NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1022, 11 January 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telc-ji-aph.'—Press" Association.! _• TROUBLE ON S.S. KAIPARA. , FIVE SEAMEN AND THEIR FOOD. Auckland, January 10, _ At the Police Court to-day, five seamen from the steamer Kaipara, now in port, were charged with absenting themselves without leave. : The chief officer of the Kaipara stated that the men. walked ashore oil Monday' morning, and returned late in the afternoon,. when , they -were arrested. One of the accused, Stccn by name, constituted himself the spokesman, of the party, and said that they were not satisfied with the. food provided, and the . general, treatment received. Three of the men Stated that they would prefer gaol to returning oil board. His Worship convicted accused, and sentenced them to three days' imprisonment, and also ordered them to pay' 7s. costs each, adding that tlie police would be instructed to put the men on. board prior to the vessel's departure. • TARANAKI HALF-HOLIDAY. SATURDAY IN FAVOUR. ,New Plymouth, January 10. . A movement is on foot, emanating from . .the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, to observe Saturday as the weekly half-holi--day throughout the province, and the, matter is being considered by. the- various borough ■ councils and other bodies,, and, generally speaking, favourably.. The •Waitara Borough Council 'had a conference with the business people last night, and decided that Saturday -would be the "best day for- the half-holiday, agreeing to observe it if the idea -were unanimously adopted. • WHOSE WAS THE WHALE?.. Blenheim, January 10.]- . . The judgment of the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) was delivered to-iday in the appeal* against the in the recent whale case. • It will be re-> membered that Te Awaite whalers caught and killed a whale in Queen Sound, which disappeared after having; been towed to a place./ of safety. Somedays afterwards the whale was found by; another party,- who took "possession. Thei Magistrate gave judgment for the Ta; Awaite party,' and Sir Robert upheld thisj decision, saying that in his opinion th&whale was left in a., position of apparentsafety, and remained the property of the'-; persons who killed: it, just as if it had : , been a boat left in that position. • Costswere granted against appellants.

CHRISTCHURCH MAYORALTY. ! Christchurc.h, January 10.. • Up to the present'time, Mr. C. Allison*, Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., and Dr. Thacker' are the only" candidates announced for the Mayoralty. 31r. G. W. Russell, M.P. has been asked to bo a candidate, • but he stated to-day that after consid-.; eration he had found that the work inseparable from the 'position wouldbo too heavy, in view'of the-duties entailed by the other public positions he holds. AN UNSAFE CROSSING. ' Timaru, January 10. An adjourned inquest was held at muka regarding a recent r ra<ilway fatality.' The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attributabla to anyone, and added a rider as follows: ■—"From our knowledge that crossing ia very . dangerous, and something should be to make it safer." The Minis- - ter for-Railways has promised to'call and look into the matter. . ;• INFANT'S BODY FOUND. ' Timaru, January 10. The body of a newly-born male infant • has'been found-in a small-garden enclosure in the middle of tte boroughThere is-no . clue yet as to the parent, ■ STILL PLAYING AT IT. . Christchurch, January 10. T_,-Fjve:.members of a "two-up" .school were convicted at the Magistrate's Court this morning.. Four were fined .£5 each, and : the fifth, James M'Millan; wa-s sent /to-gaol.for three month?. ; ' THE GUM OF 1910. Auckland, January 10.; : The total production of kauri , gum itt 1910 was 8079 tons—slightly less-than forthe previous year. Seven 1 thousand nine ■ hundred' and were exported—' . 382 Dto America, 'and 4150 to Europe.. The gum'washelow the average in quality, tne average price being <ft!s,a ton. ■ ■. .•'COMMEMORATION BATHS, ■- Pahiatua, January 10. ■ It is proposed to commemorate the Coro«.' nation here' by' constructing municipa ■ swimming baths. The Borough Council last night appointed a committee to coa sider the matter and report. POLICE ENTER RUA'S PA. ' Auckland, January 10. The "Star's"' ICutarer9' correspondent telegraphs that six constables raided Rua's" na'at Waimana at i.o'clock this morn-, ing. ' It is alleged ■ that a- sly grog-shop -- has been running in the pa. for two ■ months. '