NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) (, BIG FLOOD IN THE WAIRAU. THE BISK TO BLENHEIM. Blenheim, July 4. Tlio rain of the past week lias caused a big flood in the Wairau Kirov and tributaries. Tuamaviua is inundated, and then; are .six feet of water on tho road between tliat place and Vara, tlio next station on tlio Jilcnheim-Picton railway line. Vara swamp is a sea, and as the water is still rising it is feared there will bo considerable damage and loss of stock. Water has found a weak spot in tlio town banking at Blenheim, behind tlio Royal Hotel, and fears are entertained that it will break through anil Hood tlio northern portion of the town. But for the overflow channels in Blenheim and vicinity, which are working well, tlio town would have been under water liefore now. The woather is still very unsettled, with occasional showers.

RAILWAY SERVANTS' SPLIT. LITTLE MOPE OF UNION. Ghristchurch, July 4. Prospects of an agreement between tlio Railway Drivers', Piremen, and Cleaners' .Association and the. Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants are not bright. Yesterday a meeting of the former carried a resolution to the effect that the association hail no faith in the Amalgamated Society or its officers.

DENNISTON MINE TROUBLE. STRIKE BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. Westport, July 4. In connection with the mining trouble at Denniston, it appears that the only matter now in dispute is the payment of 215., the claim in respect to this amount being that 10s. per day should be paid ior certain work performed on 24 days, whereas, tlio management state that tho rate should be 9s. per day. The lmueiß, at a mass meeting to-day, decided to resume work to-morrow, but will lake a ballot on "Wednesday as to whether or not a strike will bo resorted to. The day's interruption in the work at tho mine represented a loss of ,£3OO in wages. At the conclusion of the mass meeting tlio question was raised of urging the Government to appoint Mr. John Foster, formerly a president of the union, to the Upper House, but the meeting dccidcd by 200 votes to live to take no action.

LEGALISED BOOKMAKERS. ACTION BY BUSINESS MEN. Auckland, July 4. The Auckland Ministers' Association, at a meeting to-day, received a letter signed by a large number of business firms, drawing attention to the recent references by Mr. Justice Chapman to the gambling evil, and particularly to the legalised bookmaker. The letter suggested that, on Sunday next, or such other day as inay bo convenient, special services on gambling be preached in all the churches, and that petitions be placed in the churches for signature, requesting Parliament to revise the recent legislation iu the interests of public morality. The request of the letter was approved, and a committee was appointed lo give effect to it.

OPIUM, ASSAULT, AND THEFT. Dunedin, July 4. At tho City Court, Loui Wnh was fined <£40, and Ah Sing X2O, for having a quantity of opium in their possession. Richard Stewart, Matthew .Stewart, and John Meek, for assaulting Detective Thompson, who was endeavouring to arrest the first-named for theft, were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Matthew Stewart was given an additional month for damaging the detective's clothes, and Richard Stewart three months for theft.

A UNIVERSITY COLLEGE EFFORT. Dunedin, July 4. The University Council and the students have agreed to combine for the purpose of obtaining funds for the extension of tho University building. The Chancellor's proposals evoked much enthusiasm, and Mr. J. Allen led off by giving a donation of .£IOO. It is expected that the whole sum required will bo raised within two yeara.

PROTRACTED TAIHAPE CASE. Taihape, July 4. A case which lasted three days before tho Stipendiary Magistrate was finished on Saturday, and was watched with great interest by bush farmers and sawniillers. In this case the Egmont Box Company applied for an order giving them the right to tako a tram through certain property, including the homestead of David Wilkie, of Ohutn. The question at issue was whether there was any other practical and suitable route except through the homestead. Already there were tram exits along the road, but the plaintiffs claimed that this road routo was not suitable. Considerable evidence was taken on this point, and also re damago to Mr. Wilkie's ju'operty. Tho latter contended that it'would be impossible to work the farm if the order were granted. Expert evidence' by engineers oil both sides was given, Mr. Bc-ere, for defendant, stating that the road route was equally good anil possibly as cheap. Tho magistrate refused the order in respect to the homestead section, plaintiffs, on v, lioin the onus lay, having failed to prove that no other route was available. A question regarding the other section was hold over. Mr. Jlyers appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Morrison for defendant.

WAR ON A CITY COUNCIL. Christchurch, July 4. Tho Christchurch City Council, having adhered to its original determination not to receive a deputation appointed by the General Labourers' Union, the union has decided to initiate a campaign to secure tho return of a council which will be more acceptable to workers and unionists than the body as at present constituted.