NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1611, 30 November 1912, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) 0 PARADE INTERRUPTION. SHOWED FIGHT UNDER ARREST. Duncdin, November 29. Several lads wore before tho Police Court this morning, on charges of failing to render personal service. They were fined sums ranging from lOs. to £2, with costs. Sydney Harris was charged with interrupting parade, and also failing to attend parade. The boy was checked by a ser-geant-major for misbehaving, whereupon he replied in an insulting manner, and when placed under arrest showed fight. At the hearing the defendant alleged that the sergeant-major exhibited a personal grudge, and asked to bo transferred. The Magistriato told him ho must apply to the proper quarter. Though tho defendant was liaolo to sovcro treatment, ho would give him anothor chance. Harris was fined 205., with costs.

OVERTIME WAGES BOOK. Dunedin, November 29. A prosecution under Section 58 of the l Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Act was instituted against John WardeH, this morning, charging him 1 with failing to keep a wages overtime book according to tho form prescribed by the regulations. Mr. Adams, for defendant, contended that a book showing overtime where there was any, but containing no entry where there was no overtime, filled-the requirements of the statute, and that no power was given under the Act to give tho regulations the force of law. The Magistrate held that Section 58 was only an amendment of Section 100 of tho original Act, under which it was competent for the Governor-in-Councfl to provide regulations, and that tho inspector's duties could not be carried out without this regulation. A fine of £2 was imposed. A MAINTENANCE CASE. Christchurch, November 29. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr. Bailey, S.M., Dan in] Titton and Rose Fitton, his wife, were charged that they intended to fail .to provide maintenance for their daughter, 15 years and 3 months, who was without proper means of support. Mr. Cassidy appeared for both defendants. Chief Detective Bishop applied for a remand until to-morrow morning. He said the facts were that the parties were not long out from Home. The girl, was at present an out-patient at tho hospital, having run a hairpin into her ear, and an operation would be necessary. Thoy had given her £10, and, were on their way Home without her. They had been arrested in Wellington, and had been brought down that morning. Mr. Cassidy said he would ask that thoy be allowed bail in their own recognisances. The Chief Detective said he had no objection to this, and his Worship agreed to that course being followed, the amount being set in the case of each defendant at .

WAS THE VOUCHER ALTERED? Stratford, November 29. Percy W. C. Willson, recently in the employ of the Public Works Office, was charged, on remand, with forging and uttering a voucher by altering the figure, "155." ■to ".£ls 155." A further remand for one week was granted. Detective Boddam stated that the audit had .revealed other defalcations amounting to betwen £900 and J6IOOO. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £100 each, and accused in £100. NO SHEARERS'STRIKE. Dannevirke, November 29. Mr. Alex. • M'Leod, Shearers' Union organiser, writes to the "Evening lyews" denying tho rumour of a general strike of shearers this season. At no time had tho suggestion -been made by the executive of the Shearers' Union or the rank and file. The shearers, -lie points out, are under the Arbitration Act, and ■ the present award re.mainp ,in ..force till-, September 24, 1913, and a provision therein provides that the union shall do all in lts.jpower ,to prevent strikes. . SUICIDE AT A TRADES HALL. Christchurch, November 29. Arthur Paterson, secretary to the General Labourers' Union, committed 6uicide at tie Trades Hall last night. He stripped himself, lay on the floor beside a gas ring with the gas turned on, and was found this morning dead. He left a note giving brief directions as to his affairs. He had been in very, bad health and despondent for twelve months. THE NAPIER CHAMBER, Napier, November 29. The Chamber of Commerce have decided to present a gold medal. to the' High, School and one to the Technical College for an essay competition amongst the scholars, tho committee of the chamber to select the subjects. The chamber decided to draw the attention of the Borough Council to the urgent necessity for a revaluation' of the borough. Ono member 'said that if -Nopier were valued properly it would have the lowest rate of any place in the Dominion. He gave an instance of one place ' worth and' car Tying a mortgage of .£SOO being Valued at only .£340. MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. Napier, November 29. Thie second-story scaffolding of the Central Hotel, where rebuilding is. in progress, collapsed- with a crash this morning bringing five workmen to the ground. All' escaped miraculously. A girl, Olive Russell, was passing ujider at the time of the smash, and was struck on the head, but she is not seriously injured, although suffering from severe shock. STRATFORD'S SHOW. Stratford, November 29. Splendid weather prevailed for People's Day of the Stratford Show. The attendance was twelve thousand and tho gate takings were a record, exceeding the sum taken on both days of last years show. CRUELTY TO HORSEB. Ashburton, November 29. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. Y. G. Day, S.M., James Bell, Danjel Bell, and James Mattey were charged with having cruelly ill-treoted four horses, by working them while they had 6ore shoulders. ' James Bell pleaded ,not guilty, and the other two pleaded guilty. 'Sergeant Emerson conducted the prosecution, and after hearing the evidenoe of Constable Martin, supported by two teamsters, and of James Bell in defenoe, his, Worship said he was satisfied that James Bell, the owner of the horses, knew thoir condition, and he would inflict a fine of .£lO and costs. The other two men (who pleaded guilty) were, he took it, working to some extent under compulsion, but they were liable, and ha would inflict a fine of .£1 in each case. SUFFOCATION BY GAS, Christchurch, November 29. At the inquest on Arthur Patcreon a verdict was recorded that death was duo to suffocation by pas, but that thero was no evidence as to deceased's state of mind. CHARGE OF BIGAMY, Christchurch, November 29. Marion Cobeldiok, an elderly woman, wife of Wm. Cobcldick. inspector of works, was committed for trial on a charge of bigamy. MILITARY PENSIONS, Christchurch, November 29. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher was advised to-day by tlio Commissioner of Pensions that tho first military pension under the Military Pensions Act passed last session had been granted. Last evening over one' hundred forms were posted from the head office to intending applicants, and posters have been -displayed on. railway stations and post offices throughout tho Dominion, so that veterans can ascertain their position,