NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 157, 27 March 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

: (usf TELEGiuriI—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) . -. —' t ; ";— IMPORTANT TO MERCHANTS. ' ' ' ,'X. •- ' '-s.' , ' ■ THE PREFERENTIAL TARIFF. . Auckland, March 26. Tho of . the preferential tariff comes into operation on and after Wednesday next, and importers of foreign lines, on ivliich additional duty .will be charged, ha to heen bringing in large shipments during the past few months in order to save money on their transactions. Big clearances have also been made from the bonds this >veek. • Tho steamer Star of Australia, which passed through Auckland yesterday on her.way, from New lork to Southern ports, will work over-' time at tho ports of call to erisure'her reaching Dunedin, her lost port of call, before ,P r " I' % us giving merchants in that town tho advantago of coming. under the lower' tariff, which expires, on March 31. It is not sufficient that a vessel is. in New Zealand waters] beforo. the enforcement of the now, tariff.She must bo at the port for, which' goods are consigned to escaped tho surcharge. At one time local Merchants wera concerned with regard to tlie steamer Wliakarua, which' arrived to-day, because she was' set down to reach this port on 'March 30, but the vessel made a good passage to Melbourne, and receiving quick dispatch on the other side, was enabled to reach Auckland several days in advance, after a run from London; of 53 days. The Whakarua has about 200 or 300 tons of Continental goods, on which increased preferential duty would be imposed next month, but - by her earl} arrival this has becii.' saved. The steamei has about a quantity for Southern ports, and this, unless transhipped at Aucfc • land, whioh would not pay,'will bo subject to the new tariff with the oxcoptioi perhaps of a small consignment for Napier. FIRE AT DUNEDIN. A FAMILY NARROWLY ESCAPES. ' - x Dunedin, March 26. ' A five : roomed house in Water Street, Maori Hill,-owned and occupied by Mr< J. ;R.' Ronald, was totally destroyed by : fire this morning.' When Mr. Ronald was awakened, the fire had a strong hold; and he had to give his , attention to saving his wife ,aud throo children, whom'ho passed through a window.".-A two-roomed dwelling next door, occupied by, Mr. Herbert Cramp, narrowly escaped destruction. Mr. Rohald's house,' valued at £350, was insured,- iii tiio South British office for-£3OO, and the furnit-urb and '.effects,' at £80, were uninsured. Very little was saved.' ' . ' ; "

V amalgamation. - ' ;. - : ' ■' • . Dunedin, March 20. At: a' meeting of. the Harbour Board' today the representatives who conferred with the representatives of the Otago Dock Trust on : tho question of amalgamation .presented the resolution agreed -to.;and reported that they were , agreed, ion : the principle' that it was in the interests of -the port- that, the functions ;of the Dock.. Trust should ultimately be assumed. by : the' Harbour Board. In view. of. the present difficulties"surrounding the completion and equipment/of the dock, tho representatives t were of t opinion that the.-Board should not consider, the .questioh:of amalgamation .until the dock was completed and accounts in. connection 'with it ' finally '.adjusted.'- ' Consideration: ofythe report was. deferred till,the nest ordinary • meeting.. ';. • RAINFALL AT MASTERTON. Masterton, March 26. - The' total rainfall sinco'the drought-broke has been six -niches and thirty points. Foi tho last; twenty-four i-ihours- an inch'. and" a quarter ( fell.-' ,Thero ; .were some .very -heav.? showers this ;morhin<?.-'-

'-' THE-GAMING ACT.' : - ■ Christchurch, 1 March 26. " Owing to.tlfo operation of the Gaming Acr, , tho telegraph office at lliccarton racecourse ' Jivas run at ; a'.loss at the'midsummor irieeting of the Christchurch Jockey Club'. In conseof thisr the office; will probably -bo.' discontinued in 'future. , The. -closing -will \ necessitate the too of carrier pigeons bytbe '■ Press Association and local papers. < The.As-" sociation messages will bo sent by-pigeon; to Christchurch, and thciice by telegraph; ' A NATIVE'S DEATH. V ;:.. -Walroa, March 26. .At the. inquest;on thebody of the Native drowned off the-Wairoa; bridge, - a verdict was returned: " Drowned,by falling into: the Wairoa river. while s in a state , of intoxication:" rider drew the attention 1 of the .local autfiorities to the need of lighting the bridge and of placing life buoys there... TWO MEN DROWNED. . . i"'" " ' Auckland, March' 26. Private advice has been- received that twe ; Aucklanders,. Frank and.Dan O'Dowd, have been.drowiiea in Fiii. j The former was a well* known hotel-keeper in Auckland. • NEWS IN BRIEF. Napier, March' 26. t A sharp shock-of earthquake was expert enced" at; 12.40'.tHis; morning..••• ' '. - ;v- ■■ /v.,' Timaru, March 26.. In the Magistrate's Court this morning ■ three prohibited men yere: fined in. the aggre- - gate ~£ll- for having procured liquor.A ■ : fourth man,, who aided them;'was fined £3.* The. Magistrate , said ;if r such fines proved ineffectual in preventing prohibited! persona from obtaining drink, lie would .impose the maximum.' --v-' ■' .-i . Only two, objections 'were filed against the' . , Borough valiiations, but when'the Court sat this morning to hear these : neither ' party appeared, and-the-Magistrate signed the roll, which;iiow; stands at £90i704, .without alteration;'. 1 ' '.-. . ;•