NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 323, 9 October 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(bi TiLianirn—PEEaa association.)" * NOVELS AND MORALS. AN APPEAL TO BE LODGED. Chrlstchurch, Octobcr. 8. It is understood that an appeal will be lodged against the Magistrate s decision to imposo a fino of 40s. and costs on Mr. G. Rankin, assistant to. Messrs. Simpson and Williams, for selling novels that the tho subject 'of Court proceedings recently. It is felt that the judgment is against the weight of evidence in Mr. Rankin's case. It is also probable that tho Magistrate's decision in regard to the nature of the novels will be questioned. "Victoria Cross," tho authoress of "Anna Lombard," /'has sent a cable message from Torquay, England, instructing Messrs. Simpson and Williams to tako action on her behalf. Mr. Fountain Barber, whose assistant was also fined, has, decided that, as the defendant, practically pleaded guilty, no further steps shall be taken. Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs have, not yet decided whether an appeal shall bej lodged on behalf of their assistant. - YOUNG MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF. Cambridge, October 8. Robert Gow, a young man, shot himself ' in the head with a rifle at his parents' residence this afternoon. Deceased was the son of the local stationmaster, and hadjjeen studying hard for examinations. DWELLINCHOUSE BURNED. : Dunedin, October 8. A house at South Dunedin, owned • and occupied by Mr. William Porteoas, was burned down last night. A lighted match, dropping into a cupboard, is suggested as the cause. The building was insured in the Alliance Office for £200, and the furniture in the National for £75. FRUITLESS SEAROH FOR THE-LOCH LOMOND. Dunedin, October 8. Tho Union Company has been, advised that the Wanaka arrived at Newcastle at 5 o'clock this morning. The captain reports he saw no trace of the Loch Lomond or of castaways from her at the Auckland Islands, and that the provision depot, there was intact. The Wanaka then steered a westerly course to Newcastle: Auckland, October 8. The Northern Steamship Company's steamer Paeroa, which arrived at 11 o'clock to-night, reported having picked up off the 1 Great Barrier some lifebuoys, identified as belonging to the missing Loch Lomond. 1 NO-LICENSE FAVOURED. Auckland, October 8. At a special . meeting of the Auckland hairdressers' assistants, the' following resolution was passed:—"That in view of the hostile attitude of the trade towards organ- ' ised labour,_ this union urges the workers ■ of the Dominion to vote No-License, with a , view of having the trade under control of i the State." r i NAPIER-CISBORNE RAILWAY. ... Palmerston North, October 8. j The Napier Chamber of Commerce has asked the Palmerston Chamber to support an immediate continuation of . the East Coast railway from Napier to Gisborne. A discussion took' place at a meeting to-night, when the speakers obje'eted to supporting • the proposal without enquiry. Mr. Gibbons > characterised the line as expensive and uni necessary. Air. Cohen said it was neither • of national nor, district importance. The i land to_ be tapped'was very poor. Mr. El- . iiott said the same mistake was being'made - with this as with other lines in New Zea- . land—namely, hugging : the coast, instead of - striking inland. It was decided that there i was insufficient data before the chamber to warrant it supporting the railway. INVERCARCILL TRAMWAYS. r ,r ' Invercarglll, October 8. ■ j The Town Council to-night r decided to 3 grant the request f|, of" the ''tramway conceal ■ sionaries (of whom Sir Joseph Ward is one) ; to alter the terms of their contract, so. that ) it will be necessary ■ for them to complete i only a portion of the new tramway system 1 by nine months, from last May, instead of . the whole work, as originally, agreed. • The minority in the council strongly opposed tho j request, urging that the council should ent force the terms of the- contract so as to b arrive at some sort of finality.

NO-LICENSE. Wanganul, October 8. The. Wanganui Young Men's No-Licensr League to-night decided to open the campaign. ARBITRATION COURT. . " Auckland, October 8. The Arbitration Court was occupied this morning with breaches of awards. Tiro employers were fined for employing non-union-ists,, and one for paying less than the minimum wage. '