DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 91, 24 April 1913, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

■ -—.i.—, b ‘ ’ FROM CASS TO BEALEY FLAT. v t Christchurch, April 23. The Hon. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, travelled from Lyttelton to the. .by train yesterday, and traversed the railway line under construction from the Cass to Bealey Flat with the engineer-in-chief and the resident engineer. He then went -by buggy to the Otira tunnel, arriving at 6 o’clock. After dinner the party entered the tunnel, going along right up to the working face, two miles and four chains from the entrance. They watched with interest the drilling operations in progress. The visit occupied over two hours. This morning a deputation from the West Coast Workers’ Union waited on the Minister and asked for several modifications of the working conditions and increases in the rates of pay. Mr Fraser agreed to allow' forty minutes each day for men going to the faces at Otira, and ten minutes for men at the Bealey end. He also agreed to pay ordinary overtime at rate and a quarter, and rate and a half for Sundays or holidays. The Minister declined to authorise preference of employment for unionists. Minor requests will be referred to the resident engineer. Mr Fraser left the Otira to-day for Eurnara. He will reach Hokitika tomorrow', and visit Ross and the neighbourhood on Friday. He will afterwards visit Grevmouth and Reef ton.

A LIGHTING CASE

Wellington, April 28

Mr Justice Chapman to-day delivered judgment in a case in which the City Corporation sued Hamilton mer and others for £3O 13s lOd, due for electricity supplied to the Trocadero Private Hotel, of which the defendants are the owners. The defence was that the amount should be chargeable against the occupier of the buildings, and was not enforceable as a separate rate against the owners. Judgment was given for the defendants, with costs on the lowest scale.

THE PRESS ANT) THE PLAY

Dunedin, April 23

Prior to the opening of the play “The Monk and the Woman,” at Timaru, the local papers inserted in the news column, hy way of advertisement, matter calculated to affect the company’s business in that town. As a result of legal opinion the New Zealand representative of Messrs George Marlow (Mr Grant) has been instructed by Ids principals in Sydney to demand a public apology from both the Timaru newspapers, failing which a writ for damages is to issue. One of the metropolitan papers may . also bo involved. Wo hold one sale each year. This is our third, and it is our intention to make it eclipse all previous sales. Charles E. James, Broadway.