NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 February 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

ALLEGED MURDER.

eggees ebfoee the court

CHEIBTCHURCH, Fob. 11.

The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened to-day before Mr Justice Chapman. The Grand Jury returned a true bill against. William Eggcrs McMahon, otherwise Frederick William Eggers, charged with the murder of John Coulthard, near Greymouth, in November, also with the attempted murder o:f William Hall and Isaac James, and with the theft 0f.£3,659 16/8. In his charge to the Grand Jury his Honour said the most striking feature in the search for the man who had stolen the money was the finding of practically the whole sum in a house in Christchurch. Ho also outlined other evidence regarding the bullets extracted from the bodies of Coulthard and the injured men which fitted a revolver found in Eggers’ possession. Accused is defended by Mr. W. J, Hunter and there are over forty witnesses. The case is expected to last several davs

FENCING MATERIAL.

FENCING WIRE FOR SOLDIERS.

MATERIAL ON THE WAY.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 11

A New Zealand Returned Soldiers 3 Association deputation waited on the Prime Minister to-day in reference to the Government supplying fencing wire and building material to returned soldiers at cheap rates. Mr. Massey replied that 139 tons of wire had been ordered by the Government and were now on the way, and would be supplied to soldiers at a low rate. The Government, "would do everything possible J:b v facili : tate the supply of cheap material, fencing wire, fencing posts, ? roofing iron* ’etc:, to returned soldiers * a| lo H wp<rates.v ■ ■, ■ I

RETENTION OF SAMOA.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS

CHRISTCHURCH. Feb 11

Speaking to.day of the visit Home of Mr. Massey and himself, Sir Joseph Ward, Minister for Finance, said he had no desire to go to the Old ; Country at present. As a matter oft choicej he would have preferred not ? have .gprie; Apart from the cTTrii- } gerous trip, a stay in London under'; war conditions was not pleasant. j“The question of the Pacific Islands,” said Sir Joseph, “stands right out in these overseas countries, and is of pre-eminent and dominant import, ance. If this country were unrepresented at the Imperial W 7 ar Cabinet Conference, and conditions, eveff

prior to peace arriving, were arrived at for the restoration *oT the Pacific Islands to Germany, it would be a worse calamity for this country than, the losing of 20 elections. It would mean for all time a danger centre overshadowing this country; but even if, after a strenuous fight, the elemeats were against us, and the islands were to revert to the enemy, at all events the country would have done all in its power to prevent it, and, in my opinion, it must be pre. vented. It seems to me that any impartial person, irrespective of his poleanings, should recognise this at this juncture of the war, when the Home authorities ask for the whole of the overseas countries to be represented, it becomes not a matter of choice with the representatives, but an imperative duty, which the people as a whole, times arrive, will look back upoTTi" particularly if their efforts are successful, as Wvorlc that cannot be estimated in money value.