DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 27, 31 January 1913, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

WRECKAGE FOUND. Dargaville, January 30. On Tuesday morning a lifebuoy was picked up at the mouth of the Mahuta Gorge, branded “J. S.S. 11 maroa, I Melbourne,” and on the other side of the buoy simething like “Liara, Auckland.” A few chains away also was found a batch about 8 feet Jong and 21 inches wide, branded ‘V. H. U.D.1.1.L.” Both buoy and hitch j were in good condition, and were evi-j den fly cast up by the same tide, as they were not there the previous evening. TA 111 APE POLICE COURT.

Taihapo, January 30. At the S.M. Court three Utiki residents were convicted of sly grog selling and one was lined £lO and costs, one £2O, and the other £3O and costs. Three defaulting Territorials were convicted and fines of £2 and costs wore imposed in two of the cases. A SERIOUS CHARGE. Wellington, January 29. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, William George Norris, a middle-aged man, was charged witn assault on a girl between nine and ten years of age, with intent to commit rape. Accused was committed for trial, bail being refused.

A CYCLIST INJURED

Tim am, January 29

■ At the Magistrate’s Court to-day a horseman who carelessly rode down a cyclist, causing him the loss of a forefinger, and £34 in wages and expenses, was ordered to pay this amount, plus £4O damages and £l3 costs.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Wanganui, January 29

Professor McKenzie, of \ ictoria College, tliis evening delivered an address in reply to Canon Garland’s utterances in regard to the introduction of the Bible into schools. The attendance numbered upwards of fifty. A resolution was passed pledging those present to oppose the platform put forward by the Bible-in-Schools League, on the grounds that the proposal, if carried out, would mean the breaking up of the harmony and efficiency now existing under the present sys- . .4. • tern.

ELECTORAL REFORM,

Christchurch, January 29

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, in the course of a chat with a reporter tonight, remarked that in view of the interest being manifested I ‘throughout the Dominion at present ;in the question of electoral reform, and in order to obtain first-hand and up-to-date information as to the working of the proportional voting system in Tasmania, he had instructed Mr. F. W. Mansfield, chief electoral officer for New Zealand, to be present at the recent elections in Tasmania. Mr. Mansfield was to have granted him by the Tasmanian Government full access to see the minor workings of the system. Upon Mr. Mansfield’s return to the Dominion he will report to the Hon. Mr. Fisher, and he hoped that Ids report will contain much valuable and interesting information. *

CENTRAL OTAGO. Dunedft, January 29. Tho Hon. W. Eraser and a party of Xorth Island members of Parliament who have been visiting the Otago Central district since Thursday last, returned to town this evening. A very pleasant trip was experienced, the weather being fine, with the excep ion of one or two breaks. All the members are warm in their praise’ of the hospitality of tho settlers, and express themselves as agreeably surprise.l with the district, especially that extending from Clyde, at the head of the Otago Central line. The possibilities of irrigation were fully demonstrated, and the visitors expressed themselves in favour of expenditure in this direction, and also on tho extension cf the line to Hawea, when funds were available. The claims of the settlers for the prosecution of the Lawrence lino to Roxburgh were not so strongly supported, some members believing that to bring the line within twelve miles of Roxburgh would be sufficient. Others, however, think that it could he completed in the course of time, although there are more pressing needs in other parts of the Dominion.

SCIENCE AND ART. Wellington, January 30. The following are the passes secured hy candidates from the Hawera centre at the recent South Kensington Science anti Art examination: —Marjorie Jane Haseltino' secured a first-class pass, and Nora Veronica King, Clare Biscoff, Isabel Edwards and Graham Allan second-class passes. Arthur Endora and Doris Williamson obtained a first-class pass for drawing in light and shade. Colson Claudius S ge, Clara Biscoff and Mary Anne Anso’l obtained second-clast passes in frechmd drawing in outline. STEALING A .MAIL BAG. Blenheim, January 30. At the S.M. Court to-day, John Francis O’Keefe, a young man with several aliases, was charged with stealing a mail hag from the coach at Blairich while the passengers were at luncheon. The accused was seen to go into the scrub with something under his coat. When the hag was missed the scrub was searched, and the hag found cut open and the mail torn. Accused was committed for trial.

A BETTING CASE. Wellington, January 30. At tlio Magi .train’s Court to day, .Patrick Grinin, a hotelkeeper at WelI lington, sued Charles damns King, hotelkeeper of .Napier, to recover £IOO and £2 Os interest. It was claimed that Griffin, in response to a telegram j from King, invested for King £SO on ' each of two horses running on OctoI her 28 at Trentham races. Both horses lost, and Griffin had not been repaid I his money. King, in evidence, admitI ted that he was morally responsible, but said that he was sure that the investment of the money was on behalf of another mail, and as soon as the latter paid him, lie 'Jung) would pay Griffin. Replying to counsel, King said that he would plead the Gaming Act as his defence. Finally Griffin agreed to accept a nonsuit in order to take a Supreme Court action to determine if he could legally recover the money.

WANG AN UPS HA RBOUR. Wanganui, January 30. An event of some importance in the history of Wanganui was the arrival to-day of the Union Steam Ship Company’s Kittawa, of 1246 tons, the 'argest steamer which has yet entered the port. The steamer arrived here will) half her cargo of coal from New Plymouth, and drew about eleven feet. At spring tide the steamer could have negotiated the -river channel drawing a couple of feet more. The excellent condition of the river is due to the work being carried out by the Harbour Board. There is now a depth of 25 feet at the place where a bar with a depth of eleven feet was a few years ago. The Government steamer Tutanekai is also a visitor to the port.

POLICEMAN OR BURGLAR,

Wellington, January 29

A curious development has arisen in connection with the burglary from the premises of S. Ross, Lambton Quay, early in the morning of the 22nd inst. On an adjacent beat was a constable temporarily attached to the Wellington police force, who has since been charged with theft of a hat from Wallace Gibbons, and who is now in gaol on remand. On the morning of the burglary he called at a friend’s house and left an overcoat there. As he did not return (he had been before the court and remanded, and was in gaol) the coat was examined, and in the pockets were found a quantity of jewellery. The detectives in due course were informed of the find and took possession of it. Since then it has been shown to Ross, who identified the articles as his property. It may be added that on the day following t-be robbery a small cardboard box, containing a few gold pins, was found floating in the harbour, but the contents of the box were shown on inquiry, not to he part of Ross’ stock. 'The policeman under arrest is Charles Alfred Rcmmers. About £l4O worth of goods was taken from Ross’ jewellery shop, and everything has been recovered. Rcmmers will appear in the court on Friday to answer a charge of wearing apparel from another shop, and the charge of theft of the jewellery will then be preferred against him. Rummers has only been in the local force a few months. He formerly belonged to the London Metropolitan Police, from which he had excellent discharges.

A BOY BURGLAR

Auckland, January 30

The hoy hprglar, Vho escaped from custody but was recaptured, appeared before the Court to-day on charges of breaking and entering. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed for trial.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Wellington, January 30

The Dominion executive of the Catholic Federation to-night adopted a resolution protesting against tho decision of tho Wellington Education Board in denying to scholarship winners the option of holding their scholarships at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and declaring such decision to be an injustice for the following reasons: (a) That St. Patrick’s College is, as well as other Catholic secondary schools in the Dominion, quite equal in tho efficiency of tuition and equipment to the State institutions; (b) that the Canterbury, Westland, Taranaki, and Wanganui Education Boardhave decided that such scholarships may be held at Catholic secondary schools in their respective districts.