NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1680, 21 February 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By TcJegraph.-Proi« Association.) :."'»' , STAR OF CANADA, . NO dIANCE OF REFLOATING. Gisborne,-February 19. Messrs. Langlands ana Co., after dud deliberation, have decided to abandon' their attempt to refloat the Star of Canada, but will forthwith "skin" the vessel of everything of value. Negotiations havs been pending with, a Wellington engineering firm which. proposed to undertako tin i contract of refloating the vessel anil placing her in. Port Chalmers dock, but the deal was not completed, and will now go no further. At a rough estimate' it is considered that, to refloat and refit (ho Star of Canada to anything approaching her original condition, would cost JE3O,OC(I, and, the venture ; boing one in which the issues are uncertain, tho amount named is held to bo a>rather "tall" sum to leav« on tho scales of sacculation. ! It is anticipated that 12,000 tone of coal will bo got from tho bottom of tli« steamer. ; . . CAUL FOR SLOT TELEPHONES. \ Chrljtchurch, February 20. ; Tho Hon. R Heaton llhodas rcceiv<ri several deputations to-day,, members of which asked for tho installation of Blot telephones in different localities, i \ Replying to a deputation from Wookton.,the Minister said that there had been a . . great pressure of work throughout ilie country, and tho Department's hands hud . , been fully employed on telegraphic- construction. This pressure, however, had now cased off a little, and ho would 1»e able to put more bands on the work ijpnnccted with 6lot telephones. Ho hojiod, in a month or two, to instal a fow ntero slot telephones in Christchurch. ! The Minister, left for Wellington tlui. evening. . ' ■ ■ r■ j '•'". ' GREATER AUCKLAND; : ! . . Auckland, February 20/ ' , Members of tho Into Farnell Borough- ,'. Council took their seats on tho anited ' Auckland City Council to-night, and wer* welcomed by, the Mayor.- . MOTOR FARES. | ■ ':•-.' Auckland, February 20; Thirty-three owners and drivers .jot motor-cars appeared before tho City.Council Finance Committee- in connection with, overcharging fares. They promised not ito do it again, and the natter ended. .-'■,■ I COACHWORKERS > DISPUTE^'■.,; Auckland, February 15|. The coachworkors' dispute has ■ b'en • satisfactorily settled by tho Conciliatjon Cnuocil. The agreement includes a preference clause, and (Pages have been, increated from Is. Bd. to Is. 4Jd. per hour. Tho tveek's work shall comprise 47 hours. ONE BIG 'AUCKLAND?-'/"'! Auckland, February til. The- greater Auckland schemo is creating great interest in tho 6uburbs.' Tho ";■ amalgamation of Parnell with tho city has jnit been gazetted, and Rcmuera ratejay cr» also favour tho schemo. A petition ia , now in circulation in tho latter borough, with tho idea of bringing about uniOni ' CALEDONIAN SPORTS. J Napier, February 20. i Tho Caledonian snorts wcro held ; yes« terday under .most favourable- conditions and before a record attendance; Results of tho principal-events: 120 yds. and 200 ■■■'■■ yd*, flat, Melted; 440 yds., C. Hartshorn r half-mile, C. Boyd; mile, V. Carroll; milo bicycle, A. Robinson; hvo-milo bicycle, P. Griffon: wrestling, Thompson,':Han- "• sen, and Casselly; dancing, M'Kechnia and M'Kenzie; pipo music, MCartnoy;■■■•• ...GIRL'S DEATH & CRIME CHARGE. Auckland, February'.lo. '; A girl aged 1G died in the hospital till* morning. • This is tho case in respect towhich a widow named Sarah Eliza likellern has been committed for trial.vn a charge that she performed an illcgalopcration. . . '. UNRELIABLE GIRI/WITNES!!. Auckland; February:2o. . At tbe Supreme Court I'cter Frederick - .Ulksea iras eiarged with attempted-.-.n criminal offences en ft fourteen-year-old rirl at Hikenm-oi Mr. Justice bdwards commented on Jbe evidence, and said it was only right to the to say, that the girl's evidence was to unreliable , . that it made it probable he bad never at any time misbehaved himself.; Ho. s suggested a formal verdict of not guilty, t which the jury agreed upon without leor- - ins the box. Accused was discharged. i MOERAKI'S ROUGH TRIP, j / i> Duncdln, February; 19. ■ The Moeraki,' which arrived at tho ■ s Bluff on Monday last from Hoban, ex- .- 1 nerienced gales and high seas, with tlncfc ■i weather, all the way. Tho vessel, ; howj - ever, rode through -well, and wati not . t even hovc-to. Tho passengers thought on . two occasions that the bunkers ,we:roon i fire, but it is officially explained that this > was due to taking in coal in wet, wead ther, the coal becoming heated and ipvin* > off steam. '.

IMBECILE GIRL'S ACT. j Auckland,- February 19. At tli© inquest on Florenco .Weeks tin jury returned a verdict of death ; from poison self-aduiinistered. Evidence was given to the effect that tho girl was a mental degenerate. Dr. Kinder; said ho had met many such casos. Ho strongly urged tho establishment of a. home for imbecilos. Tho jury added a rider, strongly recommending tho Minister to giro effect to tho doctor's suggestion. , ODDFELLOWS' CONFERENCE. ; Levin, February; 19. Tho annual Wellington District Conference of (he Oddfellows' Lodgti ha# opened here.\ The Kilbirnie and Masterton Lodges wore fined for failing to' nrnko returns within tho specified tirno.V.lt was' resolved to hold the next. district conference at Pahiatua in February, 1914. Discussion took plaoo regarding tho subvention proposals. brought forward , by tho late Mr. Scddon (on tho lines'of tho statute now existing in Now South Wales), , but tho conferenco deferred decision.