NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1340, 18 January 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Press. Association.! : -$ _ MENTAL HOSPITAL SITE. A PROTEST. Auckland, January 17. Protests have been mado against tha proposed site of tho Auxiliary Mental Hospital at Point Chevalier, and te-day the Mayor telegraphed to tho Hon. 1). Buddo asking him to postpone acceptance of any tender for the building for ouo week. The Mayoress says that (lie pro. posal to build tho Auxiliary Asylum in an important Buburb would bo a public calamity. CRIMINALS DEALT WITH. Cbristchurch. Janunrv/,17. At tho Supreme Court, Thomas Vetch, who had been found guilty in the lower court of having received a cheque kiu>v.'< ing the same to havo been stolen, was sentenced to twelve months' imprison.ment as from tho date of tho trial. Edgar Moore and Victor Smith, having pleaded guilty to five charges of breaking and entering and theft, were each' committed to prison, to bo retained for reformatory purposes for a term of two years. Duncan Alexander Calderwood, convicted of .breaking and entering with, intent to commit a crime, was committed to prison, te be detained for reformatory treatment for two ' years. WHAT LABOUR IS OUT FOR. Hastings, January 17. A meeting of tho Hastings branch of tha New Zealand Labour party was addressed last night by Mr. Arthur Witty. At tho conclusion a resolution was passed urging tiio adoption of proportional representation, and an immediate reduction in the cost of living by substantially reducing railway freights and Customs duties on necessaries, and taxing land values instead. WOOL AND FREEZING. • Waiters, January 17. Since the commencement of finer wea» tlier shearing operations have been proceeding apace, and wool is 'coming into Waitara for transhipment • Home in considerable quantity. . The local freezing works aro busjr, and there is every appearance of tho exports this season reaching fair proportions. FALLEN SOLDIERS. Waitara, January. 17. A meeting in Waitara last evening de. cided to take steps to raise subscriptions for tho purpose of erecting a monument in the soldiers' cemetery..- It is proposed to inscribo on tho monument tho names of members of the regular forces and volunteers who wore killed in engagements around'the Waitara district in .the. war of 1860-01. It has long been a'reproach that' the place of rest of the remains oi brave men should be left unmarked, and it is hoped, now a movement, has been .started, that the cemetery will hereafter be properly cared for. ■■■■■'■ COMBINED FLYING CLUBS. Palmerston, January 17. The combined Hying clubs of Welling* ten, Wairarapa, and Palmerston hold a veteran flying race yesterday, from Porangaranga, the distance being about 560 miles. The birds wero liberated by Captain Wilson, of tho s.s. Awapuni. Tho winners will not be known till the times from the three towns are reckoned up. This is the. biggest flying race in New Zealand. .' CHINESE SHOOTS HIMSELF. Thames, January 17, A Chinese laundryman named Hoonff On shot himself to-dav. When customers called they found the promises locked. A. window was opened, and the Chinaman seen, lving in. the kite-hen' dead. He had placed a revolver, fully loaded, in his mouth, and fired. No reason is assigned . for the act, except' that the _ ■.;- ceased' had complained about his health. UNREGISTERED BARMAID. Hokitika, January 17. At the Magistrate's Court at Kumar* to-dav, tbo licensee of the Kumara Junction Hotel was charged by the police with employing an unregistered barmaid in the bar. After hearing tho evidence, th« magistrate (Mr. J. G. Hewitt) inflicted a fine of ss. and 7s. costs.* A SHUNTER'S DEATH, Napier, January 17. Frank Hargreaves, shunter, who was severelv injured by being run over by two railway trucks at Port Ahuriri this .morning, died in Hospital this afternoon. SUDDEN DEATH. Christcriurch, January 17. At the inquest on George Win. Hobbs, a furrier, who dropped dead in the street this morning, a verdict was returned that death was due to heart disease. SERIOUS BUSH FIRES. Invercargill, January 17. The dry weather and a hot north-wo»> terly caused bush fires in niamy parts of Southland, and sawmillers had an anxious timo fighting the flames. Several mills were onlv saved with difficulty. Considerable 'damage was done.to tramways, and some timber was lost. Mr. John Hart, of Rnahine, lost fifteen cattle anoj a horse, and a shed containing implements and grass seed, valued at Xl5O. POTENT HOP BEER. Gisborne, January 17. For manufacturing and selling hop beet at Matamai, containing 7.92 of alcohol, or nearly double.tho strength.of ordinary brewers' beer, William Osborn was fined JC2O, with costs. A similar charge' against William Poh. lard was adjourned for the Government Analyst's ovidencc. DEFRAUDING THE RAILWAYS. Dunedin, January. 17. Mr. W. B. Harlow, storekeeper at Out. ram,-was fined by Mr. Widdowson, S.M., at 1 tho Police Court this morning, £3, with costs ' £i odd, for committing ,a breach of the railway regulations, in that he did counsel and procure the inakine of a false written statement by John Milmhie, sloroman, of Dunedin,. with tho object of obtaining a concession on freight for tho carriage of empty crates which came in bv road and were returned.by rail. Milmino v;as fined £1, with <eosW £1 Ss., for making the statement. QUIT CANADA FOR HERE. Auckland, January 17. The steamer Mahura brought from Van* couvcr one hundred immigrants, twenty landing at Auckland. Many had originally come from England, but tho severe Canadian winters decided them upon seeking further fields. Those landing here aro a sturdy lot, who aro anxious to procure farm work pending better acquaintance with local conditions. BRIEF MENTION. Waihi, January 16. Two tobacconists were fined 10s.. each! to-day for selling cigarettes to boys un, der 15. Palmerston N., January 16. A branch of the New Zealand s'po-rts Protection I-oagno. was formed at I'oilding last night, Mr. I). 11. Guthrie, M.P„ being elected patron and Mr. F. Y. Lclh--1 .bridge president. I Waitara, January 17. It has been decided to hold the annual Taranaki regatta on the Waitara Rivor on Easter Monday, April Bth. Wanganui, January 1". A meeting of representatives of sports bodies was held to-night, when it was decided that Wanganui should 1>? a district, centre of the Sports Protection League. Wanganui, January h. The Garrison Band, which is competing at the Christeliurch contest, leaves for the south to-morrow.