NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Tclecraph-Preii AuooluUna.)

THE FIRE AT GORE. r Gore, August 17. , Tho Telegraph Department's engineering and repairing staiV are engaged in effecting repairs tn the telephone and tolegraph lines injured as a result of Thursday's fire. They expect the work will bo completed on Monday. Garpentors are engaged repairing tho roof and refitting internal portions of tho post office. No damage was done to the post office tower or the town clock. Tho fire brigade has received a complimentary message from tho Postmaster-Ucneral. FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE. _~ _ , , Hastings, August 17. iho Hawkos Bay Fruitgrowers' Association, being the executive this year of tho New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, has fixed August 20 and 21, in tho Dominion Museum Buildings, Wellington, as tho time and place for the annual conference oi delegates to tho New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Associations. Tho Prime Minister will open tho conference. SCHOOL SHOOTING. ... . Timaru, August 18. At a large muster of primary school cadets to-day tho South Island Championship Shooting Shield was. formally 'presented to tho Timani South School, tho winners for 1912. It was considered a very creditable win. This is the eighth time the shield has been won by tho South Canterbury schools. DREDGING. . Duncdin, August 17. Dredging returns.—Sailors' Bend, 2loz, Odwt.; Waikaka United, 230z.; "Biso and Shine, 60oz. 4dwt.j Kising Sun, 3205. lOdwt. \ CLOTHING TRADE SLACK. Auckland, August 17. . There is reason to believe that there ia a certain amount of slackness in the clothing manufacturing trade . at the present time, due directly, it is agreed, to dock strikes in the Old Country. Inquiry among several manufacturers this morning elicited the Information that the slackness is due to a shortage of material usually available at this timo, of tho yoar for making up into summer goods. From the middle of May until well into July no cargo was got away from London, and, as one manufacturer put it this morning, some of tho houses hnvo been "slipped up" for their stuff. SEQUEL TO A COLLISION. Auckland, August 17. As tho upshot of a collision between a tramcar and a motor-car, in Manukau Road on February 20, in which the motorcar was slightly damaged, the police brought an information against Chas. F. Hudson, the driver of tho tramcar, charging him with culpable negligence. Tho magistrate, Mr. E. C. Cutton, found that Hudson was guilty of the offence, and at first proposed to inflict a fino of .£5, but Mr, A. E. Skclton, who was appearing for tho accused, requested that |ho amount bo increased sufficiently to permit " of an appeal to tho Supremo Court. His Worship thereupon increased tho fine to JE6, the costs being £2 Us. Tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, was engaged at tho Supremo Court to-day in hearing Hudson's appeal against tho magistrate's decision. After the evidence was heard, tho. case was adjourned until Monday. THE THREE KINGS. Auckland, August 14. Tot another expert marine opinion hag been expressed condemning the sugges* tion to onoor a light-ship (rather than erect a lighthouse) at Three Kings. Captain C. E. Hood, marine surveyor, told a reporter to-day that the proposal to moor a light-ship in the Tasmau Sea at Three Kings was utterly ridiculous, and tho suggestion that it was impossible to erect a lighthouse there only showed that tho [ Department was not well informed. TENDER FOR NEW CHURCH. .. Wanpanui, August IG.' '■ . Tho tender of Russeil and Bignell has been accepted for tho erection of tho newchurch for St. Paul's parish. The structure is to be of brick, and will cost about £9000. DIVORCE DECREE. Auckland, August 10. At the Supremo Court, a decree nisi; was granted m the case of Francis Flet- V clior v. Elizabeth Maria Fletcher, on the. ground of desertion. Petitioner is a mas- '. tor mariner living at Westport. LOCATING PETROLEUM. Rotorua, August 17.' Mr. J. R. Raw, of Eotorua, who has achieved considerable success as a water diviuer, in tho Maniakau plateau especially, has successfully conducted tests to show that he can similarly locate underground sources of petroleum.