NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1589, 5 November 1912, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Toleeraph.—Pr.ots Atjoolatlon.l -r— ' YOUNG COLONIALS & MORALS. AMEND THE LAW? • Auckland, November 4. A lurid sidelight was thrown upon youthful morals at tho Police Court, when a.- young girl, aged seventeen, sought an, affiliation 'order against a young mall, alleging that he was the father of her illegitimate child. The evidence disclosed the fact that complainant was introduced by defendant to five other boys, with whom she was also intimate. Another girl also gave evidence. ' •Mr. Kettle said that the case emphasised the need for amendment in the law to enable a magistrate to make all young fellows contribute jointly. Ho had drafted an amendment and sent it to Wellington, but no notice was taken of it. 110 could not dismiss . the case on. its ■merits, as it was quite possible that defendant was the father of the child, but it was not possible,, on the evidence, to say that he was. The case must be dismissed, though defendant - .deserved .iio consideration. ; Mr. Kettle added: If the young men.had any honour, they would jointly contribute to the maintenance/of the child. Mr. Hackett said that, .the. information having been dismissed,- he did not propose 'to go on with the caso brought by the other-girl against the same defendant,, as it would be absolutely! hopeless. ' The Education Department would na,ve to support- the children. It anight possibly emphasise the need for the adoption of an amendment to the law as drafted "by Mr. Kettle. ' ' A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. . Gisborne, November 4. A mishap occurred'at Eakauroa this morning;, when a man named Ga'vigan, engaged in connection with tho construction of the. Eakauroa Station Bridge, fell from the top of 'the pier, a distance, of 40 feet. It is. feared that he has . sustained internal injury. Gavigan was formerly a sailor aboard the ill-fated Star of Canada, and after the wreck gave up the sea, finding employment on railway works two or three months ago. Tho unfortunate man was brought • to town without delay, the Public Works Department putting oii a* special train. The nuin was at once removed to the hospital. He is reported to be in a Serious condition. ■' . 1 ' - PRESENTATION TO HON. J. A. MILLAR. Christchurch, November 4. A number of members of the Canterbury branch of the executive of tho Locomotive Union, assembled to-day for the purpose of. presenting the Hen. J. A: Millar with an illuminated address. . Mr. Millar, in responding, claimed that his sympathies were always with Labour, He resented the actions of individual memberß of Parliament,, who. Under the pretence of voicing . the. opinion of Labour, took a proniinent part in objecting to himself occupying a position as a leader in the Liberal party. He assured his hearers that he had no feeling in the matter, because such members did not .represent Labour,-, biit-.qnly claimed to do so. Mr. Millar stated,-, that -he had : assisted in the trades union movement eiiice the year 1885, and jt certainly cut. him to tn.6 quick to .hear a member of Parliament say that lie never represented Labour.' My work as a Labour representative," continued Mr. Millar, "can be seen on the-Statute- Book since the year 1899, which is sufficient reply to .those' who think 'otherwise of-me.' remuera" fire. Auckland, November 4. I A house at Belmont terrace; Itemuera, owned by Mrs. Whitcom'bi, and occupied by W. I". Morgan, was destroyed by fire on Saturday night, A carpenter named Boss, in assisting in the attempt.to extinguish the flames,' was badly burned, and was. removed to the hospital. The heat was so intense that the • firemen worked wrapped in wet blankets. The building was insured , fpr >£200 in the South British. The contents,' valued at JC2OO, were a total loss. . SOLDIER ILLEGALLY POSTED. Gisborne, November.' 4. Mr. Barton, S.M., gave an important judgment in a Territorial case, upholding the contention that there was no obligation on defendant to take the .oath of allegiance, as he was not properly enrolled as a member of the defence force; He said it was obvions the only body to which defendant could be legally enrolled was the general training section, but as I'that was not established he was illegally | posted direct to the Territorial force. "SUPPLYING THIRSTY SOULS." Auckland, November 4, At the Police Court, George Holt and William Webb were charged .with sly grog-selling. Evidence was given that Holt was in the habit of perambulating the streets on Sunday with a bottle of whisky in one pocket and a glass in the other, and supplying thirsty souls. Holt was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, and Webb was granted a remand till Thursday. ENGINE-ROOM ON FIRE. 1 Invercargill, November 4. A firo occurred at Johnston's engineering works on Sunday evening, doing considerable damage to the engine-room, to which it was confined. The damage amounts to .£3OO, but as the result of the loss of machinery and equipment the men will be unable to start work to-day. 'The insurance is .£1240 in the South British Office. BOXER'S SUICIDE. Timaru, November 4. , At the adjourned inquest concerning the death of the young boxer, John Gunn, the evidence of his employer and intim-. ates showed that he had been' depressed about the decisions given against him in the Australasian championships. A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. LIQUOR FOR A DANCE. Oamaru, November 4. A case, in which a twelve-gallon keg of beer figured at a country dance came before the magistrate to-day. The police alleged that the beer was sold to those who consumed it, but the defence was that tho affair was a "shilling' in," and the subscribers and their friends consumed' tho beer. The magistrate dismissed the charge of selling, but fined the defendant and costs for bringing liquor into a No-License district. PUBLISHING RACE ODDS. Oamaru, November 4. Fred. Jones, editor of the "Oamaru Mail," was charged with publishing the 1 investments on the totalisator at a recent trotting meeting. The plea was that tho figures got into the paper by mistake. The magistrate convicted, but imposed no penalty. I CANADIAN CADETS' OUTINGS. Christchurch, November 3. The Canadian Cadets Were taken for a tram ride to tho Cashmere Hills yesterday morning, and Were addressed by Mr. Geo. I'. Booth, chairman of the Tramway Board, whoso guests they were. Captain Davy, in replying, said that they wero all glad to have so good an opportunity of seeing so much of. "God's Own Country," and it seemed to lie characteristic of New Zealanders to try to kill their visitors' by kindness, i'hey (the cadets) remembered, the great spell-of banquets and euterhvnments which they had had in the south, and it would be the same in the north. On Saturday afternoon the cadets went to tho O.J.C. races, and, on Sundfty, they wore taken by motor-cars to New Brighton, and greatly, enjoyed the outiaia