SATURDAY'S TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 305, 30 December 1907, Page 2

SATURDAY'S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Saturday. AJbout midnight a man named McTavish, apparently under the inUuence of lhjour, went on board the steamer Quito lying at the Queen street wharf. After altercation with some of the officers, whom his strange behaviour aroused, lie produced a revolver and iired at Suttor, the second mate. Though only a few yards away Suttor was not hit. McTavish ran to the end of the wharf and fired at himself, the bullef entering the side of his face, in front of the right ear, piercing the ilesh through to his mouth. McTavish fell into the water. The shots aroused Alfred Paget, steward of the steamer Hinemoa, who jumped into the water and seized McTavish, irad- held him until ropes and a lifebelt wei'e thi'ftSvii tj} him,, when > MeTavish waß hauled out. McTavish was sent to the hospital, where he now lies in a critical condition. He is unknown to Suttor, and no reason is assigiicd for the shooting, except that MeTavish was under the influence of liquor. In the course of an interview to-day, tj)g Hon. J. G. Findlay, Minister for Internal 'Affairs, referred to the matter of improving the journey between Auckland and Wellington via Taupo. "I think," he said, "that we will some day have to consider the desirability of connecting Tokaanu with the Main Trunk railway. The distance is not very

great, and the road could very easily be made, Thi\£ would cjiable people from Auckland to go through tli'e thoi'm'tl region down to Taupo and Tokanuu and across to the Main Trunk, and thence on to Wellington either direct or by way of the Wanganui river, instead of having to face a long coach journey or to go baelc on their tracks as at preneni, TJ)C whole distance from Tokannu through to iiam.imu not' be more than 20 miles, and the route would enable people to see the wonders of Wairakei and Taupo while on their way to "Wellington within a reasonable time." T)r Fimllay spoke enthusiastically of tlie beauties of Wairakei and Taupo, and said that the combination of tjie geysers and Wairoa Valley, the Hulta Sails anj| | Aratiatia rapids wag unsurpassed in the thermal regions. . Wellington, Saturday. It is reported that there have been nine burglaries in the city during the Christmas season, but so far as Is at present known the housebreakers have not secured much booty. In most instances .it is houses temporarily unoccupied tjh it have been broken intwo. Westport, Saturday. |

The management of tile" iVYestport Cou.l Company mentions that is docs not seem to iho generally understood that the company offered Dennistoji miners, 'before tlic ease came into court, to giyg tliom the Kink-to-bank clause, subject only to an arrangement of travelling time' to and from the respective "work/ in# places, which "was absolutely ncces- I

eary to ensure regular working of ma- I eWnery. Tin's offer tlio men refused, and Mie ease wont bcfoiv the court, Judgment being given in favor of the eomj»aijv. Notwithstanding this, however, tJie company repeatedly offered to forego clause Hi of tlv award to <rjve Hie hank-tobank "clause on similar ierms to those agreed on hv Grafton miners, but Ihe offer was again refused the men.

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