NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1738, 1 May 1913, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telograph.—Press Association.) ♦ SMITHFIELD BUTCHERS "OUT." WAS REVOLVER DRAWN? Timaru, April 30. The butchers at tho Smit'lifield Freezing Works are again out. The cause is sail to be friction with free Labour, particularly against one man (a one-time unionist). A startling incident led up to it, the unionists stating tliat this man drew a revolver when being jeered at this morning. The man says he did not draw a revolver, but merely flourished a lmife when, lie was sneered at. Later. Ail in en refusing to go back to work at Smithfield have been paid off. There were forty-six tally butchers and seventeen learners 011 the boaa'd. Now only seventeen learners remain. SUSPECTED OF ARSON. 1 nvercargill, April 30. At tho Police Court, Colin Gerard, a farmer, Ms committed for trial oil a. charge of setting firo to refreshment rooms at Thornbury. Tho premises wore destroyed and tho loss to the proprietor Was .£BOO. The magistrate remarked that though the ease was not very strong, ho was satisfied it should go before a jury. Bail was allowed, in three sureties of .£IOO each. FORESTS COMMISSION. New Plymouth, April 30. At tho Forestry Commission sitting this morning the principal matter brought forward was'tho preservation of bush on tho banks of tho Mokau River.' The matter of the preservation of thobush on the beautiful Mokau River was brought up by Mr. T. C. List, chairman of the New Plymouth Expansion and Tourist League. The Commissioner gave the deputation a sympathetic hearing, and promised to bring the matter before the Government. NEXT FIREMEN'S _ GATHERING. Auckland, April '30. Tho conference of the United l r ire Brigades' Association of New Zealand for 1914 will be held at Alcaroa. Tho date has not yet been fixed. WIPING OFF A CHURCH DEBT. Timaru, April 30. At St. Mary's Anglican parish meeting last night, it was stated that an effort has commenced to raise to wipe the debt off the property (,£'looo to '.£5000) and build two schools and churches in tho suburbs. As tlie result of a, meeting on April 18, .£1065 has been promised already.

TROUBLE AT ROPE WORKS. • Dunedin, April 30. Some trouble occurred at Donaghy and Co.'s rope works 10-dtay. About 30 men informed the manager that they would ceaso work until two employees who had been dismissed were reinstated. • They wore informed that unless they went to work they could leave altogether. This tlie men did. Tho factory, however, is running, but only a limited number of machines are going. Of fifty men employed, about 30 have oeased work.