NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telcsraph-PresG Association.) «— PREFERENTIAL RATING ON RAILWAYS. INVESTIGATION ASKED FOR. Auckland, August 11. The sub-committee reporting on railway matters this afternoon at the Chamber of Commerce, in reference to preferential rating on railways, stated that the statements made by Mr. Samuel Vaiie are of sue'i a serums nature that, the whole matter of differential rating and .Air. Vailo's assertions thereon should bo investigated by impartial actuarial authorities, appointed by the chamber, and that tho committee be left to act and report as early as jvossible. ?>lr. G. Elliott said the people in the north wero being much handicapped by the unfair competition prevailing. lie quoted the differenco between tho rates prevailing on the Anckland-Onehunga suburban service and the Lytlolton-Christchurch and Port Chalmers-Dunedin services. Mr. Bagnall said that Air. Vailo's figures had so often been quoted, and so often been challenged that investigation by an impartial committee would be a good thing. Tho report of tho committee was adopted. MAYOR OF AUCKLAND. WILL HE CONTEST CITY WEST? Auckland, August 11. At tho City Council meeting last night members joined in requesting the Mayor (Mr. Parr) to decline nomination for the City West seat in the Parliamentary election, and devote the whole of his attention to the important undertakings the council has entered upon. The Mayor replied that he was in n difficult position. He recognised that councillors probably voiced tiio views of citizens, and he promised careful consideration and an early statement of his intentions. Speaking on the Town Planning Bill, tho Mayor took exception to the provision by which the '•itepavers were not consulted on tho suliject of loans for town planning. The Bill was referred to a committee for consideration. SOUTH SEA BOYS AS SERVANTS. TO COME UP IN THE HOUSE. Auckland, August 11. The Domestic Servants' Union proposes to draw the attention of Parliament to tho fact that native boys arc being imported from the 'Islands to perform domestic duties, and being paid wages one-fourth those required by European domestics. Tho salaries aro not paid to tho native boys, but to their parents in the Islands. Tho union decided to get Mr. M'Laren to raiso the question in the House of Representatives. MINES COMMISSION. "ONLY WRITTEN QUESTIONS." Whangarei, August 10. Tho Mines Commission sat all yesterday and part of this morning taking Hie testimony relative to tho Eikurangi a.'id Kiripaka mines. Cross-examination of miners by the managers was objected to and abandoned. Only written questions by other than the Commissioners will be permitted. Tho Commission left to-day for Thames. TWO MOTORS IN THE GORGE. BUMP TO SAVE DISASTER. Woodviilc, August 10. There was a miraculous escape from a serious accident in the Manawatu Gorge at midday yesterday. Two motor-cars ran into each other at a placo in tho middle gorge called Barney's Point. Ono car belonged to S. Bolton, the other to Osborno Lilley, of T'nhintna. Tho former was returning from Pahnerston and was being driven by Felix Bolton, and in it were his mother and two sisters. Tho other car contained Mr. and Mrs. Lilley, Miss Allen, and a lady from Christchurch. The cars met at a sharp comer in t.ho road, where there was no chance of passing, and to avoid going over the side they'had to bump into, each other. Mrs. Bolton and daughters 1 were thrown

out of the car over tho sido of the bank, tho former rolling down some distanco before she caught hold of a bush. In the other car tho lady from Chvistchurch got her noso injured. Straugo to relate, that was tho only damage sustained by the party. Both cars were badly injured, and it took till nearly midnight to effect repairs. USUAL ASHBURTON CASE. Ashburton, August 11. At tho Magistrate's Court to-day, before. Mr. Day, S.M., Robert Paterson, a resident of a suburb of Ashburton, was charged with keeping liquor for sale in a No-License district, and with felling liquor on or about July 27. Ho pleaded not guilty, and after lengthy evidence, bad been adduced, the magistrate said that defendant had not satisfactorily discharged the onus imputed as to how ho luid disposed of a case of whisky in ono week. It was impossible, said Mr. Day, for a man to drink one and a half bottles of whisky daily and keep sober, as Paterson contended" ho had done. A fine of .£SO and costs was imposed on the charge of keeping liquor for salo. Tho police withdrew the charge of selling liquor. I'atorson was fined JJSO for selling liquor in Ashburton No-License district in 1907, but since then tho boundaries of tho electoral district have been altered and so he now escapes imprisonment. FOUND EXHAUSTED. Timaru, August 11. The man Burrows, who had been missing from Geraldine since Tuesday, was found on tho hills last night. Ho was verk weak after his threo days' wanderings, and gaTe rambling accounts. He was taken charge of by the police, and will be examined as to'his sanity. HASTINGS COURT CASES. Hastings, August 11. At tho Magistrate's Court to-day Albert Ernest Kearns pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for failing to account for moneys collected on behalf of tho "Tribune" Co., Ltd. Cornelius Collins was fined .£lO, or three mouths' imprisonment, for breach of a prohibition order. Frederick Ewart, charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse, was committed for trial to the Supreme Court. He was allowed bail of £H0 and two sureties of 125 each.

METALLICIANS SUFFER. Auckland, August 11. At tho Police Court to-day Jesse Lynn Cotton and William Gray were each fined .£lO for having plied the calling of bookmakers. Edward Chitham and John Suites for a similar offence were each fined .£3O. BRIEF MENTION. Gore, 'August 10. A poll submitted to the ratepayers of Mataura borough yesterday to borrow .£2OOO for supplying electricity/for light and motive purposes was carried by 86 votes to -13. Duncdin, August 10. An anonymous donor has given ,£SOO towards the completion of the Coronation wing of the public library.