WELLINGTON NEWS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 30, 15 April 1904, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS.

(From our own Correspondent.) {By Telegraph.) Wellington, Last Night. While manoeuvring off Port Arthur, fche Russian battleship Petropavlovsk was accidentally struck by a torpedo and sank. Only twenty lives were saved. Admiral Makaroff, who recently replaced Admiral Stark (Commander of the Port Arthur naval forces), was among those drowned. This battleship was four, years in building and cost £1,099,000; her displacement was 10,960 tons. A nice point in connection with the Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act has arisen in connection with the goods arriving from America by the « Hermione.” This barque has been in the colony about two months, but as she did not arrive at the Bluff until after 81st March, the latest date on which foreign goods could be cleared at the old rates, the goods by her for that port will, according to the ruling of the Crown Law Officers, have to pay the preferential duty. The Liberal and Labour Federation at Auckland passed a resolution unanimously protesting against the introduction of Chinese labour into the , Transvaal, and arranged for a public indignation meeting. When at Mahakipawa recently, a deputation waited on Hon. Mr Mills to ask that the Cullensville-Waikakaho Track be cleared. On his return to Wellington the Minister brought the matter before the Minister of Mines, who has now replied that it has been noted for consideration when the Public Works Estimates for the year are being prepared. The Marine Department stopped Felix Tanner, of fasting, parachute, and “Ark” fame, from going to sea from Wanganui in his small craft « Ark No. 2,” until a marine surveyor had reported as to her seaworthiness. This report has now been received, and it recommends that the vessel, which is barrel-shaped and very strongly built, be allowed to proceed to Wellington, bn additional ballast and a sea-anchor being put on board. The export of flax from the Auckland province for the year ending 81st March was 89,467 bales weighing 6894 tons. At the prices ruling during the year, the value should be about £150,000. Mr and Mrs J. Smith, Mr W. M. Smith, and Mr Thomas Davis, of Blenheim, are to leave by the Moeraki on Saturday, on a trip round the world. Miss Hilda Russell, daughter of T. G. Russell, the well-known Christchurch solicitor, was married yesterday at Christchurch to Lieutenant Evans, of the relief ship Morning. All the officers of the Tauranga and Antarctic chips were present in uniform. Cadetships in the Railway Department in the Wellington district have been granted to Allan Oxley and C. P. Jackson, and cleaners’ positions to Andrew S. Clinch and J. Brosnahan, all of Marlborough. Owing to the Ist May in each year being the date fixed by statute for the opening of the shooting season, and the date this year unfortunately falls on a Sunday, at a special meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society the following resolution was unanimously carried: “That while the Council must regret that the opening d ty of the season falls on a Sunday t'vey cannot do anything to prevent this, the day being fixed by statute for IstMay.” A telegram from Dunedin to-day states that Inspector Goyen and Canon Mayne were unexpectedly overtaken by a tidal wave while driving along the Tautuku Beach, in the Gatlins district, and were washed out of the buggy, which was broken up; the wonder is that both gentlemen were Dot carried out to sea by the backwash. The Marine Department have granted the steamers Elsie and Waitohi the usual concessions as regards life-saving appliances—that is, they are allowed to ply in Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds with Appliances for two-thirds of the persons they are authorised to carry.