DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 75, 5 April 1913, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

NORTHERN BUSH FIRES

[Feu Press Association.] Whangarei, April 4

Hon. H. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, arrived in Whangarei this evening and received deputations to-night. The principal requests were for Government assistance in providing grass seedd' for those settlers who suffered so heavily from the recent grass fires, many being unable to finance the sowing of grass seed. It would probably cost from £20,000 to £30,000 for the district. The appeal was made specially on behalf of those settlers who were unable to finance a ud in consequence would have to let their land lie idle. The Minister replied that he request was the most reasonable one he had heard for many years, and that he would make representations to Mr Massey, who would undoubtedly do the utmost he could, as many areas of Crown lands were affected, and also on account of the advisability of combating the growth of fern. It would also l)e necessary to assist the dairying industry, which was the principal one of North Auckland. One speaker estimated that the three dairy factories operating in tho district would distribute from £IO,OOO to £15,000 less than during tho corresponding period of last year on account of the fires.

ANTI-MILITARISM. ' j Christchurch, April 4. ■ At tiro Magistrate’s Court, Harold j K. Denton was charged with causing an obstruction at the Clock Tower j on March 14th, and the police asked for sureties of the peace. Ho was bound over to keep tho peace for three, months in one surety of £2O, and fined £4 for causing an obstruction and for having delivered an address at the Clock Tower, inducing a crowd to collect, and thus cause an , obstruction. ' Cuthbert Leo. Beary was fined £5, 1 and Edward J. Howard, Paddy Ciias. i Webb, Fred Burgoyne, W. E. J. Ma-1 guire, Fred R. Cooke and Jas. McCul- j logh were each fined £2. The charge , against Beary of being an iule and; disorderly person and of aims was dismissed.