NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

lUy TclcEraDh-Prese Association.) « BUHNT. Christchurch, November 17. A six-roomed dwelling, owned and oe* cupied by W. Cooper, at Riccarton, was destroyed by fire yesterday. The build, ing was insured in tho Royal for £iW, and tlio furnituvo for XHO. SCHOOLS FOR POLLING. Fcilding, November 17. A settlement lias been arrived at, Fβ far as tho Oroua electorato is concerned, in tho dispute between tho electoral officer and the Wansanui Education Board. The returning officer is abandoning tho claim to clo*o twelve schools, a.nd is making other arrangements, besides consenting to submit to tho board tho names of all teachers required as deputies,

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Auckland, November 17. At the Police Court this afternoon AVm, Henry Gick, grocer, at present an undischarged bankrupt, was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial on three charges of incurring debts when his estate was insolvent, and ho had no reasonable means or expectation of paying the debts. Bail waa allowed.

FRENCH SAILORS. TIME-EXPIRED MEN RETURNING, Auckland, November 17. Ihe Talune, which arrived from the Cook and Society Islands, brought fourteen French seamen, who havo completed their tiiuo abroad on tho gunboat Ze.leo, and aro returning to their Native land. Shortly before arriving at Aitutaki one of the sailors, Francais Marie. Chevalier, died suddenly. Ho was buriod at sea.

WARSHIPS. Auckland, November 17. On Monday tho wai-shin Powerful, flag« ship of the Australian Squadron, accompanied by Uio second-class cruiser Eucoun. ter, will arrive at Auckland from Sydney. Tho warships will remain in port till November 28, when they leave for tho south. METHODIST SYNOD. Auckland, November 17. Tho Auckland Methodist Synod referred tho Bible-in-Schools question to the forthcoming conference, for the united decision of tho Methodist Church. A resolution waa passed calling upon members and adheronts to combat the liquor traffic and strive for the abolition of Urn totalisator. It declared uncompromising hostility to tho liquor traffic, and strongly urged tho most strenuous endeavours at tho forthcoming poll to rout nu intolerable enemy to tho national character and well-being. MEAT FAMINE IN THE COOK ISLANDS. Auckland, November 17. Owing to New Zealand tanncra being' unable to supply the demand, there is almost a meat famino in tho Cook Islands. WAGES AND HOURS FOR DRIVERS. Blenheim, November 17. Mr. Holly, Conciliation Commissioner, sat hero this morning to hear a. dispute about wages and hours, between tho employers and Iho Marlborough Drivers' Union. The butchers and station-owners were exempted from citation on tho ground that they wore not included in tho general award anywhere else. Tho sitting went into committee to discuss the details of tho demands. DEATH OF CHIEF STEWARD, Auckland, November 17. On tho voyage from Liverpool of the steamer Opawn, which arrived this moming, &. J. Aslley, chief steward, died from heart failure. DIVORCE, Auckland, November 17. In the Supremo Court a decree niii was grantnd in tho divorce suit William Hay v. Emily Hav, John Wolf beini named as co-respondent. Despondent left her husband and two children. In thn otter shi> said sho "loved Jack with all her heart, and diil not think it right to livo with her husband and think of tho other. She bogged her husband to bo good and kind (o the children. FRUITERER FINED £50. ~ ~ _ Invcrcargill, November 17. At tho Polico Court Alfred Woodside. fruiterer was fined ,CSO and costs for keeping hquor for sale, and .£2 for brineme liquor into ft No-License district without notification. A charge of selling wo? dismissed. b SUMNER CANAL nn, n November 17. lno Canal Commission resumed (o-dav imd decided to take into consideration the whole question of tho proposed SumnerChristchurch Caual as presented in a report presented by Mr. Cvms Williams nngineor to the Lyltelton Ylnrbour Hoard' on November 25, 1905, and all subsequent reports and all matters arising (hereout 'llio commission will pit till November 23" and then adjourn till January. PEDIGREE STOCK. Auckland, November 17. Tho Opawa, which arrived at Auckland this morning, from Liverpool, broughi »mc valuable stock for New Zealand