NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1778, 17 June 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

"PALPADLE INJUSTICE." CONVICTION IN DEFENCE CASE. Dunedin, Juno 10. In tho Territorial appeal against conviction for failure to render personal service at Alexandra, Sir Joshua Williams delivered judgment to-day. His Honour held that ot tho timo tho alleged offences were committed, as tho law then stood it was abundantly cloar that tho defendants wero perfectly justified in refusing to attend parades. As to tho point that tho Act of 1012 by its retrospective effect altered the law, his Honour said that if tho defendant was properly convicted tho Lee isi a hire by cx post statute had made an act which violated all principles of jurisprudence. The Judge said ho could not imply such intention 011 tho.part of tho Legislature from tho general words used in Section 78, and if the Legislature did not express in plain terms its intention of punishing people for acts which wero dono when innooent tho Court could not infer that it was tho Legislature's intention to work a palpablo injustice. No duty existed, and thero could bo no oonviction. Therefore tho con. viction would bo quashed, with ton guineas costs. RESIDENCE RIFLED,

SOME ADROIT ROBBERS AT WORK. Christchurch, June 18.

Another of the mysterious burglaries which have been occurring in Christchurch of late was committed last night' when "Woodford," tho residence of' Mr. George Palmer, of Papanui Road, was broken into, and jowellery to the extent of .£l5O stolon. The affair happened between 7 end 8 p.lll. whon tho family wero having suppor, and it was not discovered until about 10.30 p.m. The thief or thieves entered by tho back window and rifled five Ijedrooms. Strango to say they took only gold jewellery, leaving all tho silverware untouched. Thoy also took a purse, but it contained no money. It is stated that tho thief, or thieves, 1 have only been breaking into two-storied houses between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., when families aro usualjy at dinner. So far they have niado" hauls in Christchurch totalling about .£750 in jowellery. FIGHT NEW UNIONS? LUMPERS' BALLOT TO BE TAKEN, \ Auckland. Juno 10. 1 At a meeting of the Watcrsiders' Union, 400 being present, it was resolved that a ballot be taken on tho following questions: "Are you in favour of making common causo in a united fight against tho recognition of scab unionism ou tho water front at tho ports of this country, as existing at present at Timaru, end for tho restitution of the 1912 agreement? Are you in favour of no action boing takenP" Tho ballot takes placo on Wednesday and Thursday, and the result will be- sent to tho Federation, which will be guided ill its future polioy by the expression of opinion of the unions concerned. DOCUMENTS BURNT. WIRE FUSES IN V U.S.S. CO.'S OFFICE. N Auckland, June 10., Two employees of tho Union Steam Ship Company, who were in tho office last evening m' connection with the arrival of tho company's steamers, turned on the electric light in the strong-room to obtain some papers. Shortly after they heard a crackling noiso, and foirnd papers ablaze. Tho fire was speedily extinguished; several documents wero badly charred, but nothing valuable was destroyed. The fire was caused by tho fusing of tlio wiro of tho electric light closo to some papers on a shelf, FLAWS IN A POLL. NEW ELECTION NECESSARY. it 'p - > Napier, Juno IG. Tlio Magistrate delivered judgment regarding the harbour poll recount. _ As tho result of certain cases of dual voting, tho filial figures place F. W. Williams and W. J. M'Grath dead-heat for the third seat, and as the law make 3 no provision for a casting rote, tho Magistrate ruled that a now election for this seat should bo held: Ho will hear legal argument as to whether the whole election should be youled. Petitioners' deposit was returned. TWO BARMAIDS FINED. Auckland, June 16. The serving of Norman J. Walsh, 17 rears of age, with liquor, resulted in two barmaids, Marion Abbott, of tho Thames Hotel, and Millie Hunter, of the Star Hotel, being fined .£2 each and costs. It was contended in each, ease that "."If 11 appeared more than 21 years of ago. lho cases against the respective licensees wero dismissed, Mr. L. C. Cutten, S.M., hjMi'i.S thai as tho licensee had not delegated his authority to anyone else, and as tho salo was against his express instructions, mid •without his knowledge, there was no liability. j ANGLERS who perished. Ashburton, Juno 18Tho manager of tho Coldstream Estate mado a gruesome discovery on Saturday on tho beaoh at Coldstream, 011 f 110 ." side of tho Raugitata River-mouth, n tho shapes of a boot and wadcr the skeleton cf a human foot. IMS is thought to bo tho dismembered lm.b of the body of cither A. E. Darby or C. Nioholas, two ajuglere, of the boating fatality at the Kflfflgitatii River-mouth on January 21 lust. "RESISTER'S" UNPAID FINE. ' Christchurch, Juno IG. This morning, Edward Reginald \ulliams, an anti-militarist, was arrested for failure to pay a fino of M IS*. incurred in consequent of non-registration tho Defence Act. Leaving Lyttolton m custody, Williams was given an cifusno send-off by his anti-militarist_ friends, who joined with a number of watersido worKers in giving threo tLS ww" the party 6ang a verso of In© lvcd- 1 THE NEW "BADGE OF .COURAGE." Palmcrston North, Juno IG. At a meeting last evening, two lads, named Ross and Tunniclifle, who went to gaol rather than -pay, fines for failure to fender military service were presented with medals from tho Now Zealand Socialist Party. Speeches were made against tho Defenco Act, and resolutions carried disagreeing with the principle of conscription. The medals bear tho inscription, "For Courage." AUCKLAND TRAM MEN. , Auckland, Juno 10. It is now stated that tho disorderliness at tho last meeting of tramway _ employees was oaused by the persistence of 0110 member. The whole question of accepting tlio proposals by tlio company as a basis of a new agreement wore gone over, and navo now been agreed to by 75 to I'-. Tho agrooment with tho Tram Company was ratified at a meeting of the morning shift, held this evening, by I b 9 votes to 43. This means completo ratification by tiie union.

It is Eoiuo considerable time sinco Miss IToolc of Holland" delighted playgoers in Melbourne, and tho fact that the Dutch comio opera is to bo revived will surely nrouso a great deal of interest and pleasure. It will bo staged ot Her Majesty 9 Melbourne, to-night, by the lloyal Couno Opera Company, and a particularly interesting feature of tho production Hill bo •that th<s cast is entirely new to Melbourne. It will include Prank Greene, as tho Bandmaster; Jack Cannot, at Slinks; Blanche Biwile, as Sally HoOk; Jessw Loimcn as Mena; Leslie Holland, as Mr. Hook; Edward 'Noble, as Schnapps; Claudo Banteck, as Van Eel: (tho sleepy man). "Miss Hook of Holland" will be played for fivo nights' only, and will bring tho season to a close. It will' bo produced by Charles, A. Wonman, with Victor Champion as musical director. Influenza quits if you try this euro:— At the first symptom take a few drops of "NAZOL" on a lump of sugar. Dissolve slowly in tho mouth and repeat at intervals.—Advt. Councillor Townscnd pivo notice that he would ask tho Mayor at tho next meeting if this council had tho legal power to establish a municipal milk supply. Banbury Cross is to bo completed by tho filling of tho thrco vacant niches wit.li figures of Queen Victoria, King Edward, and King George; 111 commemoration of tho coronation of tho last-named Bove. JWRIV.