NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1434, 8 May 1912, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

fßy Telonraph—Press Association.) 0TIMARU'S PROGRESS. Timaru, Hay 7. In the. twelve months ended March 31 250 building permits were issued in tho borough.. The estimated value of tho work totals .CIOG,BS3, and the list includes 115 new houses, 5 stores, -1 shops, and 1 offices. , NAVY LEAGUE, Timaru, May 7. At the second annual meeting of the Timaru Centre of tho Xavy League last . night the'report stated that the adult members totalled , 253, school children members 112, and -tho ladies' branch (which is believed to bo tho largest in tho overseas Dominions) 120,. The year began with a deficit of ,£lB 18s., anct closed with a credit balance of .£ls ,17s. !)d. Tho most important work is said to have been the propaganda among the schools by means of lectures and prizes for essay?. Mr. .T. Craigie, M.P., president, said he would dp what ho could to obtain a larger training-ship than the Amokura, ■ which, 119 stated, • has■ more boys-on board from Timaru than from any other centre. Mr. Craigie. was unanimnusl.v rejected president, and llr. Arber secretary. ABSENT WTTHOUT LEAVE. -Auckland, May 7. This morning Thomas Ashford, eiigir.eTooni stnraman on t!i? s.s. "H'nkanui. was arrested on a charge of absenting himself yesterday without leave from the ship. A rentence of seven days' imprisonment with hard labourMvas imposed, and the accused was ordered to be put aboard the ship before it left port. FIRE IN DUNEDIN. N Duncdin, May 7. last night an eight-roomed dwelling in Bath Street, Moj-mngton, owned and occupied by Johanna Whelan, wa.s burnt. Tho loss considerably exceeds'the total insurances of .£7OO in the Victoria Office. WESTPORT COAL CO. AMD MEN. Duncdin, Hay 7. An important agreement has been arrived at ijehreeu (no Westpcrt Coal Company and the men employed iu the company's mines. In ~November last unions on tho West Coast forwarded to the company a set of demands differing materially from the conditions then existing. The demands marked such a radical alteration in norking that considerable difficulty was experienced in framing an agreement"; but alter a number of conferences an agreement, with a currency of twelve mouths, was signed. The men, it is understood, will benefit considerably by tho new agreement. It ma.v be mentioned incidentally that so great is the demand for coal just now that the company finds it impossible to get a sufficient number of competent ■piiners to meet tlu-ir requirements. UNRULY'YOUNG SOLDIERS. Waihi, May 7. A number of cases of refusing to register and to attend drills; were dealt with this morning, and fines of and costs were inflicted in each charge. Half-a-dozen cadets, charged with insubordination, at drill., pleaded guilty. Each was convicted and ordered to pay costs. MAORI LAND COURT. Dannevirkc, May 7. The Xativo Land Court concluded sitting here tc-day. The Tahoraiti Xo. 2 block, of between five thousand and six thousand acres, valued al «£IOO,OOO, was dealt with, being cut up into thirty divisions. Judge GiltctUler was complimented by counsel engaged for his expeditious handling of. the matter. i BOOTS-HIGHER V/AGES? Dunsriin, May 7. The demand; of tho operative bootmakers represent, it is understood, an increase in wages to the extent of about IS per cent, on test-of labour.'. -Negotiations so far have failed to bring about an agreement between the employees and employees, and parties will therefore meet in Conciliation Council at Auckland on May 13. THE CADET'S ASSAILANT. Waihi, May 7. A man named Wra. Harris, said to be from Christchurch, '.'.'■ as lined .Co for assaulting a cadet .v;hilo a parade was in progress. He refund to pay the fine, and was sentenced to thirty days' hard labour in default. A warrant issue's immediately, and prisoner will be gaoled. CLOSING OF SMALL SCHOOLS. Timaru, May 7. The Minister for Education, interviewed when proceeding south regarding the South Canterbury teachers' demand for a reduction in the number of small schools by a conveyance scheme, admitted that this wa.s desirable, but the opposition iu the House and the strenuous local opposition to closing any schools.made it difficult to ajvplj ,tt>e idea. SHIPS' WANTED FOR GRAIN. Timaru, -May 7. Tho Hon. T.-Buxton has communicated ■with the premier, asking him to do something to relieve tha shortage of bottoms for the transport of grain, and Mr. Mackenzie has replied that be v;ill ascertain what thb local shipping firms arc prepared to do. and consider the matter. Mr. Buxton states that on a previous occasion of the kind Sir Joseph Ward sent information cf tho shortage abroad, and tramp .steamers came. Steamers now in the trade give preference to wool and mutton, and grain is piling up when tho London market is good. INSPECTION OF POTATOES. Timaru, May 7. Begardiw; the export of potatoes to Australia, Mr. Buxton said tho certificate of the inspection of shipment can bo got by appointing inspectors, but a certificate that the "land where the potatoes have been grown has been free of disease for 12 months, it is practically impossible to provide. This, however, should not be insisted on, as there is much disease in Australia. A STRANDED SCOW. Auckland, May 7. An attempt was made to-day to refloat tho scow Xgaru, belonging to the Maoriland Navigation Company, which went ashore when leaving Kawhia yesterday, but it was not successful. Another attempt will bo made to-morrow. The weather is calm, with a moderate sea running, but tho neap tides make tho work of refloating difficult. BUSH TRAMWAY ACCIDENT. Auckland, May 7. Some trucks on a bush tramway' at Manunui collided with a tree on the line, and were piled up. A man named Kirkton was frightfully injured, sustaining a fractured thigh, a crushed hand, and cuts on the head. 'He was removed to tho Taumarunui Hospital.' t BRIEF MENTION. Waipawa, May 7. Maori man and woman were killed this afternoon by a motor-car capsizing. , uL'r.edin, May 7. Simon Weatherall.' «'lio was seriously injured in t'r.ii;:'- f'o.i! Min<\ at <i>aj ('•reck I'hcvoiul l!">:burgh) on t'riday, died in the Hospital tu-uight. Death was due io disloralilin of ihc f'.nne.