NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1385, 11 March 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

METHODIST CONFERENCE. Auckland, March 10. At the Methodist Conference yesterday the Auckland Synod remitted the following recommendation: "That the time has arrived wheu tho Methodist Church of Now Zealand should engage in somo definite philanthropic work; that a committee be appointed to sit in Christchurch during the year to collect information and formulate proposals to be submitted to the Synod of 1912 and the conference of 1913, "and that special consideration be given to the question of establishing an orphanage." The proposal was referred to the conference committee to report on it to the nest annual conference. THUNDER AND DOWNPOUR. Chrisfchurch, March 10. A terrific thunderstorm was experienced here about five o'clock this morning. It was unaccompanied by rain in the city, but a torrential downpour occurred in the vicinity, and a heavy fall of hail descended at New Brighton. ALLEGED ABSCONDING FROM BAIL, Dunedin, March 10. At the Police Court yesterday Arthur Joseph Wicks, a person hold to hail on a charge of indecent assault at 'Wellington, was charged with absconding from his bail for the purpose of evading justice. Chief Detective Herbert asked that accused be remanded to Wellington to appear there on Wednesday. The accused said that he came to Dunedin on business. He had no intention of absconding. He had his return ticket back north. His Worship remanded the accused to Wellington to nppjar there on Wednesday. "READY TO FIGHT ANYONE." Christchurch, March 9. ■An anti-militarist demonstration took place in Victoria Square this afternoon, the attendance being well within 500. Speeches denunciatory of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act wero made, anil motions wero carried protesting against the imprisonment of youths who refused to pay their fines, and also protesting against the misrepresentation by the press ot the Dominion, and by the military authorities of tho defence scheme. A youth, who described himself as tho "secretary of tho Passive. Resistors' Union," said that ho had been (o tho Lyttelton Gaol, and had seen tho bovs r\o were bearing up and were quite well. Ho added:/'Woobotido Ward or Massov, I say (with clenched fists) if they continue to inflict this on us. If they put mo in gaol for tho rest of my life 1 would not have anything to do with conscription. They call lis cowards. I'm ready to fight anyone; I'm .ready for any of tho officers at the drill shed, but tho fight is mental, not physical." . FATAL SMASH. Auckland, March 9. An inquest touching the death of Mrs. Prouso, who was killed in a motor-ear accident yesterday, was opened to-day. Kvidenee of identification was given IJv George Purvin. He stated that, to the best of his belief, Mrs. Prowso's eyesight was failing, and her hearing was defective. Further inquiry was adjourned until May 9, by which time it is hoped Mrs. .lordon will bo sufficiently recovered to give evidence. ' |