NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 193, 23 April 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

:->: A DISASTROUS Flßft \ - AN AUCKLAND CONPLAGRATiON. LOSS TOTALS£23»e#ff.; 3 Press Association —Copyright. "*$ AUCKLAND, This Three hundred and fifty horses wm% lost In a fire at Craig's stables. Th& firm losses of buildings aft £7009; horses £14,000; fodder. jUHI harness £6,500; mechanical plattt £1500; total, £29,000. This d»es not include a number of vans and lorries. seriously damaged. j .", wiA . — " * --••&*« HOWITZER BATTERY PER^ SOWN EL. ,^(- ':.... 1 r ■: •> '"; ALREADY MADE UP. :* WELLINGTON:,. Aprtt Ufa The Minister of Defence stages tftas the personnel of the hows2fe* battery ofßered to the 'lmperial Government,, has already been secured, which mean* about 400 men. As to infantry be ujfethat sufficient offers were &©• ing made. I'^'Jff? SHIPPING RATES, , , 9 INCREASED TARIFF PROBABLES, ——— l DUNEDIN, This Day. It is probable that a oonfereiQC!& of shipowners' representatives will be, held at Wellington immediately to E ider the question of freightage in tralasia, uegarding oversea cargo, and .to arrange for a new scale cf ratesmore in line with those obtained fey deepsea traders at Australian porta. The new scale is likely to be deter*" mined this week. Inside msen expect 7 fc fixed tariff of a slightly increased rkW will be adopted until circnmstancesi return to normal.

THE WAR AND FOOTBALIr. PROPOSED TOUR OF N.Z. TEAM. REPLY TO SYDNEY .CRITISJSMw AUCKLAND, April 2& : Discussing the Sydney Telegraph's criticism of the New Zealand Rugby League 's proposal to send a team to Australia, Mr. Carlaw, president of the New Zealand Council, said the t-owr had not been definitely arranged. Ab invitation had been received from fchs New South Wales League to send * team in June. The New Zealand Conn* cil had decided that the unsettled eo*» ditions resulting from the war wer© too pronouneed for the invitation to h« accepted outright, and the New Soutk Wales League was asked to make tl# invitation good for a later stage 'in the season. No further action would b& taken until a reply to that inquiry ws* received. As regards the ethics of tfcematter, it was essential that large nnmr bers of men should remain in isolated countries like New Zealand to maintain the defence and industry, and these included a fair proportion of footballers. Why should they be debarred from using the sporting fields for muscular development He would like te asfethe critics what they had to say about the continuation of horse-racing during the war. Mr. Sheehan, chairman of the Rugby League, said he Was of opinion that that body was totally averse to sending a team out of the Dominion at fht present time. It was not our turn to visit Australia. New South Wales and Queensland were expected to come here' first. He did not think this would "feft done while the war conditions were so complicated.

A LABOUR PROTEST. GOVERNMENT /VIOLATING AWARDS. AUCKLAND, This Day. The Auckland Labourers' Union, passed a resolution protesting agaiasi the Government undercutting award* in a way giving less than the award rate of wages, violating the award with respect to hours of work and compelling labourers to pay their train fare when taken out of town, and to send a copy of the resolution to thft Premier, Minister of Labour and all Members of the House. RAILWAY STATION DISMANTLED. MINISTER KNOWS NOTHING. GORE, This Day. Residents qf Waikaka, 14 miles from Gere, were surprised yesterday morning when a gang of men commenced to dismantle the railway station there. No explanation was given and the men were at work two hours before the Telegraph Office opened. An indignation meeting wa s held and a telegram of protest was forwarded to the Member for the District, who is now in touch with the Minister for Railways. In reply Mr FraSer said he was greatly surprised to learn what had. taken place.