NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

[BY TrLEGEAPfI—rEEBS ASSOCIATION.) . » AN AUCKLAND VENTURE. PROTECTED BY A WARSHIP. Auckland, March 8. The Aeon salvage syndicate has received cable advice- that their schooner has cleared Honolulu for Christmas Island, the- objective- of tho expedition recently dispatched from Auckland, it was stated that Honolulu residents had formed a company to visit tho Aeon, but wcro anticipated by tho action of tho Auckland syndicate. Tho latter communicated with tho British Consul at Honolulu, asking that tho interest of the syndicate bo protected. The following reply was received via Sydney: "The Cambrian arrives at Fanning Island on Saturday. Tho Governor (Sir Harry Rawson) has cabled to tho Cambrian oliicors to watch tho syndicate's property."

APPOINTMENT OF A TEACHER. FRICTION AT WESTPQRT. V/estport, March'S. The Westport School principalship is still in an undecided state. Since last meeting one of tho members of tho school committee, who supported Mr. flarknoss, departed on business to tho Old Country, hut tho four others have a majority by exercising tho casting vote of tho chairman. -At the ordinary meeting to-night the four who protested against the appointment of Air. Harkness did not put in an appearance, tho mooting lapsing for want of a quorum. The ■ action of the latter is.taken, it is alleged, as a protest against the action of tho hoard in sending forward only ono name when applications had beon invited, and other candidates eligible for tho position, and to throw tho responsibility of making tho appointment of Mr. Harknoss on tho board, or ■ to give tho board an opportunity to reconsider the request of the public meeting to defer making tho appointment until after the annual meeting of householders and the election, of tho new cominitteo. ' TEACHER AND PUPIL. CHARGE OF ASSAULT DISMISSED. Palmcrston North, March 8. Wm. Watts, teacher at tho Collcgo Street School, was yesterday charged with assaulting a scholar. Medical and other evidence was .given, alleging that tho boy had been cruelly thrashed with a strap till ho was considerably bruised. Mi , . A. 1). Thomson, S.M., dismissed tho case without calling on tho defence, saying under the circumstance the boy had not beon unduly punished. LIFEBELTS ON NAPIER BEACH. Napier, Maroh 8. In connection with the Coroner's remarks on Saturday condemning tho lifebelts available on Napier beach, it is pointed out thut tho lifebelts used aro in accordance with tho , Board of Trade regulations, and that'a lino 200 yards long as suggested,. would bo uu- : manageablo in the surf. AN AL FRESCO HOTEL. Cliristchurch, March 8. To-day Alfred Bethord- was soiit to gaol for three months, , without the '. option nf a fine, for selling whisky in Tuam Street on. Sunday morning without a license. Bothord hangs about the street till thirsty ones ask where a drink can bo had, then he draws out a bottlo. In this caso ho sold tlire* shillings' worth of whisky to civilians, and gave up another bottle when arrested. COD LIN MOTHi Nelson, March 8. At tho Motueka Magistrate's Court, Mr. H. Eyre-Kenny fined a fruitgrower named Hugh Williams £5 and costs for neglecting to control codlin moth. QUEENSLAND BUILDING TRADE. Westport, March 8. In connection with tho controversy between Mr. Pryor (secretary of the Em. ployers' Federation) arid tho Labour representatives, Telativo to work for builders in i Queensland, Mr. Pryor, who is now in Westport, states that ho has received a letter' from tho scretary of the Employers' Federation of Queensland, stating that he will take ■ all the workers in the building trado available that Mr. Pryor can recommend, and Mr. Pryor is leaving for Wellington to-day to see what can bo done in. tho-matter. THE MILLERTON FIRE. Westport, March 8. No change is reported from Millerton in regard to Mine Creek fire, but it is understood that hopes aro entertained of speedy control of tho firo boiug obtained, if that has not already been done. There is no indication yet of rain. ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. Invercarglll, March 8. At the Police Court to-day Claroiioo Matthews, a man about 22 years of, age, who was arrested at Masara on Saturday evouing, was charged with theft of clothing valued at £3, and with discharging a revolver at a man named Wilson with intent to do bodily harm. Accused was not in a lit mental condition to appear, and was remanded. Ho had been conlined in a cell during the night, and while there made a most determined but unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide. Tho 'constable in charge of him left him for a few minutes, apparently resting peacefully, but, during the' constable's absence, accused attempted to hang himself with a piece of his blanket tied at ono end round tho grating above tho door and tho other round his neck. Ho stood on a bucket, and then kicked tho bucket away. He would certainly have died had the constable not returned in time. Matthews has siiico been declared a lunatic and sent to Seacliff. HOSPITAL SATURDAY. Invercafgill, March 7. The Hospital Saturday collection for Southland Hospital was taken up yesterday, and the amount announced to date totals about £650. There are several country lists yet to como to hand, and it is calculated that the grand total will be £700. Of this amount small percentages arc to bo set asido for VkStoria Home tfor friendless girls), Bluff Sailors' Rest, Prisoners' Aid Society, and Sixpenny Clothing Club, leaving 70 per cent, for the addition of a children's ward to tho ■ hospital. This is the second of such collections hero. Last year tho total was £1178. NEWS IN BRIEF. Cisborns, March S. At tho Supremo Court to-day, before Justico Edwards, Patrick Morris, for burglary, was convicted and sentenced to three years. A half-caste Native, named William Collins, was convicted of forgery, and remanded for tho Probation Officer's report until to-morrow. At tho Supremo Court, John James Isaac Todd, convicted of theft of £13 from a 'man named Cooper at an hotel, was sentenced to twelve mouths' imprisonment. A little girl, eight years old, was, it is alleged, brutally outraged by a Cingaleo on a vacant section to-day. Tho alleged assailant was arrested later. Tho victim is in a critical condition. Cliristchurch, March S. An old-ago pensioner, named Thomas Skuddor, aged 78, died suddenly at tho Ashley Hotel yesterday morning, . • Hokltika, March 8. Tho weathor continues wonderfully dry, and thero is a groat shortago of water overywhoro. Core, March 8. James Caban was convicted this.morning on a charge of being in possession of a loaded revolver whilo drunk, and was fined £1. Cabau, together with soveral others, had been participating in tho contents of a keg of beer on Saturday night, and ho suddenly produced a weapon, which was taken from him boforo ho could do any damage. Feildlng, March 6. Tho Feilding municipal swimming baths, erected at a cost of £1500, wero officially opened by tho Mayor, ,W. J. B. Trowin, i on. Saturday., afternoon..