INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10066, 6 February 1909, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. February 5. The .Wellington Commercial Travellers' Association to-night passed the following resolution: "That it is essential that a federation of the New Zealand Commercial Travellers' Associations be formed, and that the question of affiliation with .Australian and similar bodies be held over ' until such federation be accomplished." The police raided premises in Haining street occupied by Chinese to-night, and arrested seven Europeans and four Chinese on charges of gambling. At the Supreme Court to-day, Norman Eraser, found guilty of stealing two bottles of. beer, received three years' (7 months). E. J. Seari, who was convicted of forgery, was further remanded for sentence till next Wednesday, the probation officer to report in the meantime. Joseph Delich, alias Dante, was convicted of stealing a bicycle, and sentenced to 18 months' hard labor. John Peehugen and Stephens Nickelsen, young men, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting a Chinaman in Wellington. The case was not concluded when the Court rose. DUNEDIN. February 5. Alice Davie, aged 51 years, was admitted to the hospital this morning suffering from a wound in the throat. It appears she had been despondent of late, but her condition had been much brighter for the past week. Her husband, waking at live this morning, asked her what kind of night she had passed, and she replied right enough. An hour later he missed her, and he found her huddled up in the washhouse with her throat cut. An operation was performed at the hospital, and as far as can be gathered the wound ■(which was made with her husband's razor) is not likely to cause death. At a meeting of the committee of the Otago Cricket Association to-night, a letter from the New Zealand Council was read to the effect that the letter forwarded by the Otago Association contained what was practically a charge against Auckland, and that such charge of unsportsmanlike conduct should either be proved or withdrawal. After some discussion it was finally resolved—"That this Association did not intend to make any charge against the Auckland Association, -ind regrets that the New Zealand Council has placed a. wrong interpretation on the letter. All that this Association desires is that steps lx> taken to ensure that all Plunket Shield matches be played to a finish." CHRISTCHURCH. February 5. Agnes Florence Adams, 27 years of age, drowned herself in the estuary at Redcliffs to-day whilst her nurse was telephoning for a doctor to treat deceased for wax match poisoning. A verdict was returned that deceased drowned herself whilst in a state of unsound mind. The Hon. T. Mackenzie arrived in this city to-day for the purpose of attending a complimentary banquet to the Hon. D. Buddo at Kaiapoi to-night. In the course of an interview regarding his visit to the West Coast Sounds the Minister said : "I have in my mind ideas of excursions that should be carried out embracing we shall say Dusky and Doubtful Sounds, which should be run at a moderate cost and last only a few days, thus bringing our beautiful scenery within the reach of those who have only short holidays and moderate means." The Minister also expressed the opinion that until some means are adopted for getting people quicker to the lakes the question of improving the steamer service on the lakes could stand over. During the trip a number of photographs of new scenic country were taken by Mr Macdonald, the Tourist Department's photographer, including several panoramic pictures. Thomas Saunders, a young man, who received a blow behind the ear in a Sumner hotel on January 20th, died in the hospital to-day. On'the date mentioned Saunders, when coming out of the hotel, tripped over a dog belonging to Alexander Kiddey, and it is alleged 1 "that the lastnamed struck the blow which has proved fatal. Kiddey was before the Court on Wednesday, charged with having assaulted Saunders.' He "admitted having pushed Saunders, hut stated that he did not strike him. This evidence was corroborated, and the case was dismissed. The coroner has ordered a post-mortem examination, and it is probable that an inquest will lie held. Henry Skinner, a bootmaker, was picked up in a" dying condition on Bealey Avenue to-night, and died whilst being conveyed to the hospital. At a conference between the Industrial Association and representatives of the Trades and Labor Council, at which the unemployed question was discussed, it was decided that a committee, consisting of Messrs H. G. Ell, M.P., Rnsbridge, J. A. Frostick, and F. E. Jones, should report on the subject within one month. AUCKLAND. February 5. An action arising out of a fire which occurred at Mount Roskill on November 9th was begun before Mr Justice Edwards at the' Supreme Court to-day. The plaintiff in the action was Sidney Harold Darrach, a confectionery manufacturer who claimed £IOSO damagas from Alfred Bridgman, a storekeeper, for alleged negligence in leaving a burning dust heap alongside his factory, and thus, the plaintiff claimed, causing the factory to be burnt down. The case was not concluded. TIMARU. February 5. David Given, 45 years of age, foreman stone mason on St. Mary's (English) Church building, met with a shocking death, this afternoon. He was engaged dressing slabs of Oamaru stone on end, when, in turning one, the strong south wind took charge, and toppled, the slab over. Given was knocked down, and fell with his head and neck on a smaller block of stone, being crushed between it and the big slab. Death was almost instantaneous. ,

NAPIER, February 5. At the Magistrate's Court, Hastings, to-day, seventeen, men were charged, on the information of the Inspector of Awards, that, being employed at Thomas Borthwick and Son's freezing works, at "Pakipald. and! being bonnd by the Hawke's Bay freezing works award, they did go on' strike on January 13th. The cases arose out of the recent difference between the manager and the f ellmongers as to a spell in the morning and in the afternoon in which to smoke, the request for "smoke-oh" not being granted, as such spell was not provided for in the award. The men in question ceased work in batches of five. On the following morning the men's demand was granted, there being a, large amount of work in hand in the works. The men also insisted on an apology from the manager for his action in calling them curs. Mr S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., after hearing the evidence, said it was clear to him that the men had all combined and decided to go out in batches of five. He considered! that what occurred was a strike. The men should- either-have communicated with the inspector or with their union, and not have gone out. Judgment was igiven against each man for £1 and costs. Three other men who did not , appear were similarly dealt with. i Joseph M'Oabe, aged' 81 years, who was serving a sentence of a fortnight's imprisonment in Napier gaol, died at that institution tiiis morning. He was a sufferer from heart disease. At an inquest Mr

H. B. Brabant, coroner, found a verdict of death from senile decay and heart disease. NELSON. February 5. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. M'Kenzie) reached Nelson to-night after a tour' of the Golden Bay district. Mr M'Kenzie was banqueted by hi.- constituents at Mangarakau, Taknk;i, Motneka, and Tapaweru. He inspected to-day the works at the Nelson end of the Midland railway. To-morrow night he attends the annua!].dinner of the Chamber of Commerce, afterwards leaving by steamer for Wellington. PA.LMERSTON NORTH. I February 5. A child named Hansen. 12 years of age, was drowned in the Manawatu river to-day while playing at the waterside with others. The body lias not. yet been recovered. MASTERTON. February 5. The re-visit of Lieutenant Knox to Masterton has elicited a good deal of sympathy with the objects of the Navy League, and a sub-branch of the Wellington League is endeavoring to create a widespread interest in the movement, Mr A. Whatman, a well-known Wairarapa settler, has entered into a legal bond to contribute £IOOC towards the cost of a battleship, to be called the "Abbotsford," the name of Mr Whatman's station, and to be presented to the British navy. The estimated cost is about a million pounds. It is understood that other wealthy settlers are being approached, and that other large subscriptions may be announced shortly.