THE DOMINION

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 8

THE DOMINION

After a four days' sitting, the Nautical Court of Inquiry into the, stranding of the Kaipara in Rangitoto Channel adjourned until Monday nest. The evidence adduced goes to show that the Kaipara left the Railway wharf, drawing 28ft for'ard and 27ft.art. The couree followed gave, according to the Admiralty -chart, a -minimum depth of 31ft all the way. When in Rangitoto Channel, and still on a course giving 31ft, according to the chart, the Kaipara struck an uncharted shonl, giving a depth of only 25ft. The result of the collision is known. The shoal wae afterwards located and buoyed. It is in the fairway, i 3 120 ft long and 80ft wide, giving a depth of 31ft on either side. A survey has since been undertaken by H.M.S. Challenger at the instance of the Marine Department. The past month's trade returns show a substantial rise in values of Auckland's exports, and in some cases the increase over the corresponding period of last j-ear is remarkably impressive. Our butter export for January is valued in round figures at £72,000, as against £59,000 for January, 10Q&; cheese has risen from £2500 "to £4n)0; flax has risen from £5500 to £9100; hides and skins have risen from £3000 to £6100, while wool has risen from £41,000 to £93,000; and the gold and silver export combined has increased from £47,300 to £92,300. These increases, more especially in the case of wool and flax, represent a rise in market values as well as an increase in quantities; but the fact that, comparing the periods mentioned, our butter export has increased from 11,400 cwt to 14,000 cwt, our cheese export from 390 cwt to 1610 cwt, and our wool export from 1,354,0001bs to 2,305,0001 be, demonstrates clearly enough that while the market price of our staple products has been rising the volume of our external trade has been growing in proportion far more rapidly. The annual report of the N.Z. Insurance Company shows a balance at credit of profit and loes account on November 30th of £34,861 12/11, from which the directors recommend the appropriation of £10,000 to the reserve fund, carry forward £24,881, 12/11 to new account, and pay a dividend of 2/ per share, amounting to £15,000. The returns made by mines on the Hauraki Peninsula for the year 1909 show the Ohinemuri County yielded £123,790 2/5, Thames County £19,116 13/3, Coromandel £5808 16/11. The total output for the year is therefore £1,312,824 12/7. Quite a number of suicides have been reported during the week, the most remarkable being that of a boy named Alma Oscar French, 13 years of age, who hanged himself from a tree in the yard of his parents' residence at Point Chevalier. Xo cause has been assigned for the occurrence. A contractor named James Strongman, aged 50, living at Commercialroad. Arch Hill, committed suicide eariy on Wednesday morning by hanging himself in an outhouse. It is reported from Rotorua that a fire destroyed the men's dining-room at the Galatea station on Wednesday night, and that subsequently the body of the cook, a man named John Evans, was found dead, hanging in a small building at the rear of the kitchen. Mr. T. Waldegrave has been appointed Under-Secretary for Police, and Mr. C. E. Matthews Chief Clerk to the Department. The Chief Inspector has not yet been appointed. The Anglican General Synod discussed a proposal to give women the right to vote and act on vestries, but the question was shelved on a motion to proceed with the next business, which was carried on the voices. The tour of the Australian cricket team is now finally arranged. The team leaves Sydney on February 5, and plays as follows: —Wellington, February 11, 12, 14; Auckland, February 18, 19, 21; Canterbury, February 25, 26, 23; Otago, March 5, 7, 8; First Test match at Christchurch, March 11, 12, 14; Manawatu at Palmerston, March 16 and 17; Wanganui, March 18 and 19; Taranaki, March 22 and 23; Second Test match at Wellington, March 26, 28, 29; Hawke's Bay, April 1, 2. 4. The team leaves Wellington on its return journey on April 8.