NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 602, 2 September 1909, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

(U7 TeleitraDh.-l'rces AmoclMlon.l ' g—_— ■ \ . CHARCE OF MANSLAUGHTER. ACCUSED ACQUITTED. . .....■• . Auckland,. September 1. ' ; In the Police Court, to-day 'iilomas Dowd was charged that on July 2, 1903, : ho comniittod- manslaughter by causing , tb« death of one Frederick-Clarke.. The fects in'connection witli this case Were brought out very ' I fully' a.t the nautical'inquiry into the sink- , ing of the scow Floia on the day mentioned in tho charge. ' Accused was master of a ficow' trading in shingle ' between Waiheke and Auckland. He lett Waiheke that afternoon with a load of shingle,'and on arrival . at. .Auckland . anchored . off the railway wharf. A heavy, storm got up in >th'o night ■■ .and , the.boat swamped and sank, and one of the crow, of three, anian named Clarke, waa drowned. • The- finding of the nautical inquiry was that'tire boat was overloaded. M soon as that finding was declarcd : Dowd was arrested 'and 'charged with" manslaughter. After hearing'the evidence .-'the Bench decided there was no evidepoo which would justify a jury in finding accused guilty of homicide. They expressed the opinion that he had used every possible precaution, but the boat might have been laden more heavily than, was 'advisable. The captain,' however, could bo held guilty' of nothing more than an error of 'judgment. Accused '. was accordingly acquitted. . . . . ■ ' ■

HARBOUR PLANS. REQUEST FROM A FOREIGN POWER. Chrlstchurch, September 1. The Harbour Board was much exercised this morning by a letter from. the AustroHungarian Consul at Auckland asking for a plan of Lyttelton- Harbour for the Academy at Vienna. The chairman _ Mr. H. Friodkudef) said that he had not given'any instructions in regard to the matter. - Ho thought that the proper methodj would.be to refer the applicant to. the Gbvenirrient, which was the responsible authority. The subject was debated with somo levity by tho board, Mr/ G. Lauronsou said ho saw no objection to the request being complied with. The whole of tho information could bo gotfrom London bv any Government,-and the board had complied with similar rcqueßta for years back. Mr. T. E. Taylor said that all' the information'asked for was , contained in the annual reports, which were accessible to anyone. The board dobated the matter at some length, and finally agreed 'to the'chairman's suggestion, holding that the Government should-tako the responsibility of handing out plans to foreign countries. ■'. , DETECTIVE SENT TO INVESTIGATE., ■ ' CASE'OF A HALF-CASTE" GIRL , '■ ■""-"...:■ , NapJeri September .1. ■ A half-caste -girl 'named Harriet Suthcr* land, .who. wae staying.with friends at Frasertown, disappeared from there in the beginning of January. Rumours have been in circulation amongst the' Natives to; the. effect' that thero is something'underlying the caso, ybut police, inquiries have so far been: without result. With a view of .endeitfonring to clear the matter npj Detective Hill left'this morning'for Wairoai' ... ' ' .'■ ; ' . '

HARBOUR BOARDS AND ARBITRATION LAW. , ' Chrlstohuroh, September .I.'.' At tho meeting of tho.'Lyttofton Harbour Board to-day the oh&ittn&a Mr, Hv Pricdlaridor) reported that he had sent'a remit from the board to. the Harbour. Boards' Cohfcronco, which- will: open in Wellington on September , 21, affirniing the.' desirability of exempting • harbour boards from the operations .of' the. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts. Sir. T. E. Taylor, M.P:, inquired; whether the board had .previously given any .'affirmative opinion on-this matter.'Mr. Geo. Laurensori, M.l'.,' said that; personally ho could see no reason why _a ( ' iiarbonr board, should be exempted. Their scale of wages was Jiigher jtha.n'.thatifixed,by tho Court. Ho would liis 'righjt 'tb'i.vflte against the .rerhit at- the conference.,-'! The>board bad nothing to , fear. from; the' \ Conciliation: 01 Arbitration Courts; ,:*,..■-•.-' ,'.\ ! • PREFERENCE CLAUSE;? , '"....- ; Auckland,"September 1. At the Magistrate's Court tCHiay" the Car. ' penters' Union-proceeded against. W. ,Q. Smith for -breach of., the, profcrenco clause., Defendant said lie had employed a uew arrival from the Old Country without asking him if he was a unionist; Tho, man was very anxious for a job, and witness thought ho was doing a pood turn in giving him employment.. . Mr., Kettlo,- S.M.: '-Yes, doubtless you did, but,.vou should be careful to explain our laws to.new arrivals,"; A fine of 10s., and costs £2 7is.,' was inflicted. UFE'BELTB;PiOKED UP.' Auckland, September 1. ■ The Collector-of Customs (received • tho following telegram ,to-day; from. Mr. F. Wa.jener, of Pukonui (206 miles from Auckland, situated on the Howhora River) :— "I foiind 25 life-belts' on the , west'coast.today. Fivo appeared,to 1 be. marked- with blood, ami ara covered with, blue and white stripes.. They came'ashore .to-day, and' a search will bo made, along-tho coast as far ■is Capo Maria van Diereon. ' To-night; a heavy galo'from tTie N.E.N, and N.W. is raging. ■ ■ •■■ .': ■-■■•. : ■•■■. 4 •■■.' - : . ' ■

A £52,000 MUNICIPAL. LOAN; . ■ .'Auok'land,' August^Sl'. The Bank of New Zealand has offered to tako the whole of, the £52,000 loan of the Mount Edeu Borough at 97} per cent, .net'to tho council,,with a currency of 30.years at 4J pnr-centi interest and ode-half per cent, sinking fund." The, Mayor informed the council that ho regarded the terms as the most favourable that could be obtained.' The offer remains open till. December 1. '■■'•' .',■ ' FOR CLOSER SETTLEMENT., ■••'■'■ Naplor, 'September 1. ■'" TJio Government, has- purchased for c'osot settlement purposes Messrs. Duff. Brothers' .Clyde Bank Estate, Wairoa.. The property comprises 9000. acres, and is situated withiu. four miles of the.town of Vaaroa; on tho Frasertown Road. It is admirably adapted for cutting-up.. .'.-,'! • .. ■','. .'. .. customs returns! Now Plymouth,' if.ptomber 1. . ; ..The Customs revenue.for August totalled £3721, as compared with £323S for-August, 1908. Tho total for tho five months' of the.' financial'year is £1661. in excess of that for the corresponding period of last .year. ■