NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 121, 14 February 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(BT TELBGRArnr-riIESS ASSOCIATION.)

GERMAN STEAMERS,

HUMOUR CONTRADICTED,

Auckland, February 13. Concerning a statement published to the effect that there/ is a probability of tho North German Lloyd Company establishing regular steamer connection' bct'vcon Germany and' Now Zealand, Mr.. Laugguth, German Consul, 'states that" there is no prospect of a regular line. Tlvere was a good deal pf oargo offering for Auckland, and it was decided to solid tho steamer Westialen to this port after sho had. discharged in Australia, but'/thero was no'probability of establishing direct communication with New Zealand. . If such 'a project matured it would bo a passenger, not a cargo, service. Tho steamers running to Australia are too, big to pay to run to tho Dominion, where only about 20 to 80 passengers would bo picked up.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

THE WHANGAREI CASE. Wiiangarel,. February 13. • William Scott and Thomas Townshend, on remand under charges of highway robbery at Whangnrci. breaking and entering at-\\aipu, wore before the Court to-day. They pleaded guilty to both offences, and were committed for sentence: to -tho Supreme Court. NAPIER CARNIVAL. Napier, February 13. Tho executive of tho Napier Carnival are '.arranging tho biggest Maori demonstration and sports ever ..held ..in. tho province. Natives igenerally aro taking a keen interest in •tho' matter, arid'a great treat is promised for, .visitors. Applications for accommodation are flowing in daily,, and ah immense influx of visitors is anticipated.* - The, military .tournament will be on a large scale,; the.free, passes issued by the Government being a big incentive-to entrants.:' The'rowing course for the Championship Regatta has' been viewed by several'experts and declared to 'be one of the finest' in the ; Dominion. Altogether tho succesf of the ..Carnival seems assured.The total prize money, viz., £2550, is proving a big.draw. , • ' ■ : ■ i. ."the mails. ; ' / Auckland, Fobruary 13. Tho annoying ' Uncertainty with which tho Dominion's mails : are at present being delivered was again demonstrated yesterday on tho ■ arrival of , the. steamer ulndralema; from Now l'ork.• The. steamer-sj papers containing particulars of the cargo wcro posted ,at •New ri'orjc' with' instructions. for • them to be .dispatched by tho'. Quickest', mail route available, but, despite, the fact that tho Indrainma'was at ; lcast a fortnight discharging at Australian ports, sho reached Auckland ahead of a considerable portion of. tho papers. The result; is. that it is impossible to stato what' cargo slib lactlially has for. Auckland or, for that; any. of; tho southern ports._ ' The following is an extract from, the report of. the ; Haniburg .Chamber of Commerce for. the .ycar/ohded December..' 31 " last: —"A scheme to. run a' steamer from Fiji to ( Apia to connect with .the .Vancouver boats for the mail. is : ;c6atcmplatcfl,. or. .to make arrangements ; With ;th</new 'Frisco line, to -call. at Samoa.!!:! ,■/•'•

ACCIDENT TO A STEAMER, , ' Auckiant!, February., 13... The .'.Northern Company's steamer, which left at . twelve o'clock last night for the Great' Barrier, returned to Auckland at nino .o'clock- this morning withono of her propellers stripped''of its .blades. The weather, was not rough,., and it is thought that the steamer's propeller probably, .struck a drifting log. ■ Tho accident happened about three o'clock this morning, tho first intimation bein" received' in the engine-room, where tho revolutions, of one of the engines were, seen to jump from 200; to'soo per minute. Captain T. Kaultan was informed of what had happened, and decided to return to Auckland, tho vessel coming back under ono engine. An : exaininatiori of,.the propeller disclosed that tho .three blades had been stripped at the boss.' ■„ ;

'AUCKLAND CRIMINAL i SESSIONS.

Auckland, February 13.

, At the. Supreme Court, Edmond William Lewis Ward, oonvicted - on several charges of false pretences and theft,- was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. At the Supremo Court, in - the case -tif 'the 1 . ladsfrrJames, Patterson, Alfred Irwin, and James Newald; —charged . with indecent/ assault, the jury returned a verdict of riotf guilty, against Newald, and a verdict- of guilty of common assault against Patterson and Irwin. -Newald was accordingly discharged, 'while Patterson and Irwin were admitted to twelve months' probation on the. paymoiit of £5, each in monthly instalments of 10s. towards tho cost of tho prosecution., 1 - . ' Thcs. Henry Parker was charged with using obscene language; and-with unlawfully assaulting. ConLteble Finlayson in the execution of his duty, thereby 'causing him actual bodily harm, at Newmarket on November, 17.' Prisoner .was found guilty, and remanded for .sentence; THE ATHLETIC; TEAM FOR TASMANIA. Christohurch, February 13. ■ 'At a meeting .of. the Council of the New Zealand Amateur' Athletic Association to : night, an application from the Wellington Centre that G. Sharpo, a long-distance Wellington runner, should be sent to Tasmania with the New Zealand team, was refused. Strong: exception was taken to tho remarks made at the. recent meeting of tho Wellington Centre reflecting on the Council.

WAIROA MAGISTRATES' COURT. ; ' v . ' V Wairoa, February 13. In .the S.M» Court yesterday a prohibited parson was mod £5 and another person for supplying 'accused £10. The. clerk of .'the Town Board was fined for, not providing conveniences at his office. .' ,

DUNEDIN DIVORCE CASE.

Dunedin, February 13. In. tho Divorce Court, in the unopposed case, of David, Howio .Scott v. Emily, Scott, a decree. nisi was granted on. the ground of desertion. '' ' ''' ''• ; OBITUARY. " i '" . '' Nelson, February 13.. ;Mr. Harry ; Lamb,, postmaster at The.Port, who.was a well-knov/n-bandsman, formerly of Wanganui, is dead," after a short-illness.