DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 66, 13 March 1912, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, March 11. The fourth conference of the (Australasian Provincial Press Association is. to held this year in Auckland. It will bo attended; by about thirty delegates from the various States of the Commonwealth and representatives of the Now Zealand Press Association. The Australian delegates will arrive in Auckland by the Victoria on Sunday next. They have been preceded by Mr H. McMillan, editor of the Stock and Station Journal and the author of several books. The secretary of the Association, Mr T. M. Shakespeare, has keen prevented by business 'engagements from making the trip, and Mr McMillan, acting in his place, arrived yesterday to complete the arrangements for the conference. The president is Mr W. S. Brooks, of the Mo ret on Mail, Brisbane, and the president of the New South Wales Country Press Association. . On March 18th, the day after their arrival, the delegates will.be given a civic reception to Auckland by the Mayor. They will sit in conference on Monday and Tuesday, and will then travel through New Zealand. The conference is unique as the .first organised gathering of Australasian journalists held in Now Zealand. ..

• ,:Vi Waihi, March. 11. The Premier to-day, in the presence of an enormous local gathering, turned the first sod of the Waihi-Tauran-ga section of the East Coast railway. In a speech, Sir Joseph defended the Government's borrowing .policy on t >, o ground that it was demanded by the needs of the development of the country and more rapid railway oonstruccion. Since he liad been Premier, 01,769,449 more had heen expended in the North Island than ißjtJie, South.

Gisborne, March 11. A seven-roomed house mt Makaraka, owned by F. Hall and occupied by •James Ualihphell, was destroyed by fire. It'was insured for £3OO in the State office.

. ' ■ Gisborne, March 12. A nurse named Lila Hod, aged 21, died at the hospital as a result of an accident sustained severed weeks ago. Whilst playing with a child she slipped on some concrete steps and fell, breaking her thigh.. Eketahuna, March 11. Search ■ parties yesterday and today dragged the river, but were unable to find any trace of McLean, who had been reported missing since Friday night. His overcoat, hand-bag, and pipe were found near the river, with the words; “Poison too slow- taking to \vater.”-, He had 'bought poison previously at a chemist’s. Two lotceis indicated his intention to commit suicide owing to trouble at his office. An investigation of the county books is proceeding. The missing man was county clerk, secretary, of the Farmers’Union, agent for the Liverpool London and Globe, ■ secretary of the Eketahuna Building Society," and a member of the Borough-Oonncil. • Eketahuna, March 12.

Further search has been made for the missing man McLean, hut efforts so far have beep unsuccessful. Beep holes in tho river have been dynamited without result and a diver has been engaged from Wellington for a thorougn search to-day, It is understood that defalcations in the,County' funds have been discovered.