DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 20, 16 September 1912, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

Before Mr V. G. Day, S.M., Captain Vint, of the s.s. Aparima, was charged with cruelty to animals in allowing three monkeys to be crowded into three small boxes and be underfed. The charge was laid against a member of the coolie crew, who brought them from India for sale, and tho captain was held responsible, as a freight of 5s each was paid. He was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Counsel for tho S.P.C.A. said that the case was also a breach of the quarantine law. J. McCloud, said to be a recent arrival from Home, has been committed for trial at Timaru on false pretenses in. selling stocks of a valueless "fire extinguishing powder" to four Business people, adding "Sole agency" in two cases. Ho altogether obtained about £4O.

In a lengthy statement the Canterbury branch of the Civil Service Association details opinions and suggestions regarding the Public Service Bill. As to political influence, the" branch holds that clause 6 is insufficient to effect the end in view, as it contains nothing to prevent the influence of members of Parliament being sought indirectly through relatives' or friends. It considers that members themselves should be prohibited from endeavouring to exercise influence. The branch does not view with favour the provision for the appointment of a single commissoner to control the service. Section 18 should contain a provision to enable finality with regard to tiie classification being secured. The powers proposed under clause 21 it considers objectionable. Regarding promotions the branch holds that whilst merit is an essential factor, every consideration should be given to length of service. Regarding the fifth schedule, a hope is expressed that the scale of salaries and increments should be placed on a more equitable basis. The branch is of opinion that the Post and Telegraph Department being already classified should be excluded from the provisions of the Bill. The Christchurch postal and telegraph officers have arrived at resolutions to a similar effect to those of Dunedin and Invercargill. Information lias been 'received in Dunedin that Mr E. C. May intends to make another cfrort to secure the treasure from the ship General Grant, which was wrecked at the'Auckland Islands many years Ago. A letter from Mr May, dated San Francisco, contains the intimation that he has purchased a three-masted sailing ship with 150 h.p. engine. Her carrying capacity will lie six times that of the Wairoa, which was purchased by MiMay when in New Zealand to take the expedition south, but which was eventually sold to liquidate the preliminary liabilities. The fitting-out will be completed at San Francisco. Some of the machinery is being manufactured in New York. Mr May states that he has engaged Captain Miller (a salvage expert), and an American engineer who was in touch at San Francisco for four years with one of the survivors of the General Grant, named Con Drew, the man who pointed out the scene of the wreck to Messrs Stevens and McDonald. This engineer tried to form a company at one time to put to good purpose the information he had obtained, but failed for lack of ready money. Clarence Plumridge, aged 11, whose parents reside in Huxley street, Sydenham, was admitted to the hospital to-day, suffering from a gunshot wound in his right sido. He left home in the morning with a ferret to go rabbiting on the hills, and was joined by other youths. It is not known where he got the gun. Whilst clambering over some rocks, with the gun at fullcock, the trigger caught on a rock, and Plumridge got the contents in his right side. His condition is considered to be rather serious.