AUCKLAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3501, 26 September 1882, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

September 26. The statement of accounts for the halfyear ended August 3lst was laid before the directors of Jthe South British Insurance Company to-day. The business shews an increase of £42,149 in premiums as compared with the corresponding period of last year ; the balance to the credit of the profit and lofs account amounts to £26,000; £10,000 have been carried to the reserve fund, and the directors propose paying a dividend ,at the rate of fifteen per cent, per annum. William Lyttle was committed for trial yesterday on the charge of bigamy, in iHarrying Miss Williams of Wanganui, his wife being then alive. Bail was allowed. A fire broke out on Sunday night in the residence at Hamilton of Mr F. A. Whitaker, M.H.R., and no sooner was it suppressed in one place tban it broke out in several others. It is believed to have been the work of an incendiary. The police are investigating the matter. Silvered pennies are being put in circulation here as florins. The Harbor Board have received a cablegram stating that their debentures, which were supposed to be in the burnt portion of the Alaska's mails have been found all safe. Tbey have also received a letter from the directorate of the Sydney Sugar Company announcing that Mr J. C. Firth has been invested with a power of attorney authorising him to act on behalf of tbe company in all matters connected with the establishment of a sugar refinery in Auckland and in the lease of the harbor frontage sectious required. An important case came on for hearing at the Police Court yesterday, affecting the interests of shipowners and tbe rights of seamen. Henry Archibald was charged with a breach of the Shipping and Seamen's Act by wilfully disobeying lawful commands on board the ship Ada C. Owen on the 21st instant. Mr T. Cooper appeared for the prosecution, and Mr E. Cooper for tbe defence. Tbe case was heard before Mr M'Donald R.M., and Mr H. M. Jervis, Justice of the Peace. Captain Rogers, the master of the ship, deposed that on August 19th his ship went ashore at the Buller river on the West Coast. They were laden with coal. The men ("Archibald being the spokesman) demauded more payor they would not work. He signalled for help from the shore. He signed an agreement aud the men went to work. They underwent no physical hardship. When be signed the promise they turned to at once. Edward Curie, mate of tbe vessel, corroborated the captain's evidence, bamuel Rogers, seaman, stated that the men had a heavy time of it from Saturday morning until the following Sunday. They had stuck on the beach, and they were working continuously with the exception of two hours' rest, but no sleep, though tbe captain and mate took their sleep. Tbe men bad some hours rest in the water, but they could not sleep, as the forecastle was flooded. The Bench considered that the ship and valuable property were at stake, and the men, though tbey had their interval of rest, took advantage of the situation and forced Captain Rogers to an agreement for five shillings an hour in a time of peril. The Bench found the defendant guilty of the charge and would sentence him to seven days' imprisonment.