NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 146, 23 February 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

THE TAUMARUNUI SEAT. OPENING OF THE TRIAL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TB KUITI, This Day. The election petition in connection with the Taumarunui seat was opened before Justices Cooper and Chapman yesterday. Mr Johnston, of New Plymonth, appeared for C. K. Wilson, the petitioner and Mr G. P. Pindly, Te Kuiti, appeared for Mr Jennings. Mr Johnston opened with an address lasting over an hour, in which he reviewed the charges of the petition and the irregularities- before and at the election. He contended that the discrepancies amounted to a greater number of votes than Jennings' majority. It was claimed that Mr Jennings was net eligible for election inasmuch as he was on the Taumarunui roll, and not on any other, and his place of residence was at New Plymouth.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY. TE KUITI, This Day. At the Te K'uiti election petition inquiry evidence was called shewing that names were on the roll of two men who lived outside the electorate at Te Rauamoa; that railway platelayers on ihe roll did not permanently reside in the district; that a woman, Mrs Mc Cracken, of Maniimii, whose name was struck off the roll, had voted and had net made the proscribed declaration; that claims cf enrolment attested by Mr Young were not signed in Young's presence, 'it was admitted by Mr Findlay that the names Michael Lydon, wife and daughter should not have been fuelled, they not having esided for 12 months in the Dominion.

THE WAGES QUESTION. AUCKLAND, This Day. The Arbitration Court, after hearing argument on an application for a review of awards, intimated that the Court would probably come to a decision after hearing evidence in Wellington. WHEAT FOR NEW ZEALAND ARRIVAL OF 100.000 BUSHELS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 22 Shortly after midnight on Saturday the Norwegian steamer Hesperus was sighted off Tiritiri. She has on board 100,000 bushels of wheat purchased in Canada for the New Zealand Government, The lighthouse-keper was not able to satisfactorily comunicate with the ship, and the pilot boat went out to give the steamer orders to proceed to Lyttelton. The Hesperus left St. John" on Jan. 3rd. Sorce 205,000 of the 585,000 bushels of wheat purchased in Australia and Canada by the Government have already arrived at New Zealand ports. COURTS. DUNEDIN, Feb. 22 At the Police Court to-day W. E. J. Maguire was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for contempt of Court. He persisted in addressing the Magistrate with excited remarks when ordered not to do so. Alfred Oudaille, a chemist, was fined £lO, on each of three charges under the Opium Act of purchasing for the purpose of sale or manufacture, tincture of opium, and disposing of it without entering particulars in the book prescribed by the Act. RAIN IN SOUTH CANTERBURY TIMARU, Feb. 22 A good light rain (HO points) fell between Saturday evening and noon to--day. It is valuable for pastures and roots, but much grain in stock is soaked and now needs drying breezes to avoid spoiling.

"WET" CANTEEN AT TRENTHAM CONSIDERED. WELLINGTON, Feb. 22. The sobriety of the troops who arcbeing trained for the front is a matter which is engaging the earnest attention of the Minister for Defence. The suggestion has been made that the most sensible thing to do would be to establish a military canteen under strict supervision. This idea has been fully gone into and for the meantime has been abandoned. A technical difficulty stands in the way, inasmuch as section 93 of the Defence Act of 1909 forbids the sale of any intoxicants in. camp, but if necessary the Government could indemnify themselves under the war regulations. However, for the present there is no prospect of a "wet" canteen coming into operation, and every effort is being put forward to induce the men now collected at Trentham to take either the total (K.K.), "Kitchener .of Khartoum" pledge, under which the soldier undertakes not to take spirituous . liquor during the progress of the war, of the partial pledge that intoxicants are only to be taken at meals, when in company out of camp. In no ease is "shouting" to be indulged in, ano* this is generally regarded as the social custom which causes the most trouble. Mr. Allen suggests to citizens generally the advisability of adjuring the "shouting" habit when they are in the company of soldiers.

DISTRESS IN BELGIUM. AN AUCKLAND PKOFGJAI'y AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr Parr, Mayor <,* Auckland, wired to Mr Massey that there- is strong public opinion here that the Government should provide a monthly contribution, say £15,000 to Belgium. Auckland has contributed nearly £50,000 in cash aiUK £25,000 in clothes. State action way new necessary to cope adequately and systematically with the magnitude of Belgium's distre::. LAWN TENNIS. | THE DAVIS CUP MATCH. DIVIDING THE SPOILS. I WELLINGTON, This Day. A cheque for £?.00 has been received by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association from the Australian, Association ,as the New Zealand body's share cf £4,186, received by the Australasian AS'Sceiaiicri from the. proceeds of the Davis Cup match played between Canada and the United States. The Australian body dcided to distribute £2,100 among clubs affiliated with the 'Association. The question of the legality of the distribution has arisen in New Zealand. The Association is asking under what regulations the distribution was made. TIRE BRIGADES* OONPI T.ENCF.. TIMAEXT, Feb. 22. The sixth conference of Fire Brigades was continued this afternoon. A Pakiatua remit was carried, requesting the Government to frame a by-law defiling with the storage of explosives generally. "In country towns •'' was om i rted. The elections resulted: —President. Campbell (Timaru) was elected. Sear.tlebury withdrawing. Lean (Addington) and Scantlebnry (Reeftori) were elected vice-presidents (23 nominstions). Osborne (Onehunga) was reelected treasurer. The retiring president (Salmon) was elected an honorary life member. ' Several alterations in the compctiA backblocks settler named Grubner, adopted.

It was arranged that. the executive moot the Minister on Wednesday, in regard tn the compulsory installation of automatic fire alarms in large stores, warehouses. boarding-houses and hotels. A BAOKBLOCKS MISHAP. PAHIATUA, Feb. 22. A backbloeks setler named Grubner, at Maku, Pongaroa, had a very painful experience. He owns a bush section in the Puketoi Ranges, and was returning home alone in the evening after bush-felling, carrying an axe in his hand, when he slipped and fell on the axe. He sustained an ugly gash right across the face, and suffered considerably, the wound bleeding copiously. Grubner walked two miles over rough country and lode another miles to the nearest farmhouse, where he fainted. Subsequently he was conveyed to a private hospital, suffering severely from loss of blood, and on the verge of collapse. GERMANS IN MASTERTON. MASTERTON, Feb. 22. A petition is being put in circulation asking that local Germans bo interned. This is the outcome of strong statemens made by certain local Germans against the Allies. DEATH OF VETERAN TRAINER. CHRISTCHITRCH, This Day. Edward Cutis, a veteran Eiccarton trainer, died at Choke-bore Lodge at noon to-day, aged 77. MISSING MAN FOUND. DROWNED IN A CREEK. WESTFORD, This Day. At the inquest on the boy of Solomo?) Blair, who had been missing from the Old People's Home since the second inst., the verdict was that he was accidentally drowned in a cr-rsk. The old man had wandered off the road into the bush and apparently had laid down to rest and rolled into the creek. His hat and coat were found on the bank.