DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 26 February 1912, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

{Per Press Association. f Auckland, February 23. Shopkeepers near the corner of Poston and Mount Eden Hoads wore startled yesterday by the loud screams ol children. On going to investigate, they saw two little girls struggling hard with a man, both children showing evidence of fear. Eventually the man separated the children, and carried cm© of them to a trap, which was driven away by another man inwaiting. Subsequent developments pointed to the fact that the little girl had been kidnapped. At the Police Court today a man was charged with attempting to deprive a mother of her child, and was remanded for a week.

Wanganui, February 23

A meeting unique in the history of Wanganui was held this evening, when a very large crowd of men assembled in the Druids’ Hall. The meeting was a further development upon tho quarrel between members of the Borough Council and the Mayor, whereby the Mayor resigned rather than give Ids casting vote on his own motion to dismiss the engineer. The meeting was

decidedly in sympathy with tho Mayor, and found vent in demanding the resignation of three councillors who were alleged to have prompted the Mayor in his action and then turned back on him. The Mayor’s actions were approved, and it was hoped ho would allow himself to be nominated again. It is considered that the meeting’s demands will not clear the air at ail. for it is probable that unless the whole Council resign the three requested will not do so. The Council is holding a special meeting on Monday for the purpose of electing a Mayor for the remainder of the term.

The second day of the Wanganui ram fair was continued to-day, Romneys, Southdowns, and Leicesters being offered. Southdowns sold freely. Romney were also in good demand, but Leicesters were neglected. Romney studs made up to Signs. W. Gibson’s studs averaged £24. Feilding, February 23.

At the Feilding annual sheep fair to-day close upon 40,000 ewes wore yarded. Prices were satisfactory all through. All good lines sold well. The highest price for flocks was 37s 6d for two-tooths, bred by J. Corpe. Westport, February 23.

At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Constable Thomas Keenan was charged by Police Inspector Black kith having'assaulted Margaret Duncan, the wife of the Victoria hotel licensee on February Ist. : 'The ? 'evidence l of the complainant wont to show ■ that she was pestered by tllh’Constable, who invited her to meCt lliim on: the night of February l ! fit,' and 'she accepted the invitation, with friends following a short distance behind. When the constable put his arm around her waist she produced a hockey stick she had .concealed and gave him a thrashing. > The constable, it avas stated, had offered £lO to keep the matter quiet, and had given a man the £lO to give to the complainant, but he had cleared off with itf" v o-' At the conclusion of the evidence for the - prosecution, counsel for accused Submitted that; no offence was disclosed, ,i'as complainant, in accepting the invitation, anticipating what would happen, and baiting the policeman, was really a consenting party. The Magistrate took this view, commenting on the extraordinary conduct of the woman, and dismissed the information without calling on the defence. Timaru, February 23. At the annual meeting of the Technical Classes Association to-night the report showed that during the year there were 632 class entries. The managers say that the time is not far distant when Timaru must have a day technical school. Five plumbing pupils qualified for borough licenses. The receipts included fees £269, voluntary contributions £lO4, and subsidies thereon. Instructors were paid £682. Classes in agriculture and horticulture were disappointing, but wool classing has been successful during the last three years.