DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 31, 31 January 1912, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

AUCKLAND BANKRUPTCIES

(Per Press Association.)

Auckland, January 30

The Official Assignee. (Mr Fisher) lias just completed Jus annual returns of the bankruptcy business in Auckland district for 1911. This includes Auckland, Gisborne, Hawora, New Plymouth, and Stratford. The total bankruptcies were 108, of whom 47 received their discharge. The total estimated assets were £39,742 and tne total realisations £12,982. The total liabilities amounted to £40.837. The debts proved totalled £45,049. Tho dividends paid during tho year totalled £12,744.

SUGAR WORKS IN FIJI

Auckland, January 30. ' The Hen. J. B. Turner, Mayor of Suva, and a member of the Legislative Council of Fiji, who is at present in lAnickland, received a cable today stating that a galo was blowing over Suva, but that his homo there Has not been damaged. Mr Turner informed a “Star” representative that the Colonial Sugar-Co. has - a large mill at Labasa, -which is a small township on tlio island of Vanu Leva. Its crops are Inostly sugar cane, and these have no doubt suffered severely. There are a number of stores at Labasa, and the population is between 400 and 500/ The Rtwa River is a waterway about as large as the Waikato, and it drains the. eastern side of Yeti and Levu. Tho Colonial Sugar Co. lias also « mill there, and the crops consist of sugar cane and bananas. The cane crops were cut at the end of tho year, and some of the crops planted livo or six months, ago were coming on well. The banana plantations arc up the river on low-lying land, and they’ would he badly damaged by the stormy winds.

AUCKLAND 1913 EXHIBITION Auckland, January 30. At the conference between the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Association to-day the question of holding an exhibition in Auckland next year was discussed. The idea of holding an international exhibition was dismissed as impracticable, and a resolution was carried affirming the desirableness of holding an industrial exhibition, in Auckland in 1913, to embrace manufactures from all parts, of New Zealand.

The executives of the tAvo bodies were constituted a committee to take further action in tho matter. It was stated that a communicaion had been received by the Industrial Association from tile; Canterbury Industrial Association in regard to the proposed exhibition at Christchurch, andfthat a reply had been bent ■stating that ; as Auckland was considered to have' prior claim the proposal' could not l)o supported. WEEKLY .HALF-HOLIDAY. Auckland, January 30. The adjourned meeting of the conference and delegates from local bodies, to discuss the question of tho day for the weekly half-holiday, was held to-day. From tire various petitions before the meeting it was shown that 301 master shopkeepers and 1761 shop assistants asked for Saturday half-holiday, and that 838 master shopkeepers asked for the Wednesday. half-holiday. After hearing two speakers from 'each side, it was resolved, by a majority"vote of the delegates, to adhere to Wednesday. ALLEG ED~BO OKIEIN G. \ Palmerston, January SO. r Matthew Connelly,. flax contractor, 'was charged at the Police Court today with carrying-on business as a bookmaker on the Foxton racecourse on the 20th inst. Evidence was given by the police as to money having been ‘seen to pass between accused and several men, and accused’s race book was produced containing certain entries. The defence was that the money paid to the men was for flaxcutting, and the entries in the race book were of the same nature. The case was adjourned till Saturday. A MAN STABBED. Christchurch, January 30. The' police have received an intimation from K .ikoura that a man named Thomas Reardon was stabbed last night, one of his lungs being pierced. He is in a * precarious condition. A person has been arrested in connection with the Kaikonra stabbing affray, but the name is not known locally, and there are no further details. '

NOTES FROM FEILDING. Foilding, January 31. A Reform Party rally is to be held in Feilding on Monday, February IStih, Messrs Massey and Homes, and other leading members of the party, will bo present,- and will he entertained at a garden party. Two rinks of Auckland touring bowlers defeated two Feilding rinks by 11 points in the aggregate. • The Feilding A. and P. Association school garden competition was won by the Halcombo School, which boat Colyton by half a point. The entries covered a district extending for 100 miles. A SETTLEMENT OBJECTED TO. Wellington, January 31. Members of tbe Timaru Harbour Board take exception to the statement in. a telegram reporting the inquest on O’Neill, w'lio was killed by a blast at their quarrv, to the effect » • that the accident was caused by a blast being hurried so as not to keep members of the Board waiting. Some

members were at the- .quarry that afternoon, but according to the chairman's statement the blast was ready, and there hvas no occasion to hurry. Tne secretary stated that the engineer did not even know members would bo there. When tho inquest was resumed the Cormier' said that there was ilo evidence to the effect that tho blast had been hurried. A wrong inference had been drawn from the witness Maye’s evidence. \ MAORI COMMITS SUICIDE. Hawera, January 31. Pani Ngeru, a native, aged 21 years, committed suicide last night, shooting himself with a* doublo-bar-rpl gVm. If is said he was troubled over a love affair. WASTE OF TROUT. -■ Napier, January 31. Sir Joseph Ward was impressed during his visit to Lake Taupo with the waste of trout going on under the. present systenl which makeb no provision for its preservation. Since his return correspondence has been going on with a view to the establishment of a smoke-house for trout. One man already has been engaged as fisncurer and another is to be appointed.

NAPIER-GISBORNE RAILWAY

it'Napier, January 31

During bis rrnech at the turning of the first snd .. f the Napier-Gis-boine railway Sir Joseph Ward stated that the actual work of construction would -bo commenced in about ten days. It has since transpired that the Public Works Department have completed-plans for the authorised section and. that 50 men will be put on to- commence the work within tiie time stated by the Prime Minister. Tile work is to he carried out on the co-operative system; A HOTEL DESTROYED.

Gisbprne, •January 31

The Tatapquri Hotel was destroyed by fire early this morning. No particulars arc available, .