NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 154, 4 March 1915, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

■THE third reinforcements. - I .(-By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, March 3. - • The third- reinforcements, now at sea. said Mr Allen to an interviewer, are in good heolth, with only a few of minor complaints. Major Peacock, who was in charge of the Maoris, has been taken ill and had to be put ashore, but the Government was now making arrangements to paplace him with another capable officer. ■ The horses had stood the voyage .well,-* and only one had died so far. -

SUPREME COURT. ■ • INVERCARGILL, March 3. ■Paul Hadjtand Paulspn was acquitted on a- chailge of indecent assault, and--Andrew Lee, of- carnal knowledge, •was acquitted.•P PROVISION FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES. -••••■ DUNEDIN, March 3. Dealing with provision for soldiers’ wives, Mr Allan told an interviewer that he had asked several times what prevision could be made by married men for their wives'. The Department had no power to compel a man to sign an allotment, and if it were to say it would not take into camp, married men declaring they were not married. The Department had been inducing men to sign' allotments, and retained half deferred pay for Is in New Zealand. Pie was advised by the Solicitor-General that in cases c-C urgent necessity he could use djeferred pay for the support c-f a wife and children, and, in urgent eases, he would not hesitate to do that. When men were volunteering, they must sign a 'document to utilise half pay. This applied to married and unmarried men. Pie hoped this provision would ease the minds of those who had been advocating the case of

wives. REPLY TO MR MASSEY’S ENQUIRY. WELLINGTON, March 3. The following telegram has been received by His Excellency the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in response to the enquiry by the Prime Minister: “Wlith reference to your telegram of February 24, the chairman of the Belgian Relief Committee has been informed by the Secreary of State for Foreign Affairs that the idea of direct subsidising from the funds’ of His Majesty’s Government must remain in abeyance owing to the refusal of the German Government to consider the cessation cf pecuniary exactions, especially the monthly levy of £1,600„000. His Majesty’s Government are, however, assured that this German authorities have stopped all requisitions of foodstuffs and fodder as distinct from pecuniary levies in the zone of occupation in Belgium, and therefore ihere is every . .reason to believe that the Commission’s reports have been and are reaching ■ the cir 1 peculation. His Majesty’s Government are therefore maintaining a generally favourable attitude to the Commission’s work, and are continuing to facilitate the passage of ships to Rotterdam. The appeal issued by the Commission in Australasia is presumably net an appeal for a Government subsidy but for private subscriptions similar to the appeal issued throughout the world. The Commission must maintain its character as a neutral enterprise, and could not ask for recognition by belligerent Powers. (Signed) Harcourt.”

RAILWAY SMASH. SOME WONDERFUL ESCAPES.. INVERCARGILL, This Day. A railway smash occurred at Wallacetown crossing this morning. The goods train from Nightcaps struck a motor cyclist who with his machine was thrown on the cowcatcher. The cycle struck a pointsman who was sitting on a lever, knocking him down. The engine left the rails, followed by seven coal and grain laden waggons, which tore up the permanent way for a chain and a half. The engine was badly damaged and several waggons capsized and were smashed. The driver, 'fireman, and cyclist escaped uninjured. The line was blocked till late in the afternoon. A SERIOUS OFFENCE. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER QUARREL. WELLINGTON, This Day. A young woman named Ellen Sullivan was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day with assaulting her mother, Mary McCullen, so as to? cause actual bodily harm. The case arose out of a quarrel between mother and daughter when, it was alleged that Sullivan inflicted a wound with a knife in the back of the neck cl McCullen, who is 68 years of age. She is now in the hospital suffering from shock and loss of blood. Her condition is not serious. Accused Avas remanded for a week,