DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2267, 12 August 1908, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

[Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, August 11. At the Supreme Court this afternoon Thomas Leonard Easten alias William Wilson, an atheletic-looking young mail, was indicted on a charge of breaking from custody at Waiotapu on May 10th last. Sir. Tole explained that the prisoner was serving a sentence of three years’ imprisonment for highway robbery. At the Waiotapu camp a number of prisoners were permitted to walk about within certain limits. On May 10th the prisoner left without permission. He was discovered the following day some miles away on the Napier-Taupo road. A loaded revolver and 30 cartridges were found on prisoner when arrested by the constable. After prisoner was handcuffed lie told the constable that had he known he was an officer he would not have taken him to Taupo that night, for tlio constable would have got a cartridge. At Rotorua the prisoner also boasted that he intended to bail up the constable, take away his revolver, tie the constable to a tree, and get his horse and clear away. Prisoner elected to give evidence on his own behalf. The revolver, which he said was stolen, was loaded when he broke into tho place. Tt was the only thing of value in the place, and of course he took it, intending to turn it into money on the first opportunity. He. had no idea- of using it on the constable. Cross-ex-amined by Mr. E. Tole, the prisoner admitted conviction for theft in 1905 at Blenheim, for robbery in Napier in 1907, and arson at Nelson. The jury without retiring returned a verdict. of guilty, and His Honor sentenced prisoner to two years’ hard labor, the sentence to be cumulative on the sentence lie was at present undergoing, remarking that he intended, as he had previously intimated, treating escapes from the prison camp as a serious offence. Prisoners were sent to Waiotapu as a reward or an incentive to good behaviour® and it was quite evident that they had a fairly good time there. -WELLINGTON. August 11. Tlio following is Captain Eaffiis’s weather forecast to 3 p.m. to-morrows Moderate to strong easterly winds northward of Lyttelton and Cape Farewell,but from the northward elsewhere with falling barometer everywhere.

DUNEDIN, August 11. Hon. R. McNab, who passed through Dunedin to-day en route for Gore, informed a reporter that Mr. )GitrUth’s resignation had not yet been handed in. Mr Gilrutli had just informed him that the position in Victoria had been offered to him, and that his duties would commence at the New Year. Tli Minister stated that Mr. Gilrutli’s present position would be offered to Mr. Realms'. Mr. McNab said that, before the new dairy regulations were gazetted they would go before a committee of the Upper House, and they would be dealt with in this way as soon as possible. He hoped to send them before the committee next week, immediately after the House resumed. He had no doubt the new regulations would be a great improvement on those now in torce. The Minister will open the .now station at Riversdale to-morrow. INVERCARGILL, August 11. The Arbitration Court, sitting here to-day, disposed of the eases as follows:—The case against Masters and Son for taking orders for tailor-made suits when not occupying tailors’ workshops was dismissed, and similar charges against two other clothiers were withdrawn. J. T. Brooker (tailor) was fined £3 for employing more girl apprentices than allowed by the award. J. W. Watson was charged With engaging a male apprentice without notifying the inspector within a week of the engagement. There was a conflict of evidence, and the ehnrge was dismissed. The Nightcaps Coal Company was charged with employing five shift men at under the award rate of wages. The case rests on the definition of shift men, as to which the industrial agreement is not specific. Decision was reserved. E H. Whitmore was fined £5 lor employing a compositor at less than tlie award rate of wages, and tho compositor was also fined for accepting tlie.se wages. Moor and Sons, sawmiL lers, were charged with employing a stoker and engine-driver at lees than the award rate. The man named in the information as a stoker was not engaged as such and the case was dismissed, and in the case of the enginedriver as the work was one of exceptional circumstances a breach was simply recorded provided the respondents pay arrears. J. Parmenter (saddler) was fined £2 for employing a journeyman at less than the award rates, and tho employee was fined 10s. H. Cox, sawindier, was fined £3 for employing a man partly as bushmun and partly as engine-driver at less than award rates. In the Sawmill Union application for an award, the Court suggested a conference, but the Parties intimated that an agreement was hopeless. i-4i % Po !, ico Court to-dav William KeJdnnif, who was remanded last week from Gore on a charge of assault on Constable Her.lihy at Waikaia was further remanded for two weeks! .1 wo charges have been preferred against KeklanffjOue of obscene lamriKiwo and the other of assaulting n constable in tho execution of his duty.