AUCKLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2501, 19 February 1902, Page 13

AUCKLAND

News from the islands stales that the British barque Savernake, bound from San Francisco to Queenstown with a cargo of wheat, was totally wrecked on one of the Panmotas (Society Islands). Part of the crew reached Tahiti early in January. They were picked up in a half-starved condition. The captain and several of the crew left for Gambia Island for assistance. Ten men remained with the wreck. No news of the captain and his party has been received. The French authorities sent a gunboat to the scene of the wreck and to search for the captain.

There was rather a painful at t!ie Onehunga Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning, when the Rev. Robert Wylie. who recently resigned the pastorate, spoke bitterly of the causes that had led him to sever his connection with the congregation. He iaid that the reason why the attendance had fallen off was becau-c of the appearance of carbuncles upon his, body since July last, which prevented him fiom working as hard as he would have liked. He made a personal attack on a pro-Boer member of the congregation, who replied, and another member was about to extend the controversy, whea it was ended by the organist playing the concluding oluntary. At the Supreme Court on Thursday John Savage, who pleaded guilty to two charges of arson at Hawera, was brought up for ecntcuce. He confessed that on the 12th inst., after a drinking bout, he went into tho loft of the Empire Hotel at Haweua and set fire to it the following morning. He tried no lees than six times to set fire to the sitting-ioom. He declared that he had no motive. His Honor referred to the crime as being a very terrible one, and scntcaced Savage to four years on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. His Honor added that inquiries would be made ?os to accused's sanity. An inquest was opened on the body of Michael Fagan, a fisherman, whoso body wa? found in Auckland harbour. The evidence of Dr Lowe showed that death was clue to drowning, but a recent incised wound was found on the left breast, such as could not have been self-inflicted. It iR supposed that the man was stabbed. The inquest was adjourned to enable the police to make further inquiries. A large number of workmen, who were discharged from the co-operative railway works at Ongarue, met outside the Labour Bureau on Friday to protest against their dismissal, and the alleged practice of cliochargmg married men with large families dependent upon them, and leaving single men on. Mr Nickerman, the district engineer, replying, said the men who had been discharged were treated with fairness. There was not a preponderance of single over married men on the-Tvorks, and the men's statement that there were 70 single men left was not correct, as there weie not more than 20. These latter were engaged on mechanical work, which he believed the discharged men were not capable of doing. Burglais at Paeroa removed ar.d destroyed a safe from M'Waters's store, and appropriated its contents, amounting to £60. The Co-operative Butchery there was also burglarised, but without profit. Before the Arbitration Court, .7. R. Knight, saddler, was fined £3 and costs ior a breach of award in employing two boys to one man. Commissioner and Mrs M'Kie. appointed by General Booth to command the Australasian wing of the Salvation Army, which includes the leadership of the work in New Zealand, arrived by the Mararoa. They conduct a revival meeting in the leading cities, commencing at Auckland and terminating at Inveroargdl. The Commissioners lwill thoroughly inspect the various social institutions, and hoUl councils with the officers and soldiers of the organisation. The Commisbioners are accompanied by Colonel Peart (chief secretary of Australasia), BrigadierKyle (secretary of the social work), and Major Ethenngton (editor of the Australian At Auckland on Wednesday Emma Bell pleaded not guilty to a charge of having, on .September 6, performed an illegal operation upon a girl named Clara Payne, with intent to procure mi-carriage. The accused i o a woman of about 50 year* of age. A number of witnesses including Clara I'-iync, a young girl of about 18 yoat •> of age. <?n\e ovidenco. Tho jury. after fi\ c and a-half horns, relumed with ;> \erdi<t of guilty. Tho priionor was ■-entenced to fi\e years' imprisonment. Hi-. Honor baid tin-, abominable tiadc w:is cairied on to a frightful extent. John James and Henry Ahrens were convicted of an unnatural offence, and sent to prison for <-e\en year*. The Education Board has> resohed that in'toad of the present hv-tom of having one week's holiday at the pud of each quarter and six weeks at Chribtma^ the following holidays should he observed : — Si\. weeks at Christmas, Good Friday, Ea«tei Monday and Tuesday, two weeks at midwinter, King's Rirthday. Prince of Waleb'-» Birthday Anni\ersarv Day. and three Ircal lwlidajs afixed by tho committee