NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1616, 6 December 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telosraph.—Press AsBoolatlon.) SEAMEN'S UNION. JOIN IN WITH AUSTRALIA? Auckland, December 5. The secretary of the Auckland branch of the Seamen s Union, states that tha announcement regarding the amalgamation between Australia and New Zealand is premature. A : conference between Ausfcralia and New Zealand to consider tha question is not to be held until March. The Auckland branch is 'not enthusiastic inasmuch as it is proposed that New Zea. land centres shall become sub-branches, and the finances be pooled, and had passed a resolution to strongly oppose any move in this direction. The branch had also resolved to advise the New Zealand delegates to act carefully, as New Zealand has preference to unionists,'which is not included in the Australian award. THE FUTURE OF WIRELESS. IMPERIAL CHAIN. Dunedin, December S. The Postmaster-General, discussing the future of wireless, says:—lt is proposed that when the Imperial chain of wireless stations is completed, an arrangement will be made for transmission of messages frjim Australasia to the United Kingdom for two shillings a word, against three shillings by cable, though he has no official information'. The matter will require some discission, for it is impossible to predict what will be the ultimate develop, ment of wireless. Within the last two or three weeks I have received a confidential communication, from which there is every reason to believe that wireless telegraphy over long distances—2ooo miles or morewill be possible at a 6peed much greater than that of submarine cables. A station, similar to Awanui is to be erected near Bluff, and will be gone on with immediately, the latter -is finished. With, stations at Awanui, Suva, Rarotonga (which is dependent on the French action at Tahiti), the Pacific will be widely ranged." Tho Minister is hopeful that a conference next year of representatives of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand would lead to practical steps for laying an Imperial caole between Canada and . Great Britain. REPORTED RUN ON HIDES. Dunedin, December 5. Inquiries locally reveal a serious hide famine due to operations by American. ; and Canadian buyers, who have tapped the world's markets, practically draining Australia and New Zealand. The Dominion cannot materially increase her output, largely on account of the breaking up of the big estates. THE SMALL TIMARU STRIKE. Timaru, December 5. Mr. Craigie, M.P., introduced a deptu tation from the watersiders to Mr. Mas* sey, who is telegraphing to the Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways, to meet the Timaru men's representative in Wei. lington to receive a statement of the position, which it is very important to South, Canterbury should be settled as soon as possible. ALTERED THE VOUCHERS. Wanganui, December 5. In the Supreme Court to-day William' Merson was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for embezzling £1700 from tha Publio. Works Department by means of * altered vouchers. GIFT FOR CATHEDRAL. Dunedin,'December 5. A leading Dunedin citizen has under* taken to provide the "Star" with .£2OOO if the people subscribe another . .£2OOO within a month to enable a start to ba . made with the Anglican Cathedral. A SETTLER'S DEATH., Taihape, December 5. Joseph Green, one of the original settlers.;; here^'dropped;dbwri''dead'last night. 'He "had been: chasing a bull from a neigh- ■ bour's paddock, and was much exhausted,,' but bailed up his cows and went to the • separating room, where he was.found dead/ ten minutes after. Heart failure was tha cause. ■ i ■ RUGBY CRACK MISSING. Dargavllle, December 5. A party of Auckland bowlers; who took part in' the opening of the Dargaville " Club yesterday, were returning by special steamer last night, when six miles from the Heads, M'Gregor, the. well-known; three-quarter footballer, who had remained on deck, was missed, apparently having gone overboard. No trace of- him could be found. The steamer put back to the riverside port.\ CHAUFFEUR'S SUDDEN DEATH. Palmerston N., December 5. ' The sudden death occurred early ■ thia morning of F. Lecaldano, chauffeur. He had motored a party to .the Woodvilla races yesterday, and returned in excellent spirits. At 2 o'clock this morning he started suddenly in his sleep and expired. He was only 30 years of age, and leaves a widow and six young children. "STRONG ALLEGATIONS." ■ Auckland, December 5. Arthur Crozier, nn eight-year-old boy, died on the railway construction works . at Maungaturoto. At the inquest a verdict, was returned that death was due to influenza from tonsilitis. Strong allegations were made as to the. absence of sanitary arrangements and '. nccommoda* ; tion for children on the works. ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM GAOL, Invercafgillj/December 5. David Miller and. Stewart- Good, who attempted to escape from gaol a week ago, were before the magistrate to-day. Mil- . ler, who was described as the leader of the affair, was sentenoed to . twelve months' hard labour, and Good to' six months' hard labour. LIBEL ACTION. Timaru, December 5. The Supreme Court' was occupied all. day. over a libel action, in which Dr. H. C. Barclay, of Waimate, claims damages from the Waimate Workers' Union and its president (John Smith) for reflections on his professional character, in a resolution passed by the union. Tho plaintiff's case has not been completed. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Timaru, December 5. At the Magistrate's Court a drover, of Gore, George Russell, was charged with cruelty to animals by railing from Southland to Ashburton ewes on the point of lambing. Some lambs were born in the : trucks, and several ewes and lambs arrived dead, and others in a bad condition. Sub-Inspector Cruickshank said he regretted that those really responsible . could not be' brought before the Court, as defendant was only engaged to look: ■' after the sheep on the journey. Ho, however, had not done all he might have done on the journey. Defendant pleaded that there were no facilities, and he had done ,what he could till the train divided at Balclutka. The Bench regretted that other parties wero not chargeable, and fined defendant .£1 Is., . and costs. The evidence indicated that tho ewes were supposed to lamb in Octol>er, and the journey was early in September. . BRIEF MENTION. Te Kuiti, December 5. A young .man named M'Kay, while waggoning from Te Kuiti to Piopio, fell from the top of the load and the wheel passed over his legs, one being broken. Auckland, December 5. In the Supreme Court, Patrick Alfred ■ M'Guire was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment'for criminal assault, on a .child' under.' ten.