SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 12 January 1910, Page 5

SOUTH ISLAND.

Incendiarism in Chriatchurek According to statements that have been traced to a fairly good authoritative source, the attempt to burn the Cale Cecil buildings has lieen expected for three or four weeks. The local police authorities were warned from Wellington that an attempt would be made to burn the building, and in consequence of this warning, the polica maintained a close watch on the building, and though the alarm was given on Wednesday almost simultaneously by the police and by a young woman in a building overlooking the (a.’e Cecil, the police were unable to secure the man who must have been on the premises at the time when the brigade reached ths scene. A Foreign Crew. A unique condition of affairs, producing nn extraordinary deadlock, has arisen between the captain and crew of the Norwegian barque Odd, now lying at Westport. The difficulties obtaining are chi- fly due to the fact that the Odd, being a foreign vessel, is not subject to the uew shipping laws. Upon the arrival of the barque from Mataupi, the crew pre-etned

to the Vice-Consul for Norway a written complaint covering matters of food supply, etc., and demanding that they be paid off at this port. This Capt. Torgen«fn declined to agree to, an denied that there were any -grounds Tor food complaints. The mates and seamen then refused to work, but declined to leave the ship. The result has been that shore labour has had to be employed in

charging ballast. As things stand at present, the crew refuse to work or leave the ship, and the captain refuses to discharge them. It would seem that lack of jurisdiction over the flag prevents the rights and wrongs of the dispute being investigated in the Magistrate’s Court. To have the ease dealt with in Norway ■would be a protracted and expensive matter.