AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 58, 10 March 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Melboubne, March 3. An inquiry into the recent grounding of the s.s. Waihora off Eddystone Point, on the Tasmaman coast, was concluded yesterday. The bearings taken by Captain McGee immediately before and after the Waihora .struct, show that the position of the vessel at the time was about t.vo and a half miles from Eddystone Rock, consequently a mile and eight cables from the Margate Rock, which it was at first supposed the^ vessel had touched. Some rocks in the locality are described as Standing up like ship's masts, being narrower at the base than the top, the theory generally advanced being that she struck one of these not marked on the, chart, and carried it away. As this impediment is directly in the route of vessels trading to Hobart from New Zealand , the Board urged the Government to take the necessary step3 to survey the passage. The Board found Captain McGee and his officers in no way responsible for the accident. The early closing cV>u?e of the new Factory Shop3 Act came into force on Monday laßt, whereby all shopkeepers, with the exception of chemistrf. oyster shops, &c, are I compelled to close at 7 o'clock in the ' evening. A Btrong feeling of irritation has J been caused on account of the smaller shopkeepers, who though closing rigidly at 7 o'clock on Monday, last night kept open in a half-hearted way by leaving half the shutteis up and keeping a light burning. Several meetings have already been held for the purpose of discussing the mafcer. Petitions have been drawn up asking for an extension of the hour of closing. Adelaide, March 3. A special general meeting of shareholders in the Commercial Bank of South Australia was held on Thursday last. A statement made by the Directors showed that the Board was kept in ignorance of overdrafts amounting to £170,000. The names of the persons .to whom it was lent, it was declared, would have been scouted for as many pounds as they had been trusted with thousands. One of the Directors declared that Mr Crooks, the manager, ,must have been in league with these people. Mr Crooks, agaiost whom was manifested a strong demonstration of hostility, made a long statement in defence of his proceedings, in which he endeavored to mate out that he had acted solely in the interests of the Bank, though to a certain extent he admitted be was to blame. A committse, consisting of five independent; shareholders, was appointed to examine into the affairs of the Bank, and report at a meeting to be held next Monday. Mr Crooks meantime -was arrested and charged with having wilfully, and with intent to defraud, omitted material information from certain documents submitted to the Directors of the Bank purporting to contain, a list of all persons indebted to the Bank, and the amounts owing on the 3rd of November. At Adelaide, accordingly, yesterday morning Mr Crooks was brought before the Police Court. Mr Crook?, while admitting certain irregularities in his conduct, pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him. He stated that he had written . to the Chairman of Directors, making a fall disclosure. The prisoner was committed for trial at the April sittings of the Criminal Court, bail not being applied for. In a letter to the Directors Mr Crooks expresses his desire to do all in his power to assist them in investigating the affairs of the Bank. He makes a long explanation as to the different accounts. He further declares that no other officers of the Bank are inculpated in th« falsifications.