GENERAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 66, 20 March 1915, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

Two Chinese at Wellington were fined £25 each yesterday for smuggling ashore opium in a form suitable for smoking.

, i Mr C. L. Allen, a dairy farmer at Te Karaka, whilst pulling a gun after him through a fence was shot m the abdomen, states a P.A. wire from Gisborne yesterday. His condition is serious, and he has been removed to the hospital. |

The following have been appointed a Commission under the Education Act. 1914 (states the Press Association) to recommend the boundaries of ehdit or nine newly-constituted education districts: Messrs A. D. Thomson, G. Hogbeu, Donald Petrie, J. Strauchan, and G. M. Thomson.

At the Christchurch W.C.T.U. convention. the corresponding secretary’s report showed 3205 members, and the treasurer’s report a credit balance of £O6 Rev. J. Davison spoke on the lessons of the late poll and the plans for future work.—P.A.

Four Chinamen were charged at the Dunedin police court yesterday morning with working at their calling on Sunday (states the Press Association). Mr Mol let', J.P., said most men who came- before the Court came for not working. The practice of working on Sunday offended church-goers, and must be discontinued. Fines of 20s and costs were imposed.

James Plowman, a member of the expeditionary force, was before the Napier Court yesterday charged with disorderly behaviour in a train, and with using obscene language. A Press Association message says the evidence went to show that accused was a passenger on the express train from 'Wellington, and whilst under the influence of liquor, assailed various other passengers, declaring them to be German spies, and threatening them with the bayonet. He pleaded guilty, and was remanded for sentence. Bail was refused.

When Charles Harvey appeared on remand at the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with the murder of a Chinese storekeeper on 12th September, the police asked for permission to withdraw the charge upon the recommendation of the Crown Law office. The only evidence against the accused was his own statement or confession, and the police had enquired into that and were satisfied no jury could convict. Harvey, the accused, was accordingly discharged.— P.A.

Mr Harry Lauder, after giving a second donation of £IOOO to the National Relief Fund, was interviewed by a Scottish newspaper representative, and made the following remarks about us and the war:—“l was in Melbourne when the war broke out, and I believe the Australians and New Zealands are even more in earnest about it than we arc. They are ready to send any quantity of men to help, so far as their limited population will allow. You can take it from me that both Australia and New Zealand are ready to make any sacrifices for the Empire. Everybody is for the Motherland, and will do their best to see her through.”

The Minister for Marine (Hon. W. H. Herries) is just now acting in an unusual capacity as arbitrator in a dispute which has been going on for some years between the Wellington Harbour Board and the Patent Slip Company, as to whether another slip should be laid down. The law provides that in case of a disagreement the Minister should act as arbitrator, and things have arrived at such a pitch that at last he had been called in, and is now hearing argument and evidence.—P.A.

At a meeting in Auckland of the Labour Representation Committee, consisting of delegates from iiventythree trade unions, there was animated discussion on the question of the prices of food, and it was resolved that owing to the growing dissatisfaction with the inactivity of the Government in dealing with the abnormal situation arising out of the war, whereby the people are being ruthlessly exploited by individuals controlling the necessaries of life, the meeting considers it the duty of Cabinet to immediately call Parliament together in order that the representatives of the people may take a hand in dealing with the situation.—P.A.