THE WAIHI & HUNTLY POSITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 7

THE WAIHI & HUNTLY POSITIONS.

PROGRESS OF WORK. THE REVOLVER, CASH IN COURT. tUy Telegraph.—l're3H Association.! Auckland, Octolier 30. Robert Manning appeared ivt tho I'ao* roa Police Courl to-uuy charged with unlawfully ussaultiiig James ihibb by pointing a revolver ut liim ill a railway carriage bet-wmi To Arclia and I'ueroa. Mr. Clendon, who appeared for Hocused, said that the ofi'enco would bo admitted. 11 aiming was u victim of "miners' complaint." Tho revolver was unloaded, and accused at the time was practically insano through drink and worry, lie asked tho Court not 1o impose any penalty. Sergeant Wohlmann said that, when tho train readied To Aroha, a young Maori got in, and Manning, leaving: his seat, went to where tho Maori was seated, and asked if he was a worker or striker. 110 (aocuscd) followed this up by intimating that, if tho Maori was going to Waihi, ho would shoot him as ho was going to shoot nil "scabs." Tho Maori said ho was not going to Waihi, and Manning said that ho would make bim a Eederationist, and thereupon pinned on his coat a piece of rod ribbon, and sang a verso of "Tho Kod Flag." Accused was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Ho whs also bound over to teen tho poaco for thrco mouths, niu' prohibited.

WORK AT lIUNTLY. IBr Te!czraDli.-I'rcs« Aiisociatlon.l Auckland, October 30. Tho Huntly correspondent of one of th* Auckland papers telegraphs: Work started again this morning with a 6lightly increased number of miners, fivo extra going 011 at the Extended mine, and seven at lialpii's mine. There is a scarcity of truckers, but it is expected that everything will bo in full swine, in a fow days. Nearly 1000 tons of coal were got out yes. torday, and tlio railway yards are beginning to wear their old busy nppearance.

LIVELY UNION MEETING. Auckland, October 30. A big meeting of the union held lasl night, causod eomo anxiety, as it was supposed that tho men were to reconsider, the question of resuming work. It appears, however, that other matters of union business wero discussed. The union officials refuse to give any information,. but, apparently, try to convey the impression that matters of considerable moment were discussed. All that, so far, has leaked out is tliat Mr. J. E. Duncan was appointed permanent secretary:, Tho meeting was admittedly pretty lively, individuals expressing their opinions with extraordinary frankness and force.

/ MR. SEMPLE AT WAIHI. Waihi, October 30. Messrs. Webb and Seniplo arrived liera to-night, and woro mot at the station by a crowd, of strikers and women! 'Both wcro chcercd. At the Union Hall, Mr. Somplc, addressing tho crowd, congratulated the strikers on tlio fight which they wcro making. Ho denounced the Government, press, and the police. Mr. Webb also mado a brief address. Ho stated that the Australian workers were with thorn in the fight. Both Messrs. Semplo and Webb will address a mass meeting of nien and women, to-night.

WAIHI G.M. FINANCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Auckland, October 30, Mr. Rhodes, local director, has received cabled ndvioo from the directors of tlio Waihi Gold Mining Company to tho effoct that no dividend will bo declared on December 1 owing to tho interruption of work at tho mino for soveral months. Tho last dividend was paid by tlio company on September 2,

A STRIKE STORY. (By Tclerraph.—Special Oorrespondcnt.l Auckland, October 30. Two Waihi strikers who left tho town> ship several weeks ago hav© returned there under somewhat different conditions from theso in whioli they loft it. The reason which they advanced for their departure was that they did not liko the idea of drawing strike pay—it seemed like being under too much of an obligation to thoso who were contributing, to tho strike i'unds. They had, they said, a little cash in hand, and would knock about a bit," Accordingly, they camo to Auckland, and after having a spell, decided, as funds wore low, to obtain employment. Tliey were engaged as general labourers by one of tho borough councils, and things went on well until "tlio 21 hours' strike" was called. Not likmg the prospects of being called "traitors to their class," they decided to come out noxt morning. They returned to work, but wcro firmly told that they could mako their holiday as long as they liked, because their services wcro not required any further. They were unable to obtain further work, and returned to Waihi where, it is stated, they had no difficulty in sinking their scruples, and are now living on strike pay.