LATE SHIPPING.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1917, Page 3

LATE SHIPPING.

Gbeymouth, May HI Sailed—ll.3o am. on 30th Waimea for Wanganui; 4 a.m. on 30th Kara for Wellington. s Pcei Ahubibi, May 31 Arrived —4.45 a.m. Karamu from Grey* 5 mouth.

Per Press Association;—-C'opyrigh The &ar Cost. WELLINGTON, May 30. The war expenditure of the Domm ion to March 31sifc was £22,075,238. This total included an amount o £4,500,000 paid to the Imperial Gov ernmenit for the maintenance of Nov Zealand troops in the field and th» ply of ammunition, provisions, and ex tra transport. This is the first state mentioned by the Defence Minister as : in which this item has been included hut on many occasions it has beet memfconed by the Defence Minister as £ debt we owed the Mother Country. Racing and the Tote. WELLINGTON, May 30. Before dealing finally with the curtailment of the number of itotalisatoi permits during the coming racing season ; the Government is waiting a roplj from the Racing Conference. Two alternative proposals have bean submitted to the Conference, either for the reduction in the number of racing days by one third, or by one half. The matter must be dealt with soon, because the season commences on August Ist. It is understood that the Conference does not agree with the Government that such a heavy reduction is necessary. ' THE OXFORD MURDER. Question of Lunacy. WELLINGTON, May SO. Cabinet ha's decided to refer the case ofg Charles Butler who way fount guilty at Christchurch on May 18th, oi the murder of Henriteta Lousia Foster, to a Board of medical men for a report. * The medicos appointed are Drs. Hay, (Inspector-General Mental Hospitals) : Truby King, and Beattie, all of whom are experts in lunacy. Butler In Lyttelton Gaol. Governor's Decision Awaited. (Lyttelton Times. \ Charles Butler, convicted of the murder of Henrietta Foster at View Hill on E ister Sunday, and sentenced to death at Christchurch on Friday, May 18, has oaenpied ths condemned cell at LytteTon Gau! for ten days. So far, the Goverac-r has not decided whether the execution shall proceed, but bis decision should be come to in a day or two. The matter ia really decided ou ihe advice of Ministers, and usually such matters of lifeaud death are considered by a full Cabinet. At the present moment, however, both Sir James Allen and the Hon W. Fraser are in thß South. New Zealand follows the English practice pretty closely in regard to capital punishment. Not more and not leas than three Sundays are allowed to elapse bet ween fiehtenoa and execution, and in England the execution is almost invariably on a Monday at 8 d,m, In New Zealand, however, executions have been delayed, and in the o>9B of Biddie, the last man to be hanged at Lytttl'.OD, the sentence was carried ont oa Saturday morning. December 13, 1913, this b;ing the last day left to the sheriff. If the Governor decides not to interfere in Bullet’s oase, the execution sboald take place next week. As the sheriff is usually allowed seven days in which to arrange for the exeentioo, it would probably take place later than Monday. Meanwhile a petition is being prepared for presentation to the Governor praying that the sentence may be commuted.

Military Deserter Arrested. Christchurch May 30 Tbo police to-day arrested Owen James franc's McKee, on a charge of failing to attend at the Medical Board for examination uoder the Military Service Act when ordered to do bo. McKee was handed over to the military authorities. Ho is a newspaper runner on the “Maorilaud Worker,” Theft of Motor Cycle. Christchurch, May 30 In the Supreme Court to-day Frank Airer Madden was convicted and ordered to oomß up for sentence when called upon for the theft of a motor cycle. Mr Justice Deunistoa remarking that he never wished to send young men to gaol when they showed no continuous criminal tendencies, and accused was willing to serve hisoonntry. Plumber Electrocuted.

Christchurch, May 30 Walter Jonas, piumber, residing in Peterborough Sreet, who was married and had fonr children, while engaged in installing a hot water service at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Bottle Lake to-day, accidentally rested an iron pipe against an electric wire carrying 3100 volts and was electrocuted. Death was instantaneous. Mining Disputes Filed. Wellington, May 30 In accordance with the announcement of the employeis when the last

conference between the coalminers and mine owners ended without settlement, disputes have been filed affecting the Westport-Stockton and Blackball miners. Both disputes will be invrs fgated by the Conciliation Cf uncti »t the end of next month. iLt Blackball disputes will be taken at Gey month and the WestportStookton at Westport.

Railway Concessions Asked for. Wellington, May 30 t. A deputation troci the-New Zealand University Senate waited upon tie Minister of Railways end Education to make an appeal tor railway concessions for studeutß travelling by train to attend special schools. The depuf fcation stated many students had at ' their disposal slender resources and 7 heavy railway fares for them were an insurmountable barrier. - Replying, the Mmsster of Railways a said that if concessions were applied ’ they wonld otslv be to special sohi-o ?. Hg would have oleasurein consniting the Minister otEducauon on the subject. However, the policy of the Railway Department now was rather to repel traffic than to seek it. He promised to consult his colleague, the Hon J, A. Hanan and to give the request careful consideration. 7 - Claim For Damages. j • , Wellington, May 30 The Supreme Court heard the claim of William Bowlsy, sawmill worker, against W. Booth aid Go, for £IOOO damages on account of an accident to I plaintiff while driving a track along ’ the company’s tramway. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for £SOO. The entering up of judgment was deferred, as legal points are to be argued. Not Approved- | Wellington May 30 ■ The Minister of Public Health (the Hon G. W. Russell) does dot approve ‘ of the scheme of the Wellington Patriotic Society to purchase the properly ; of ths late Mr John Duthie for tha purpose of eatablishiag a home for soldiers returning from the war suffering from mental afflictions caused by their war service. He states that two institutions are already available, entirely outside the mental hospital?, and that there are many oihor uses to which the money of the Patriotic Society could bo devoted. He thinks that a large portion of the expenditure being devoted to the establishment of eoldiers’ clubs might with advantage be spent in a more practical direction. As regatda soldiers’ hostel there can be no two opinions and the desirableness of these instituoions is evident, the probability being that after tha war these may profitably be used for housing soldiers under strict classification. A Lawsuit Settled. Auckland, May 31 A settlement was arrived at this morning in the civil action, wherein Hon A. M. MyGrs sued the Bank of New South Wales, to recover £2,000, alleged to be wrongfully paid into the trust aocount of the late William Coleman, solicitor. Mr Sksrratt. K. 0., stated that at a' previous stage, Hon Mytra, solicitor, has intimated what they thought reasonable terms of settlement, but oomplioated questions prevented the acceptance of the offer. The position hid since bean cleared, and the Assignee and Bank, had exdressed their willingness to accept the suggested terms of compromise. Hon Myers had received an offer which bad been accepted, and the case might be struck out. Justice Cooper said he was glad the • case had been settled. | ■^■SSSHESSSS g^81, ?5?555£