NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 513, 21 May 1909, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

| - (HI TULEOEAPH—PEBSS ASSOCIATION.} • HAVE PIRATES LOOTED HCR? THE WRECKED AEON, a Auckland, May 20. .H.M.S. Cambrian visited Chiistmas Island oh March 4, and found the.bow of "the wrecked steamer Aeon fast oh. a roef. : Tho remainder of the vessel 'had"cither' sunk or jbcon carried away by tho tide. Tbo beach ' was strewn with goods from tho wreck. The merchandise, most of it mined by water, was buried in,tho sand. - No attempt-was ' ,-mado to board tho wreck. Nothing of value was oxposed, this loading'to tho conclusion that the entire cargo had disappeared. The Cambrian's officers doubted tho story that pirates had looted tho ship. Tho Honolulu expedition arrived 'shortly, after tho Cambrian's visit. It was expected that they would got a full load of Stuff of more or lesj value: Thcro is no furtlicr news regarding the Auckland expedition. INVERCARCILL TRAMWAYS. SIB JOSEPH WARD FOREGOES THE RIGHTS. , ; InvercargUl, May 20. After considerable delay in coming to a decision in regard to tho Invcrcargill Tramways, tho rights of which are held by Sir Joseph Ward, tho matter has been brought to a head by a letter from Sir Joseph, which j was read at tho Town; Council mooting to-1 night. Tho lottor stated that, as public , opinion seemed to bo strongly in favour of municipal tramways, he and thoso associated with him in the enterprise had decided to relinquish tho rights, if expenses connected therewith, amounting to £1500, wore refunded. Tho council referred tho matter to' a special committee. \ REFLOATING THE TftVIUNI. • ■ THE MEN CEASE'WORK. Westport, May 20. Seventy men employed on tho steamer Taviuni launching operations have discontinued work. They aro paid Is. 3d. per hour, and demand Is. 6d., owing to,having to' work in water and other unusuar inconveniences. Tho increase waa refused. CHARCE OF FRAUD. , New Plymouth, May 20. R. G. Pattorson, who was arrested hero jrestorday on a warrant from Dannevirko, ivas remanded to that town by Mr. Fitzherbort, S.M., this morning, on a charge of fraud, supposed to bo in connection with a sawmill business. SUSPENSION BRIDCE. > Eketahuna, May 20. Tho Hon. A. W. Hogg, acompanied by Mr.< Wright, Departmental -Engineer, inspected the Dawson suspension bridge in tho Eketahuna district, with tho object of ascertaining its suitability for general use. Mr. Wright will confer with Mr. Dawson before expressing an opinko. DAMAGES FOR INJURY. Duncdln, May 20. In, the Supreme Court to-day, Margaret ■Clough was awarded £150 damages against the Kaikorai Tram Company for injuries alleged to have been caused by negligence. It Was claimed by the plaintiff, who is seventy years of ago,' that when in the act of alighting from a car, defendant's servants,' in charge of the cor, negligently caused it to move on, whereby she wa9 thrown and seriously injured, having her leg broken. ALLECED DEFAMATION. , ' ~ " ~ Eketahuna, May 20. The caso H. Pithio v. Herbert, ex-Mayor, and tho Express) Company, a claim for £100 damages for alleged defamatory statements, stated to have been made by Mr. Herbert at a Borough Council meeting, and,published in the "Express," has been with- > drawn. ' i NORTH ISLAND OIL. , Now Plymouth, May 20. Pumping operations at the Taranaki Petroleum-Company's. No. 2 well continue satisfactory,: yielding an average of' ten or tielve barrels of;pure oil daily. Boring operations aro likely to bo commenced shortly in tho ■ Mokau district. COURSING. Ttmaru, May 20. The Open Stake (coursing) was .concluded to-day. 'In the semi-final, The Yoke beat Awaponi. In the final, Lord Clements beat The Yoke. .DAMAGES GIVEN FOR LIBEL. Auckland, May 20. ■ • The caso in which Charles Reid, cabinetmaker, of i Cambridge, sought to recover £250 damages for alleged libel from James Soutor, merchant,, in. the same .town,' was concluded at tho Supremo Court this afternoon, tho jury giving a verdict for plaintiff Damages wero assessed at £50. DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL. Dunedln, May 20. "A meeting of !tho High School Board of Governors, provisionally selected tho design of Mr. E.AAnscombo, out of 21 submitted, . for tho Girls' High School. Tho designer was asked to prepare specifications for tho approval of the board of tho entire building, ns modified by tho board and Education Department, also specifications for tho work ■ now proposed, to cost £9500, and when such specifications are approved, alternative tondors are to be called. Until it is shown that tho work can bo 'done within tho estimate of the designer, tho board does not undertake ,to accept any offer. A HEAVY CALENDAR. Auckland, May 20. ". Business at tho Supreme Court Criminal and Civil sessions is so heavy that Mr. Justice Sim has been instructed to come to Auckto assist Mr. Justico Edwards. There' are 72 criminal cases on tho' list, 17 only having beon disposed of so far.- There aro also , 45 civil casos, 25 being divorce suits. A PALMERSTON MUNICIPAL MATTER.' ' Palmorston North, May 20. The Mayor has given notice of his intention to movo to rescind tho resolution abolishing day labour in favour of contract on municipal works, which was carried the other day by ouo vote. Councillor Palmer, who was absent from tho meeting; has returned to Palmorston,'arid this.voto will be for day .labour, so that, with tho Mayor's casting vote, the rescission of the resolution is certain. NEWS IN BRIEF.' Oamaru, May 20. Before Mr. Hutchison, S.M., to-day, a man named Joo Sweeney, pleaded guilty 'to a ■charge of horse-stealing, and was committed to. tho Supreme Court for sontonco. Wairoa, May 20. ' " Tlio Wairoa Harbour Bill, authorising a loan' of £78,000 for rivor improvement,, has >ecn lodged at tho -Courthouse, with tho iccessary plans. The reclamation possibly iggregates over 800 acres.