YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2188, 18 September 1907, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. Mr. Justice Denniston allowed an appeal by James Johnston, who was fined by Mr. Kettle, S.M., for alleged breach of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act by engaging seamen contrary to sub-section 1 of section S. Judge Denniston disagreed with Mr Kettle’s statemnt that the section was involved in its present form. It undoubtedly permitted tlie owner of any ship, the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, also the master, mate, or engineer of any ship or a bona fide servant in sole or constant employment of any person lie chooses to engage to supply seamen, or apprentices for the shii). It -had been said that this was practically restor-

ing crimping -.hick it had been one of the objee of every Shipping and Seamen’s Act to prevent. Even so, ho did not feel justified in straining or misreading plain provisions to give effect to the presumed intention of tho Legislature. If tho languago of tho section did not carry the intention of tho Legislature, tho sooner its attention was drawn to the matter tho better. Tho appeal was allowed, with costs seven guineas against tho Superintendent of Mercantile Marino.

‘ In the matter of tho appointment of a successor to Professor Tubbs,, a sub-conimitteo reported to tho University Council that a gentleman who had graduated horo with more than ordinary distinction and subsequently three years at Oxford University, was now in Auckland. Tho committee asked authority to interview him, and if they considered him suitable to offer him the appointment for two years. Tho incomo, including salary and fees, would be about £7OO. Bishop Nolignn expressed the opinion that it was unwise at the present juncture to appoint a man without advertising. He thought local, men should be given a chance. The Council resolved to advertise in Australia and New Zealand.

Mary Lydiard, 21 years of age, employed at Miss McElwain’s hairdressing rooms, died last night under circumstances that make an inquest necessary. She was found sitting in a chair apparently in a fainting condition, and died before medical aid could be obtained. On the shelf close to deceased was a. bottle containing cyanide of potassium, labelled “poison.” WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Immigration Department continues to receive numerous enquiries for domestic servants and farm laborers. The demand for both classes exceeds tho supply. At tho last meeting of the Police Provident Fund Board an £BS pension was granted to Constable Weatherly, ex-gaoler at Nelson, and a £75 pension to Constable McChesney, South Invercargill, both retired on the age limit.

Captain Seddon lias been appointed staff officer to Major Tuson. Adju-tant-General of the Forces. A number of unskilled laborers are out of employment in Wellington at pn sent, partly because of the completion of the tramway extension work in the suburbs. The Labor Departm" it is not sending any more men to the Main Trunk railway works, and is finding no difficulty in getting men for the Blenheim-AVaipara work. The trawler Nora Niven left this morning for a fishing cruise on the west coast of the South Island. The Chief Inspector of' Fisheries is on board. CHRISTCHURCH, yesterday. The traffic return for August of the Christchurch tramway system shows 813,482 passengers in all travelled over the Board’s eleven sections. The heaviest, _ti'ajfic_was , over—the- Papa--liui line, 163,905, Cashmere Hills 145,067, Linwood and Woolston 125,911, Addington 101,703. It being a

winter month, the lines to Sumner and Now Brighton, popular wateringplaces, showed only 60,000 and 40,000 respectively.

DUNEDIN, yesterday. The case of Hayes v. Dundein cor-, poration, in which £5750 was claimed for street . widening purposes at Kensington, is before the Compensation Court, and is likely to last the whole week. EKETAHUNA, yesterday. The weather lias been very cold, with., lljiil- showers, affecting young lambs considerably. The back roads in many places are almost impassable, a result of the continued" rain. The mail service beyond Alfredton is carried on with difficulty with pack horses. Farms in this district are selling freely at advanced prices, there being an unprecedented number of clearing sales. WAIHI, yesterday. Some alarm lias been experienced in the Waihi mine, owing to the subsidence, of the surface between l No. 1 and 2 shafts, probably due to the phenomenal rainfall.. Careful investigation shows the surface liad sunk a few inches, causing a squeezing in the working, but not to tb© working levels. The men who were knocked off resumed to-day. Mr. Barry states only the old workings are affected, and the interruption will not affect the monthly output. EL.THAM, yesterday.

The Elthain Dairy Company has sold its season’s output to AViller and Riley, London, at 10 l-16d. MASTERTON, yesterday. Substantial improvements are to be carried out at the railway yard, involving an outlay of between three and four thousand pounds. Included amongst them will be a new departure platform of considerable length, new sidings, the goods shed to be considerably enlarged, a new system of points to be installed, also new cattle sidings.