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Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 155, 1 July 1907, Page 4

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: From between north and east ■and south-west strong winds to gale after 16 hours; glass fall; rain probably heavy and warmer weather.

The Customs official at Mangonui wired to the Collector of Customs at Auckland (Mr J. Mills) on Saturday last as follows: —"The scow Korora, when sailing out of port, missed stays, and bumped on to a rock at North Head, Mangonui Harbour. She got clear with the aid of the winch and anchor, apparently undamaged. The captain expects to leave for Auckland this afternoon."

The barquentine Pendle Hill, which arrived at Auckland from Newcastle on Saturday night last, had a rough passage The master (Captain R. Owens) states that it was one of the roughest in his experience. The vessel sailed on June 9, and experienced fine weather until June 14. The wind then changed to the east and S.E-, and for 13 days the vessel bad a hard battle of it, the sea being exceptionally heavy. On the 26th the wind suddenly backed into tbe south-west, blowing a moderate gale, with a high confused sea, and the decks were constantly flooded up to the rails. The North Cape was rounded on the 29th, and light south-west winds and smooth seas were experienced on tbe passage down the coast.

The Calliope Dock case was concluded on Saturday night, the jury returning their verdict in favour of the defendants (the Auckland Harbour Board) at ten mLnutes past seven. His Honor (Mr Justice Denniston) summed up in four hours, and directed the jury that in the event of their finding in the affirmative on questions 1 and 3 of the points at issue, they need not trouble about the others as that amounted to a verdict for defendants. The jury, after a retirement of four hours and a quarter, returned, answering questions 1 and. 3 in the affirmative, viz., that the blocks were suitable in design, construction and condition. The case is likely to prove one of the most expensive actions that has come before the Civil Court for many years. The total costs, it is anticipated, will amount approximately to £2400. Some 14 cases, involving claims amounting to £62SS a3 compensation for injuries received in connection with the accident have yet to be taken against the Harbour Board. The solicitors in the case were: —For the plaintiff company, Messrs. Bell, Gully, Bell and Myers, of Wellington, Messrs. Earl and Kent, of Auckland, acting as their agents; and for the defendants, Messrs. Russell and Campbell. The leading bripf for the plaintiff company was Mr H. Gully (Wellington), and with him Mr F. Earl (Auckland) ; and for the defendant, Mr C. P. Skerrett, X.C-, led and with him Messrs. T. Cotter and R. McVeagh.

At a meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation, it was decided to ask the Minister for Marine to make such, arrangements as would permit of news of vessels bound to Auckland passing Cape Maria van Diemen on Sundays being telegraphed to Auckland, such telegrams to be posted outside the General Post Office. It was also resolved:—"That this federation desires to express the greatest indignation at the opinions expressed in a paragraph in the Current Topics column of the "New Zealand Times," Wellington, of June 22, wherein Wellington firms weie advised to take advantage of the unfortunate disaster sustained by the Northern Steamship Company, Auckland, in the loss of the Kia Ora, by endeavouring to divert the Kawhia trade from Auckland to Wellington, in spite of the efforts made by the Northern Company to promptly place another steamer on the line to Kawhia," and that in the event of any such attempt being made every assistance will be rendered by the federation to the Northern S.S. Company in order to enable Auckland to retain the trade, and to take whatever farther steps might be deemed necessary to defeat the ■proposal referred to.

The a.Tiiwnl conference ef the New Zealand Farmers' Union -will be commenced at Wellington on Tuesday next. A total of 109 remits have "been forwarded for discussion, every topic of public interest being covered. The land question balks largely, and the following remit from Auckland wiQ be discussed-: —"That Crown Tenants on lease-in-pexpetuity tenure have the right to acquire the freehold of their holdings on payment by the lessee of the original value and the payment of the difference on the lease-in-perpetuity* and the 5 per cent charged to tenants vath right of purchase, and also thai tenants under the Land for Settlement Act be allowed to purchase at the original valuation, provided that all the coifoitions imposed have been complied with." On the question of native lands Auckland forwards the following remit:—"That the Government be urged to effect a speedy and satisfactory settlement of all native lands whereby they will pay rates and allow the country to be settled as it should be."

The Chinese in Wellington nave almost absolute control of the fruit and laundry business, and a movement lias been instituted to get rid of the Celestials by leaving them alone and patronising European establishments. Mr. W. A. Lloyd, a late member of the staff of the Tourist Department, delivered an address on the subject on Friday night. The citizens were face to face, he said, with, a national danger, and they -would ward it off, not by persecuting the Chinese—for that would be merely furnishing a weapon which could be used against themselves—but by leaving the Chinese severely alone. The only solution of the difßcalty lay in patronising European traders in preference to Chinese. He did not believe that any kind of poll tax would ever remove the Chinese evil, for the tax was simply paid by the white people. A motion proposed by Mr. W. H. Westbrooke, secretary of the Trades and 'Labonr Council, "That this meeting declares itself emphatically in favour of a white New Zealand, and urges upon the Government the desirability of passing legislation prohibiting i the immigration of Chinese and other Asiatics" was carried.

The Calliope Dock case recalls to mind another action in which the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company figured as plaintiffs. Thi3 was an action against the Timaru Harbour Board in November, 1887, in which damages amounting to £32,802 16/8 were claimed for the loss of a ship and her cargo, whilst under the control of and by the alleged negligence of a person aJleged to be a servant of the Board. The jury found ■a. verdict for the company for £31,792 16/8. On a motion for a non-suit or for judgment for the Board, removed into the Court of Appeal, that Court in hedd that there would be no sufficient notice of action as required by the Harbour Act, and entered judgment for the Board on that ground, but held that the Board was responsible for the negligence of the person named, whilst it gave the Board the general costs of the actionOn appeal from this judgment to the Privy Council, the Privy Council gave no decision as to the sufficiency of the notice of action, but held that the Board was not responsible for tlie negligence, and dismissed the appeal on that ground, and varied the judgment of the Court of Appeal by directing that the company should "pay the costs of the suit and of the appeal."

Mr F. E. Eussell, who -was until recently a -member of the London Board of Directors of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., has been appointed tie company's chief inspector for New Zealand. Mr finssell has arrived in Wellington, and takes up his duties on Monday.

In his speech at the Wellington Town Hall last Wednesday the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, publicly acknowledged the services which his private secretary, Mr James Hislop, had rendered him during his absence in the Old Land. Sir Joseph said that on a former occasion he bad to thank Mr B. Wilson, who had now undertaken the dutie3 of a more responsible position, for the work he had done in a similar capacity.

The New Zealand Granite Quarries, Ltd., shipped by the scow bee on Saturday a 10- ton crane for use at the works, Moehau. Moorings were also sent to enable vessels to lie with safety at the company's wharf, which is now of sufficient length to berth scows. It is intended to lengthen this wharf so as to provide accommodation for larger vessels at any state of the tide, there being ample depth of water. The company also proposes erecting sawing machinery and sheds at their yard in Stanleystreet. The first concert of the season in connection with the Avondale Musical Society will be held next Wednesday evening. The Waiteniata U.A.OJX social will be held in Ponsonby Hall on Wednesday evening.

We are informed that the concrete sleeper and the regauging clip for the attachment of the rails to the sleeper, invented by Mr. J. C. Pearson, have met with the approval of several of our local engineers, and tests are now being .uade. It is hoped that the new device will take the place of wooden sleepers both on rail and tram lines.

The severity of the weather on the Main Trunk line of railway is being keenly felt by the men. A correspondent states that no sooner is an ripening made through the ice than it is frozen up again. The ice being several inches in thickness, hammers and axes are brought into requisition to break through it. The vaxious railway cutting's present a most unusual sight where the sun's rays never penetrate. Icicles four and even five feet in length are of common occurrence during frosty weather. —"Settler."

It is reported that the scow Pukapuka and the cutters Eleanor and Teaser, which went ashore at Squadron Bay Waiheke, during the recent heavy weather, have s\istained considerable damage. Repairs are to be effected without delay, and it i≤ hoped that the vessels will be seaworthy again in a few weeks.

The question as to the advisability of having the departments of the Chief Surveyor and the Commissioner of Crown Lands of the Auckland district entirely separated, .. again came up for discussion at the quarterly meeting of the Anckland branch of the New Zealand Surveyors' Institute, held in the (Palmerston Buildings, on Saturday evening. A letter was received from the council of the institute, stating that, as they considered the matter a political one, they could fcake no action. The meeting finally decided to leave the matter to the local committee to interview the Anckland members of the House of Representatives, and also to approach the Law Society asking for their cooperation in procuring what the meeting ■considered must be apparent to everyone as a necessary reform in these departments.

Tie near camjiletian. of the Main Northlrunk Railway between Wellington and Auckland, is directing special "attention to the enormous area of country which, lies between Marton Junction and Taumarunui, O n the Wangunui River. The development of the timber industry, the cutting down of the bush and the grassing of the land for small farms along the line of railway, is creating the settlement of large numbers of people in what, but yesterday, was regarded as unknown country. Those who are familiar with the history of the Wellington and Manawatu railway, and who remember the unoccupied forest that lay between Paekakariki and Palmerston North before the construction of the railway, will see the same object lesson before them to-day in the Great North Trunk line. Quite a number of new townships have been created between Taihape and Taumarunui, but so far, none of these townships have assumed special prominence. It has been reserved for private owners to off as the great midway town between the two capital cities, a large freehold block to be known as the Town of Horopito sub-divided into town sections, suburban sections and small farms. The town is situated within twenty chains of the new Horopito railway station, and will be sold in the Chamber of Commerce here on the 24th day of July. The story which is told in our advertising auction column today, of the people being camped on the main road which passes through Horopito, and carrying on business, pending the auction sale of the various sections, recalls many of the latter day stories of American push and energy when the old Indian reservations were opened up four or five years ago for settlement by the United States Government.- Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson and Company, the well-known land auctioneering firm of Wellington, have been asked to take the whole management of the sale, and have associated Sir. T. Mandeno Jackson, of thia city, with them. The Hon. Mr. Kennedy Macdonald himself will wield the hammer on the occasion. A very lengthy descriptive advertisement appears in our auction sale column.

Several Auckland solicitors were caught napping at the Supreme Court this morning, and many and varied -were the excuses for not being "ready with their cases, a large number asking for a postponement until Wednesday. "We can't take the whole session on Wednesday," remarked his Honor. One solicitor frankly admitted that he had not Tead his brief, and that he had no idea his case would be called this morning. "Are your witnesses in town?" asked Ms Honor. "YesJ" was the reply, "Then," rejoined bis Honor, "I see no reason why the case should not go on. If you were in London you would no doubt have to read your Drief between breakfast and the time of the Court sitting." A large number of other cases for some reason or other were not ready, and eventually the Court was adjourned until to-morrow morning.

It is unlikely that the claims for compensation against the Auckland Harbour Board in connection with the Calliope Dock disaster will be heard until next session of the Supreme Court. Mr. T. Cotter, for the Auckland Harbour Board, referring to the matter this morning, asked Mr. Justice Denniston whether some of the-evidence taken in the >l»i" by the Shaw, Savall, and Albion Company might be admissible without recalling the witnesses. His Honor suggested that some arrangement might have been made by the parties, to be bound by the decision in the bigger case. I He had made the suggestion earlier in the negotiations, but it had evidently not been agreed to. Mr. Cotter replied that, whilst no definite agreement on the point had been made/ the Board were prepared to abide by the decision. Bus Honor thought there should be no necessity for further steps with the exception of negotiations until next session. It would, he said, be approaching a> system of impossibility to try and go on with fifteen separate eases. If each case had to be taken separately it would be necessary to have a special session, »-iwl perhaps a special judge. No doubt some decision could be arrived at as to a modus vivendi when he returned from the Court of Appeal.

Our Te Aroha correspondent telegraphs that a young man named Shine, of Wailiou, was shooting in the Piako swamp yesterday, when his companion's gun went off. Shine received the charge ia the thigh, and was attended by Dγ, ILenny and ordered to the Hamilton hospital.

Mr. W. A. Simpson, oil driller for the Taranaki Petroleum. Company's works at Moturoa, New Plymouth, in an interview states that in his opinion there is every indication of a good field, at Moturoa, provided that the difficulty of shutting off the water can be overcome. Within a short time he expects to have done this. Oil in the No. 1 Birthday well still flowed freely when turned on, and the work of cleaning out the bore will be undertaken shortly. This week it would, Tie said, be known whether the water had been shut off from this bore. Work at No. 2 bore had been confined to endeavours to shut-off the water.

With reference to the statement that an enormous quantity of tfraudjulent 41 sago," a compound of maize of -wheat, which, is called "sago," but. is not that article, is imported into the Commonwealth, the Acting-Minister for Customs states that samples have been taken, and are now being analysed, with a view to the issue of some direction under the Commerce Act. "We are making inquiries into the whole matter," Mr. Chapman added. " and until these are complete I cannot say more." It ia probable that Sir William Lyne will issue an order forbidding the use of the word " sago" in connection with anything not'the genuine product of sago palms. The importer will probably be allowed to call his article '•'imitation sago," 'granulated maize," or "granulated tapioca."

The Bishop of New Guinea, Right Rev. Dr. Stone-Wigg, in an interview with the representative of the Brisbane "Courier," stated that the work of the Church of England amoDgst the Papuans had had splendid results. There were now about 1350 children in the day schools, and about 3000 people are tending divine service. He did not wish to imply that the natives were altogether leaving off their old habits and superstitions, but their superstitions had become a great deal weakened, and they weTe beginning to see that the Power which the missionaries revealed to them was far stronger than their own.

Pale, nervous women with little strength and failing appetite are among tho3e who receive the greatest benefit from Steams' Wine, the matchless tonic and strength restorer. Try it. —Advt.

A tie is the thing needed to make a gentleman appear well dressed. Our ties give distinction to their wearers.— I Geo. Fowlde.—lAd.^