NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 42

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. The returns of the imports to and exports from the port of Auckland during 1909, compared with 1908, illustrate a process, which has been in operation in other ports of the Dominion, and which has done much to remove the monetary tightness which prevailed for a portion of last year. Not only did tire exports from Auckland show an increase of i 69,809 during the last year, which means more money coming into the country, but the imports have been less by .-9537,639, whicli indicates economy on the part of consumers. The imports last year were £4.333,657, and the exports' £3,371,407. The figures for 1908 were £4,671,296 and £2,901,598 respectively. The Railway and Collieries Company, with a nominal capital of £BO.OOO, has been registered at Waipa, and shares allotted, for the purpose of working coal deposits at To Aka tea, in the Waikato, five miles from the Main Trunk line. Mrs Holt, a laundress in Auckland, took some carbolic acid on the night of the 17th inst., it is '-alleged, in an attempt to commit suicide. Mrs Holt lives in Stanley street, Parnell, and is an elderly woman, having a grown-up family. She has been Jiving apai’t from her husband, and came originally from Victoria. The alleged attempt was made about half-past seven last evening. The police, who were immediately sent for, had the woman removed to the hospital, where she was attended to. She is progressing as well as can be expected. HAWKE’S BAY. The collections in Napier and Hastings in connection with the United Friendly Societies recent- hospital demonstration amount to over £230, and, after payment of expenses, there will be a surplus of about £2OO, which is in excess of any previous year’s total. The annua! report of the chairman of the Harbour Board snows that the exports for the year just closed exceeded those of any previous year, but the imports, principally owing to vessels being unable to berth at the breakwater during a large portion of the year owing to the extension of the wharf, show a falling off. The capital value of the harbour rating district increased from £7.908,753 in 1900 to £13,944,052 in. 1909. The breakwater was extended 24ft. during the year, and blocks laid on a foundation 84ft further, requiring only top-capping to complete. The total length of the finished structure is 2830 ft. The chairman points out that now the Government have acquired the M-anawa-tu line the differential tariff which formerly prevailed will be abolished, and this is likely to lead to a considerable increase in iocal shippingJoseph O’Connell, labourer, of PortAhuriri, Napier, was, on the 17th inst.. charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide there. A constable deposed that O’Connell had had a few words with his wife, and then ran off and jumped into the water at the Iron Pot. In reply to a question, the constable said he did not think O’Connell intended to commit suicide, for he saw him swimming about. The charge was dismissed. WELLINGTON. The scholarships in connection with St. Patrick’s College are announced ae follows Kennedy scholarships, each £2O a year for four years—William Craighead (Waimate) 1," Michael O’Meagher. (Tirnarn) and T. Desmond O’Sullivan (Wellington), equal, 2. A scholarship ir, awarded to each of these two candidates. O’Leary -scholarship, of £25 a year for Three years—Augustine Miles (Blenheim). The * Marine Department has received word that a ship’s spar, about 30ft long, was seen from the Pate-ena in Cook Strait. It is thought that the spar may have come from the barque tlippola?, which founded recently in Queen Charlotte Sound, or from the wrecked steamer Penguin. The Feilding Fire Board discussed the recent fatal fire at Hastie’s Hotel. Mr Ew-en, representing the insurance companies. said an experienced brigade could have put it out in a few minutes. M” Hugo reported that while an experienced brigade might have subdued the fire the Feilding Brigade did all that could have been expected ox it. It was also decided to have an analysis of asbestos roofing tiles, which were used on the hotel, and were said to have exploded to the great danger of the public and the firemen. The Governor’s horses, carriages, etc., were offered a-t auction on the 12th under instructions from his Excellency, who is shortly returning to the Old Country. The Governor’s landau was sold for £l4O to a Wellington cabman, the victoria for £4O, and the waggonette for £55. One of the carriage horses realised £33 and the other was passed in at £26. A polo pony brought £lO 10s. Regulations under the Race Meetings Act- of last- session, passed with the object of prohibiting proprietary pony racing,

are now being considered by the Hon. D. Biuklo. ‘'When the regulations are published,” said Mr Buddo, “ I think the public will recognise that means will be taken to prevent anything undesirable occurring, and probably further the interests of those who take a. legitimate interest in race meetings.” In 1909 ten places were totally or partially destroyed by lire in Feilding and suburbs. The approximate value of the property destroyed was £11,713, and the insurance totalled £7980. Edward John Faikner, in the Magistrate’s Court on the 14th, was charged with stealing three pianos belonging to the London and Berlin Piano Company. The thefts were alleged to have taken place between May and December last year. Accused was in the employ of the Telegraph Department for 25 years, and has a. fair amount of property. His counsel said the accused had a. good defence. The question was simply one as to the consignment of pianos—whether they were consigned to the company or to the defendant as the company’s servant. The accused was remanded on bail tall next Wednesday. Some of the local labour unions and the trades council are not pulling well together at present. Both the Seamen’s Union and the Bakers’ Union are seceding from the Trades and Labour Council. A movement is on foot to start a. Musical Competitions Society in Wellington. A public meeting with that object in view will be held at an early date. A Wellington bookmaker, Thomas Mulcahv, charged with betting with a boy 15 years, was sentenced at the_ Magistrate’s Court to one month’s imprisonment. Slow progress is being made with the Wellington Dock. The payments made during the year were £11,957, leaving a. liability of £184,367. There has been trouble with the setting of the cement at the bottom of the dock. The harbour board’s engineer says the dock will in all probability not be completed until considerably over the contract time. A feature about the rates which _ the Manawatu County Council has decided to write off its books is that a large proportion of the amounts are due by Crown tenants who have forfeited their sections.. Dr Soif, Governor of German Samoa, who is in Wellington just now on a holiday, states that the experiments in rubbergrowing on the island of Upolu have been very satisfactory, and that English and New Zealand capital ia invested in it. Almost every kind of rubber _is thriving well. The Chinese labourers imported by the German authorities are working well. The Germans and the Englishmen in Samoa are living in harmony. Dr Solf has even two Englishmen on his advisory board, and he thinks it should be the same in Europe.