to a sound mental con dition. Dr. Cremonini has therefore applied to the Besident; Magistrate for his removal to the Gaol, as he is perfectly sane, but Mr Smith declines to interfere. The matter will now be represented to the Colonial Secre tary. '<'-'■-,

THE FATAL LANDSLIP.

r.^ ANpTnEE DB4TH. | v ' ' , ' Westtobt, this day. JDcrcofhas died in tho Hospital, from, the effects of the Buller Koad accident. .."

Members of the Industrial Association should not fail to attend the meeting called for to night, when general business of importance is to be considered,' • The bakers' picnic to St. Helier'a Bay to-day attracted several hundreds of those connected with the business, the steamer ■Victoria being well patronised on both trips jat 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., while many people went to the Bay overland. A good pro gramme of sports had been arranged, and a pleasant day's outing was anticipated. . There were not so many persons last night at the Art Society's Exhibition, mall ■probability on account of the threatening rainclouds. No pictures of any importance have as yet been sold. 'As* the Exhibition closes on Saturday next, persons should not forget to visit the show before it is too late. , , ;., ...;;.,,,, The R.M.S. Aorangi, -which arrived at Hobart yesterday, has only 250 tons of cargo for Auckland, and consequently is I not to call here. She goes to Wellington, 1 and tranships Auckland mails, cargo? and passeogera tk«. W^^l^M.

RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

The annul meeting of the Auckland Rugby Football Union was held last evening in the Imperial Hotel Between 60 and 70 members were present, and Mr T. Hen derson was voted to the chair. Mr J. Sibbin, tho Hon. Treasurer and acting Secretary, read the following report:— " Your Committee have to congratulate the Union on the success of last season's matches, having won one interprovincial and three intercolonial; defeating Welling ton in June by four points to two ; with New South Wales we played three matches, winning them all with ease. It is satisfac tory to note that nearly thirty players re presented the province in. these matches. The success of these matches is mainly due to the fact that the Union secured a ground at Newmarket for the season. Mr Dil worth, the owner of the property, is de serving of tho thanks of the Union for the forbearance lie ■' showed for any damage done to his hedges, fences, shrubs, etc. All the Senior Club matches and several of the Junior were played on this en closure. It is unnecessary for us to detail the results, except to note thatGrafton Foot ball Club won the Senior Cup after a close run with the Ponsonby Football Club, the previous year's champions. The Junior Cup produced sevaral good matches, the principal being between Nelson, Waitemata, and Graf ton 2nd, the trophy falling to the former club.

We may also make reference to the large attendances at all the Cup and especially the interprovlncial match, Auckland v. Wellington, at which it is estimated there were upwards of 10,000 people, and fully 3,000 at the deciding match between Graf ton and Ponsonby for,the Senior Cup. The season's play shows the popularity of the game, and again giving a direct negative to the ideatnat the climate of Auckland is prejudicial to the development of the footballer. The Committee cannot omit to mention the Bervices rendered by the gentle men who filled the onerous duties of umpire, referee, etc., at these matches, and it is to be regretted that so much undeserved criticism has been passed upon them. It will be the duty of this meeting to elect a new Secretary on account of the absence from the colony of Mr R. L. Skeen, our late Hon. Secretary; in the meantime, the duties have been fulfilled by Mr James M. Sibbin, our Hon. Treasurer, it is unnecessary for the Committee to refer to the amount of entertainment given to the visiting teams. The statement of accounts to be sub mitted will show tha position of the Union for tho past season. The Committee have also to draw your attention to a bene fit match in aid of the funds of the Auck land Benovolont Society, producing £18 Is Gel, and also a donation of £20 arising out of the Wellington match. Before closing we desire to thank the press of Auckland for the publicity given to the game and the general accuracy oi their reports. In re ference to the coming season the Committee hope to see the blue and white bars success ful in the coming intorprovincial match with Otago. Balanck-siieets,—Receipts: By proceeds of Club matches, £220 6a lid ; Wellington match, £74 8s Id; New South Wales matches, £65 ossd ; Club subscriptions and. Vice-Presidents, £19 19s: Total, £379 6s sd. Expenditure: Ground rent, £65; printing, £21 12s 9d; ground expenses, etc., £47 16a lOd ;' Uniforms, badges, etc., £41 os lid ; Benevolent Society, £38 Is Gd; J. .and W. Warbrick and J. ex penses in representatives £17 16s; entertaining New Sputh Wales team, luncheons, steamer, cabs, breaks, etc., £59 93 ; sundries, £25 5s 9d : total, £307 0s lid. Balance, £62 5s 6d, less £15 7s unaccounted for. Separate balance-sheets were submitted for the Wellington match, and for each of the New South Whales matches. By these it was shown 'jjhat the gross receipts in the Wellington match amounted to £303 9s 9d, and the expenses to £229 0e 9d. The chief items in this heavy expenditure account are: Wellington Rugby Union —£40; J. Warbricki. £17:;. R. Wluteside, £5; ground expenses, £63 8s .3d .;■ dinner to team, £66 12s 6d ; printing and advertising, £10 6s 6d ; cabs and breaks, £19 2s 6d. In the three Now South Wales matches the gross proceeds \ve,re £278 18s lOd ; Auck land's share amounted .to £65 .0s sd, New South.Walss, to £147 12s sd, ex penses swallowing up the remainder. On the' Chairman asking if any member had any remarks to make, Mr Crowe asked for information concerning several items. These being satisfactorilry answered by the Secretary, Mr Crowe proceeded to criticise the report and balance-sheet generally. He waa of opinion, and his opinion was shared by tha general public, that there had been either flagrant dishonesty or in competence in the management of the Union's affairs. He pointed out that over £70 had been spent on the ground in im proving, fencing, etc., and now the Union were all that to the bad, as the Committee had failed to secure aground.' The ex penses of players—£39 17s—were extrava gant. It soemed as if the Committee had intended to get rid of the funds anyhow, so long as they went. They had wasted, the funds of the Union, and by their incompetence the large amount of £500 had been really lost to the Club. This was the balance he reckoned the Uriion : should have. There was an absence of system in all they had done, and going into the accounts the Committee laid before the meeting, he showed how, if things had been managed rightly, the receipts for tho various matches would have been far larger, and it was evident there had been greaii misappropriation of. funds. He charged the Committee with having rendered football unpopular with the general public, and with being the cause of the disputes with Wellington by their bad judgment in appointing the Auckland umpire. Finally,; ho askod the various de legates to be careful to exclude the clique 'that had managed affairs last year, that they might elect better but could not elect worse. Mr Cotter, in reply to Mr Crowe, stated that he had naught to do with the accounts, and therefore would not speak concerning them, but he charged Mr Grow© with vin dictiveness in the imputation he cast on his umpiring. Mr Poland explained that Mr Crowe did not wish to throw any re flection on Mr Cotter's umpiring. He himself thought it was quite fair, but what Mr Crowe meant to convey was thafc tho Committee had given the Wellirigtoniana o handle to work with when they appointed an umpire who had been previously in hot water with the Union .of the Empire, City. Mr George: He did hot put it that way. Mr Crowe : Well, Mr Chairman, if I did not put it that way, I beg to state that what Mr Poland has just said con veys exactly what I intended to say. Mr Arnoil thought that "Mr Crowe's attack an the Auckland umpire was . quite uncalled; for, and decidedly out of taste. On the Chairman Calling the meeting to order, tho matter. dropped. In answer to Mr Courtoyne, the Secretary stated that there were no further- liabilities.\ Mr Henderson proposed, " That the report and balance-sheet of the Committee, as read, be adopted." Carried. Nkw Clubs.—The Waitemata and Nel son Football Clubs were elected as senior clubs of the Union, and the United F.C. as a junior. . Election op Offices. — The following officers were elected by the delegates pre sent s — President': Mr Waddel. Vice- Presidenta: Massrs E. Mitchelson, J. Brigham, W. S. Wilson, R. Garrett, and H. H. Hayr. Secretary; Mr F. Dixon. Treasurer :Mr F. Clayton. Management Committee :'Messrs J. Arneil, T. Ryan, T. Henderson, R. Crowe, and A. Burgess. Auditors : Messrs Q> B* Osmond and Yon1 ■"'•'•''•"^'■'•'•:.v\.^i?,ii - •'' ■u;i^^,\' ' ■ ; , :'■■.■ ..„,... : .. . ..'^ : .

Letters.—The Secretary read the letter from the New South Wales Union that has already been published in these columns. It was referred to the Management Com mittee.—The Auckland 11. wrote askinc permission to play all their matched on the Metropolitan Ground. Referred to Committee. — A letter was read from Mr E. Davy, Secretary of the Wellington Football Union, stating that at their annual meeting the Union had passed the following resolution : "In the opinion of this meeting it is not considered advisable to send a New Zealand team to New South Wales this season, and that this resolution be forwarded to the other Unions." The letter continued :"I think that a letter should be sent by one of the Unions in reply for the colony and we will be pleased to do so on your behalf." This was also referred to the Management Com mittee. ;. '■ .

Gkoiti?d.-—The Ground Committee re ported that they had not been able to se cure a .ground. They were in hopes of getting Potter's paddock out at Epsom. Some of the members were of opinion that it was too far out.' ■ ' ' ■

■Management Committee.—The first meeting is to be held in the Club-room to morrow evening at 8 o'clock.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.

FIRES AT BLENHEIM.

(BY TELEGRAPH—PRESB ASSOCIATION.) '

Blenheim, this day. An unusually large number of stack fires have occurred in this district during the present season, besides cottages, in the country burnt down under circumstances which appear mysterious. Incendiarism is suspected, and several insurance offices have decided to decline stack risks in Marl borough for the future.

TROUBLE AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

ENQUIRY INTO SERIOUS .',l '■■ OHAKGES.

Last" night, Messrs Ewington and Steven. son,. the' Visiting Justices of the Lunatic Asylum at Whau, met therefor the purpose of inquiring into certain specific allegations of neglecting a patient which had been made •by certain of the attendants. The proceedings, of course, were private, and the Justices decline to give information of what transpired; but we have been, able to glean the following particulars of the en quiry, which led up to it, and what has re sulted, and is likely to result from it, In December last a young man named John McGarry was committed to the asylum as insane. After he had been confined for about (i month the patient refused food, and for several days not an atom of solid nourish ment passed his lips. The medical super intendent, Dr Cremdnini, had his attention drawn to the case, but he did not consider it was one that called for compulsory feed ing, and said that the patient would call for food bye-and-bye. It is alleged that the crazy man tasted nothing for five days and became so exhausted by privation thathe had shortly after to be taken to the hospital at the Asylum, where, under treatment, he slowly recovered. The complaints regarding Me Garry's treatment originated with several of his fellow pat ients, wholodged af ormal charge which Was investigated by Dr McGregor Inspector of Aiylnms during, his last visit to Aucklanc. This came to nothing, chiefly because of the &,hsenCe of one of the atten dants from the inquiry j but it is remarked that the male. attendant who gave the , most,. condemnatory evi dence at that inquiry was within a few days summarily dismissed on the osten! eible ground of being three minutes late in arriving at the Asylum in the morning. As there was apparently to be no more heard pf the allegations in McGarry's case, freeh charges were laid by four attendants, and Messrs Stevenson and Ewington at once proceeded to hold an investigation. Dr Cremouini was present at the formal inquiry which took place last night and the four attendants who made the complaint were examined upon oath with reference to the treatment of MpGarry. They deposed that the doctor's attention was daily called to the fact that McGarry was taking no food; that the doctor on one occasion told them to "let him rip,"; and on ianother. said it was only his disease that led; him to refuse food. Two of tlie attendants said they considered the man McGarry had been neglected, and one gave it as bis opinion that Dr Crernonini was not always compos mentis himself. Dr Cremonini emphatically denied that the patient had been neglected in any way, and said, that it was the duty of the heari atten dant* to see that no patient suffered for want of food. .The (justices , took notes of the evidence, and these, with their report thereon, will probably be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary. We are led to believe that the Justices consider the charges trivial, and that they . have not been established. ~.,, ~ • ;.'.',

There has already been one result from the injury' however. The attendant who has doubt about his superior officer's sanity was sent for by the doctor immediately after tne injury,and dismissed on a moment's notice. A contingent outcome of this may be an action at "law for recovery of salary, and damages for wrongful dismissal. The attendant in question has been fifteen years in the public service at the Asylum, and bears an excellent character in every re spect. His " trouble "is but a phase of the Constant state of friction that has prevailed at the Asylum since Dr Young's death, and it is highly important in the. public interest that there should be a satisfactory investi gation made into the " strained relations."

A MAORI PROPHET.

Fanaticism of Northern Natives.

pFFEBING HUMAN SACRIFICES. \

(BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

• , ■•■ ' Wellington, this day. Wiremu Katene an' important chief of the Ngapuhi tribe,; telegraphs from Russell dated the " 18th,. ; complaining that the evil arising : from the prophesy ing of'■ Aru Kaaori is increasing and the natives havo burnt.the body of the dead in the fire. Ho objects to this and states that the chiefs ,of the Ngapuhi are considering the objectionable practice which had already taken place at Ngapuhi, and Rawara parts of the Island. He asks the, opinion of the Government. Tha Native Minister,' replying, regrets that cremation should disturb the minds of loyal natives, but points out that tho same justice, is carried out. in Europe, and is tolerated by Europeans, w,hc adhere to old customs; He' suggested that the natives should take1 no'notice o? the coronation, and the practice would sooi; die out. Wi Katene moved yes'terdaj! that tha Minister apparently did not) undertand the facts. The motive was that the body was burnt -as: a: sacrifieo to their God, and,even, if their God were to order them to; eat ithe dead they would d^ it. He considered it a most dreadful act Mr: Ballance1 now' advises the chiefs tc: caHall the! people together to discuss the whole.matter so,as to,create; public feeling and if possible hustle the prophet out cf th° district* •.•:.' :-.-. '....,». -~.., —.r'i

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TffirAgCRLAND E?MING STAR, MtffiSDAf, APMh 2i, 1881