NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1702, 19 March 1913, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Pcobb Association.) ' RATE THEM? LITTLE SISTERS OE THE POOR. i Dunedln, Marcli 18. In'the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Williams, the. Anderson's Bay ■ Town Board proceeded against Bishop Vcrdon and others for recovery of .£3B 10s. for rates on. the Home of Little Sisters of the Poor. The Homo is one for aged • pool', and two conditions are necessary—old age (not less than GO years) and poverty. There are somo old ago pensioners in the Home, but they havo ijivcn their pensions to tho Home, and are allowed 13s. 4d. per month as pocket money, the Sisters providing lodßinp and clothes. During the last two years tho S'stors have refused to accent pensioners unless tliev abandoned their pensions, but. they still keep the pensioners, whom they had before. The question for decision was whether the Sisters were exempt from rating. For the defence it was contended that the Home was in tho nature of an hospital for the aged needy. _ After hearing argument, Ins Honour said that the question was a troublous one, -and he would takfc finio to consider it. He remarked that if the Sisters had I acted on the strict rule followed and taken iif pensioners, they would not havo been I called on to pay rates.

ALMOST CRIMELESS. Masterton, March 18. _ The Supreme Court sittings opened , this morning before Mr. Justice Chapinm, who, in his address to the Grand Jury, congratulated the district on the absence of crime, there being only two alleged perjury cases.i ' . .... The Grand Jury brought m a true bill in the perjury charges against John Richards, James Earrcll, and \\ alter Hirst. - ■ , John Richards, a half-caste, was foundguilty of committing perjury in evidence 1 given by him at an inquesc at Greytown. Sentence was deferred. "FOLLOWED A CIRCUS MAN." Auckland, March 18. A woman admitted in the Police Court this morning having attempted to commit suicide. It was stated she was a married woman and had followed a cowboy belonging to a circus from Nelson. _ bno put .up at. the hotel where the circus employees were staying, but ;the man whom' she was infatuated with avoided her. She was found unconscious in a passage and removed to tho hospital. She had a return ticket to ' Nelson, • and in Court expressed a desire to return to her children, whom she had left in. care of a friend. The woman was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence when called on. PREMISES DEMOLISHED. Gisborne, March 18. Daulton's • store and accommodation house at Waingake has been destroyed by fire. Tho building was insured for JL6SO in the Norwich Union office!

ODDFELLOWS FOREGATHER. Dunodin, March 18, The biennial mcclinc of the Grand Lodge, 1.0.0. F., opened this morning. Grand Master Bro. R. G. Gray, o£ Auckland, presided. The Mayor officially welcomed the visitors. The Grand Mooter, 'replying, said delegates were present from every part of the Dominion, The early pioneers of the 1.0.F.-in Duncdin, were men of a good stamp, with a comproliensivo grasp of friendly societf work, and they built np strong institutions all round them. The Otago and bouthland Lodges presented an illuminated address to Grand Master Gray. On the Grand Secretary's motion the lodge adiourned for a quarter of an hour m respect to Alio memory of late Grand Treasurer Alexander, who held that office for- tlnrty-six years.

JOURNALISTS' DISPUTE, _ ' Christchurch, March 18. Tlio journalists' dispute before the Con- ; ciliatioiK Council was not concluded today, and will bo resumed to-morrow aft'erlioon. An agreement was arrived at regarding hours, which are "hot to exoced AG in a fortnight, the excess to be. made up at tlio end of the month. , blading, proportions were,agreed upon, and reportsalaries fixed: —Seniors,; Xo y s, ' ceneTals, t£4i 155.; and juniors, X 3, ss.j and dC3 10s. per week. One clcar day and mailt from G p.m. to bo. allowed oft jo reporters weekly, and all journalists to receive two weeks holiday annually on full pay. The question of preference was discussed, and representatives of the proprietors, who objected to preference m any form, undertook to consider the question of granting what is known as the Court s clause. . . ' HURRICANE & FIJI SAILINGS. Auckland, March 18. The Union Company has been advised that the Tofua's. departure from Im tor Auckland has'been delayed owing to a , three hours' hurricano at . Suva tins morning. No further particulars aro given, but the inference, is that the damago is .trifling.

COMPENSATION COURT. Christchurch, March 18. ' Before the CouipensatioiL'Court tlio action brought by Leicester Matson on belialf of It. Matson and Co., against.the ■ Minister for Railways for £14i8- compensation for lawl taken by tire. Bail- . way Department at Aldington wider Public Works Act, was continued. Sir. Justice Demiiston presided, and with liim as assessors sat Messrs. A.- Boyle , and W. J. Hopkins.. After cvidcnco the , Court, after a. retirement, awarded the • claimant .£550 compensation, together with interest on that sum from tlio date of the proclamation. Mr. Ju s ' lc ®, Uc . ll " niston,' in announcing the Court s tiecision, said they had not considered the higher price 01 Taylor s section bought 1)V Matson and Co., except in helping the Court to assess the octaial value ot . the whole of 'the land, as they felt convinced that Matson and Co. would have, purchased Taylor's land m the begin- _ ning. No costs were alloVcd.

X-RAYS. Timaru, March 18. Tlio. resident' medical officer has asked the Hospital Board for a batter X-ray apparatus, to cost about .£l5O. At present important cases havo to bo taken to a private electric institute. A committer was asked to report. BAGS OR BARRELS? Timaru, March 18. The question of manure imported if! bags was again before the Chamber of : Conimcrco in the shape of a letter from the shipping companies to the Wellington Chamber that bags were objectionable, and barrels more suitable. It was decided to convene'a meeting of importers to consider the question. A country member said barrels would be very inconvenient for farmers. \ •

NEW FREEZING WORKS. Wairoa, March 18; A largo and representative meeting of farmers was held' on Saturday to discuss the establishment of freezing works. The utmost enthusiasm and hopefulness wcro exhibited. During the discussion it was pointed out that a boat would only come to load mutton when it could do so at all stages of the-tide, and it was- expected that tlio new harbour would enable this to bo done. It is expected no difficulty will 1* experienced about fat sheep and lambs. A farmers concern is most in favour, but. if W airoa cannot raise all the money, it is expected one of the shipping companies will conio to assist. A strong commiltco was formed to inspect sites, with power to call m ( two or' three experts, and to make a 'selection..

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY, ■ Auckland, March 18. Tlio Tehana-Kaiwaka section of. the North Auckland railway was opened today by tlio Hon. \V. H. Hemes. Among 'those present were .Messrs.' Mttndjr, Dixon, Glover, and Coatcs, M.P. s. liie length of the section is about eight miles, lne Minister was entertained at a banquet, ami returned to Auckland to-night. THE GOLD MEDAL. InverCarglll, March 18. A youth named A. l?ope, who returned hero after a period of military detention at Diuiedin, was met last' night by u number of admirers and presented.with a gold medal,