LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1084, 3 September 1904, Page 3

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS

(Special to the Daily TELEonAi'ii.)

Aookland tliifl day THE WAIHI COMPANY CASE

Tiir Supremo Court is hearing the caso brought by the Waihi Goldmining Company to dotormino tlio duly payable on machinery. The company claim that thoy are exempt as regards mining machinery: but the customs levied a duty of i'2o9, which was paid under protest, Mr Cable, iron-founder, and chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, said he would describe the engine of the pump in question a 9 a steam engine of iho Cornish cycle pattern. Ho was surprised at Ihe contention of the Company's witnesses that a steam ongino must have a crank, flywheel, and rotary motion. FIRE AT YATES'S: SERIOUS DAMAGE A fire occurrod in the promisos of Yates and Company, seedsmen, Qiieen-streot, at midnight, and dcitroyrd a large stoolt of agricultural implements in tho top storey, Tho tiro was confined to this part of tho building, but a largo stock of seeds on tha ground floor wero seriously damaged by water, The building was only slightly damagod, Tho building was insured for £6OOO in tho South British, and tho stook was covered by policies in the Commercial Union, Royal, National, Union and United offices. SUPREME COURT

At tho Supremo Court Charlos Robert Vivian Hill, for theft of samples, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. OTAGO V, AUCKLAND Thoro is fine weather for the football uie-toh Olago v. Auckland. A HARDSHIP

Judge Edwards, in speaking of th". hardship inllicted on prisoners who phuJcd guilty and had to await sentouce, expressed the opinion that tho magistrate who heat il the case and know all about it should b.: empowered to sentonco prisoners, subject to appeal to a Judge, who might incrcascor reduce tho term, Ho suggested to the Crown Prosecutor that tho suggestion dosorved consideration. His Honor added: " I shall now ho away from Auckland for over two months, and if wo got Iho usual oroo of threo or four oases a week there wi'l bo a great number waiting for ray remm." Thoiniigistrato was quite capible of fixing tho aontenco. Tho Hod. .I. A. l'olo promised to give consideration to His Honor's suggestions, but remarked that thoro was a bonclicial solomnity about tho Supremo Court proceedings which it might in many cases bo undesirable to lose.