NEW ZEALAND NEWS,

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2123, 15 April 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS,

OPIUM SYNDICATE THEIR DISTRIBUTOR CAUCHT. (By Tclesraph—Prese Association.) Palmerston, April 14. 'A Chinaman who alighted from tho Auckland express at 12.30 on Gcpd Friday morning with a suspicious-looking parcel under his arm attracted tho attention of Detective Quirke, who wanted to'know what it contained. Tho Chinese did not wait to explain, but dropped tho parcel, and made a dash off the platform, but the detective easily captured him. On examination, the parcel proved to contain seven sealed tins of opium, valued at £22. The accused, Ah Foy, appeared before Mr. Poynton, S.M., this morning.

Sub-Inspector Marsack, in asking for the maximum penalty, said to tho knowledge of the police accused had been acting as distributor for an opium S3'ndicato for somo time. ' He mado a habit of meeting Eastern boats, and of receiving opium and carrying it through the country. The police had been unable boforo to get sufficient/evidence to convict him, but this time ho was caught red-handed.

The maximum penalty of £50 was imposed. Accused said he would not pay, but would go to gaol. The Sub-Inspec-tor intimated that tho syndicate would probably pay tho fine. IN DIRE STRAITS. HARDSHIP IN STRIKERS' HOMES. Auckland, April 14. Though four months liavo gone since tho labour upheaval, there are- 350 waterside workers who went out on strike still unemployed. It is stated that these men, though always known as Arbitrationists, aro tabooed by' the' new union, and with thorn their wives and families! are undergoing terriblo hardships, as the market for general labourers is overflowing, and year's of labour on tho waterfront havo qualified these men for nothing else. Many aro compelled to sell up their homes, and tho outlook, with the winter approaching, is bad. EDUCATION CHANCES. . THE MONTESSORI METHOD. .':,' Dunadin, April 14. The Hon. J. Allen states in respect to provision for the training of mental defectives new buildings will be erected at Otekaike, where girls and boys will be trained under careful supervision at one settlement. This will mako for economy. Regarding tho introduction of the Montessori system of teaching, tho Minister would liko to see it carried on in the training colleges on a small scale, but in a most thorough manner. Experimental work would be dono with that system, and in other directions, but the experiments should first bo tried on an inexpensive scale. THE COACHBUILDERS. Auckland, April 14. The Coachbnildcrs' Convention concluded its business to-day. Officebearers' were elected as follow:—President, Mr. AV. Atkiiv (Auckland); vicepresidents, Messrs. 11. A. Whitaker (Hamilton) and E. James (Blonheim); secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. Dasih (Waimato) j committeo, Messrs. John Bett (Pnlmerston North), J. Ormiston White 'Diinedin), H. J. Chiltls (Stratford), VV. A. Harrison (Auckland), T. F. Faulkner (Napier), W. Boon (Christcluirch), F. Rouse (Wellington), and T. Wacg (Mastorton). It wns decided to hold tho noxt convention iu 'the South Island. STEAMER ON FIRE. Nelson, April 14. _ ! A fire broko oxit on the steamer Wairc.a at tho wharf early this morning. Tho vessel sustained damago to tho extent of about £300 to her saloon and dock fittings before the names were subdued. J