NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 December 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

CARBIDE FAMINE.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER*

WELLINGTON, Dec 5.

The Hon. Mr Myers stated to-day that there is an acute shortage of carbide in the Dominion, and as the prospects of obtaining supplies from ..Britain or Canada are small or non-exis-tent, great economy is necessary. He pointed out that very severe" restrictions are now in'force in Britain, carbide being available only for very special purposes. He was taking action to secure supplies for railway and military needs. He understood the Marine Department’s immediate requirements were satisfactorily cover-! ed, and added that a factory was being erected in Australia. He was in communication with the Federal Director of Munitions, requesting information regarding its prospects of sending supplies to New Zealand.

THE GALLIPOLI STAR. DUNEDIN, Dec 5. At a meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, considerable dissatisfaction was expressed at the proposal to grant the Galliopli Star only to men who sailed in 1914 It was decided to communicate with headquarters, with a view to making representations to the Government in favour of the Star being awarded to all men who served on Gallipoli. SUPREME COURT. i NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec 5. ‘i At the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Edwards, ' Mercia' Naughton was convicted of obtaining money by false pretences and demanded until to-morrow Frederick Theodore Poulton pleaded guilty to two charges of breaking* entering and theft at Eltham, and waa sentenced to reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three years.A CHILD KILLED. n TAUMARUNUI, Dec 5. A fatal accident occurred last evening on the Upper Ohura Road, Ongarue. Miss Ethel Price had driven to the railway in a gig with her sister, Mrs Alex Marsh, and the latter’s infant daughter. Mrs Marsh was on her way to the Taumarunui Hospital for an operation. When Miss Pries and the infant were returning/" the horse backed at a papa slip,- and the gig rolled down a bank 45ft deep* The infant was killed, and Miss Price badly injured. She was removed by" the night express to Taumarunui. The inquest to-day on the child was adjourned for the evidence of MisiS Price. it i- > FATAL BURNING ACCIDENT. WANGANUI, this day. * A M.aori girl, thirteen years of age, named Annie Reina, sustained shocking injuries as the result of a tent in which she was sleeping catching fire on Tuesday, at Kaingaroa. She died in the hospital yesterday" evening.

UNION STEAMSHIP COY.

DUNEDIN, Dec 5

The directors of the Union Com-

pany, in their annual report, recommend the payment of the balance of the dividend on preference shares (2 per cent.), making 51 per cent for the; year, and a dividend of 6 per ant off the ordinary shares, making 10 per cent for the year.