INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 103, 9 April 1881, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(per united press association.)

TN^LLINGTON, Last Night. An inquiry was held yesterday into the circumstances connected with the recent stranding of the steamer Penguin in Tory Channel. The evidence showed that the mate mistook Boat Cove for Dieffenbach Point. The Court held that an error of judgment had been committed by both master and chief officer, but the cirenmi stances were not sufficient to warrant the suspension of their certificates. CHRISTCHUKCH, Last Night. At the Amberley Resident Magistrate's Court, Benn, an auctioneer, was charged with committing a breach of the Brands and Branding Ordinance, 1880, by selling a number of sheep not branded with his brand, as required by the Act. After hearing the evidence, chiefly as to trade usage, which tended to prove it was not usual for auctioneers to brand sheep, the bench stated that they were bound to carry out the law as laid down, and inflicted a nominal fine of 20s. Stack fires are of every day occurrence. James Scott, lately manager of several large properties in Ashburton district, was found guilty of forgery and uttering, and pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzlement. He was sentenced to two years' hard labor concurrently on each case. There were other defalcations on which no informations were laid. DUNEDIN. Last Night. Major Smith, the Victorian Minister of Edncation, accompanied by members of the Education Board, visited the City, High and Training Schools, and expressed astonishment at the high average attendance, considering the numbers on the roll. He particularly admired the conduct of the boys in the* High School. WANGAXUI, Last Night A fire destroyed a dwelling-bcrase and contents, belonging to W. Dempster, at Xukumarn. The building was insured in the North British for £150. The estimated loss is £1000. AUCKLAND, Last Night At the commencement of the charge of rape against Codlin, the Supreme Court was cleared of ladies. Madame Lottie "Wilmot, the female lecturer, proceeded to the gallery, and sent a note to the Crown Prosecutor, requesting that she might be permitted to attend in the capacity of a special reporter. The crier was subsequently ordered to remove her from the gallery and lock it She then reluctantly withdrew. Ireland Brothers' Panmure Tannery, the largest and most extensive in New Zealand, was totally destroyed by fire this morning. When it was discovered the flames had firm hold of the buildings, and nothing could be done to save them, or tbe goods stored in them. Nothing is known regarding the origin of the fire. Total loss is estimated at £'20,000. Among the property destroyed were 6000 sides of leather, 18* bales of basils, 600 calves' skins. 3800 hide*. 300 tons bark, and 3600 gallons of cod oiL The tannery, which did a large business., gave employment to 80 men. The New Zealand office had a policy of i' 7600 on the tannery, bm n&sst" of it "was reinsured. The following snathe approximate losses of the various companies involved. Xcsr .Ze&laisd £3500, Union £700. Standard £§50, National £300. Transadaatic £300, Victoria £3-20. Nonh British £700,. Tbe Auckland Jockey Club held a meeting to-day, with reference 10 tbe stiffening of Golden Crown in the Panmure Handicap. The Club, after hearing the evidence, decided to disqualify tbe horse aud its owner Brers, and his son, who was jockey, from running on any course, under the Jockey Club Soles, for ever.