NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

[by Tiu.EGRAnr. —rnEss association.]

ICAIKOIJRA'S TRIP. CHARGES AGAINST STOWAWAYS AND CREW. Duncdln, December 1. At tho Port Chalmers Policc Court yesterday four stowaways named Fred. Parsons, Donald M'Konzie, Alfred Higgins, and William- Byrne, pleaded guilty to unlawfully travelling from London to N f ew Zealand on the steamer Ivaikoura without having i.ieviously paid their fares. They were lined £3 each, or a month's imprisonment. Thomas Scott and Richard Weddo l *. Iwo of the crew of the Kailcoura, were charged with unlawfully entering the ship's hold mid damaging cargo on November 10. The case was adjourned till Tuesday. The exact extent of tho damage is not yet ascertained. TARANAKI PETROLEUM. A GREAT " BLOW-TJP." New Plymouth, November 30. A great "blow-up" occurred in tho Birthday well at the petroleum works Uiis morning, a mixture of oil, papa, and water being thrown abovo the top of the derrick and carried across the road on to butter trucks in tho Freezing Works siding. Two or three minor -blow-ups occurred during the week., This is regarded as an excellent indication. Tho annual meeting of the Taranaki Oil and Freehold Company was held last night. Tile report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr. F. P. Corkill (re-elected) and G. W. Henderson (Wellington) were elected directors. A sum of £100 was voted to tho chairman for tho ensuing year, and £100 oach to other directprs for last year. 'JL'ho manager stated- that the bore was now down 251 ft., and that there was ail excellent show of oil that afternoon, but that did not betoken anything at present. Much moro rapid progress is now being made. . WANGANTJI BANKRUPTCY. Wanganui, November 30. Thomas Mitchell, onc-timo proprietor of tho Aramoho Meat Freezing Works,. and who for several years ■ was engaged unsuccessfully in lawsuits, including a Privy Council appeal case, against tho Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, has been adjudged a bankrupt. This is tho first bankruptcy here since July. jiiLisNHELM FARM DISPUTE. Blenheim, Novomber 30. The Industrial Arbitration Court sat at Blcnhoim this morning to hoar application by tho Farm Labourers' Union for an award fixing tho v hours, wages, and conditions of casual farm labour, particularly harvesting. Everything was agreed to except .preference. Tho Court is now considering that question. A modified ' form of prefcrenco to unionists is incorporated in tho award given' by tho Arbitration Court. The employer must be caused no unreasonable delay in fulfilling preference requirements, i.e., men must bo offering on tho job, or non-unionists may bo taken. A similar preference clause was recontly in tho Manawatu award. THE MAORIS AND FAHMING. Gisbornc, November 30. In the course of the hearing of a. ease this morning, tho Chief Justice stated that the only hopo of the Maoris, if they desired to live, was for .them to become efficient farmers, and if thoy did not do this, but loafed about, tho raco would die out. SHORT-LIVED FREEDOM. \ Christchurch, November 30. A prisoner named Archibald Campbell M'Kenna, undergoing four years for criminal assault, escaped from tho Hanraer prison last evening, but was re-capturod to-day. WESTPORT ROWING REGATTA. Wostport, Novomber 30. •At a meeting of the. -Westport Regatta Committeo to-night it. was decided to raiso the prize money for tho regatta on Dcco:n : her ti3 in the senior fours to- £10 (first £35. sccund £5), Tho total prize money io over £120. , THE AUCKLAND SHOW. Auckland, November 30. There was a very large attendance at tho Auckland' Show to-day. Mr. E. M.' M'Lennan's Buttercup was awarded tho championship for dairy cows. . .

CANTERBURY SCHOOL SPORTS. Christchurcli. November 30. The eighth annual gathering of the Canterbury School Sports Association commenced this morning at Lancaster Park. There wero about 3000 children and others present. The weather ivas ideal for such a gathering. The events included cadet, drill (ton companies competing), competitions for girls in pole and club exercises, running, jumping, etc. SCRIPTURE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS. Oamaru, November 30. A largo and enthusiastic demonstration was held last evening under the auspices of the Oamaru ministers' Association in connection with tho Scripture classes conducted in the various schools during school hours. Mr. T. Mackenzie, - M.IT.R., and chairman' of tho Otago Education Board, presided, and spoko of tho importance of inftilling into school children a knowledge of Bible truth. NATIVE LAND COMMISSION. Cisborne, November 30. The Native Land Commission opened its sittings at Gisborne this morning. After inspecting several Gisborne blocks, the commission proceeds by steamer on Tuesday to Awnnui tp deal with Waiapu lands. CHINESE AND SUNDAY LABOUR. Auckland, November 30. Mr. Kettle-'S.M., gave his reserved judgment in the case in which a number of Chinese gardeners were prosecuted for working at their ordinary avocations on Sunday. He said that after a long , spell of wet weather, the conditions improved on Saturday night, and the' Chinese considered it necessary for the safety'of the crop to get it in on Sunday. In the special circumstances the work, was reasonably necessary, but the preparation of vegetables for sale could have been dono on Monday; Those defendants who gathered and prepared vegetables on Sunday in full view of the public highway wore fined ss. each, and costs, but the chargo against those engaged in saving the potato crop was dismissed. DUNEDIN SUPREME .COURT. Dunedin, November 30. Tho following prisoners, convicted' during tho week, were sentenced by Mr. Justice Williams this morning :—William Patrick Harrington, receiving stolen property, twelve mouths; John Robertson, failing to keep proper books of account, one month as a first-class prisoner; Edward Ernest Masey, arson, twelve months. In the case of Smart, found guilty of the theft of £14, the' property of the State Fire Department, sentence was deferred. Smart, convicted of stealing State Fire Insurance funds, was sentenced to six months' hard labour. This completed the criminal sittings. NEWS IN BRIEF. Dunedin. November 30. The ballot at the Dunedin Central election for members of the Now Zealand Bowling Association Council resulted as follows: —President, Mr. Allnutt, Dunedin; vicepresident. Mr. J. Brown, Canterbury; treasurer, Mr. F. R. Smith. Six members to form the committee were, selected, hut it was decided not to disclose the result of the ballot until the other centres had voted. A fire at Kaitangata destroyed a fourroomcd house valued at £175, and belonging to Mr. Hitchon. The building was uninsured. Tho furniture was insured by Mr. Shcehan, the ocoupior, for £150 in the United Office.