NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 May 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

RAILWAYS * MK HILEY .* RETIRING. I WELLINGTON, May 9« The term, of office of Mr Hlley, Gen* eral Manager of Railways, expires on the Bth August, Mr. Hiley is desirouf of returning to the Old Country at the conclusion of Ms term, but, in order to avoid a break in the management, in. the absence of the Prime Minister and in order not to have a change of mau-i agement during the session of Parlia-< ment, it has been arranged by the Min-? istor that Mr Hiley shall continue in office till the end of the financial year. The question of his successor will bo decided on the return of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. FIRES IN THE SOUTH. HOMESTEAD DESTROYED EKETAEUNA, May 9. The fourteen-roomed residence of Cecil Kebbel, Tehee Station, Alfreds ton, with its contents was totally den stroyed by fire at 3 a.m. yesterday. Some of the occupants escaped in their night attire. The origin is a mystery^ DRAPERY STORE DESTROYED. INVERCARGILL, May 9, The Economic Drapery Store, a twostoreyed brick building in the main block, owned by Undrill and Brass, was gutted by fire last night, the stock being completely destroyed. The insurances on the building were £3250, and on the stock £2OOO, the latter bei ing valued at £2500. RETURNED SOLDIERS) TROOPS ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, May 9. A vessel conveying 526 soldiers, under Lieut.-Col. R. E. Allen, arrived this evening. The -men will not land until the morning. The southern men will leave by special train fo-morrovz evening. ? SAFEGUARDING RETURNED , SOLDIERS. HOTELS PLACED OUT OF BOUNDS/ AUCKLAND, MEy'9. ;An order has been issued that ‘allhotels, in the city and- vicinity will: bd ; .‘ ou t. of bounds to-morrow for troops lif-N----uniform, and that civilians supplying• - r -f • any .liquor, to soldiers will be ‘liable'under the War Regulations. ‘ ■ ———- .-pA’ A WRONG RIGHTED. AUCKLAND, May 9. - ;Tie attention of the; Minister-: Defence hag been drawn to A-statedV. ment made by certain non-comrqis6iop.?H;f4 ed officers who gave 'evidence the .Defence Expenditure Commission on Tuesday, to the effect that their services had not been used in instruction camps, although they had, as they believed, returned from. England on’ duty. The Minister said he had made inquiries as to this matter. When the men came out no instructions were received regarding.them, and it was assumed that they were o n duty furlough. It was not until May 2nd that word was received from Home that the men had been sent out as instructors, and the men, 26 in number, were therefore being retained as instructors and a memorandum had been sent to the Commission on May 4th clearly setting out the position.

A MAYOR ASKED ,TO APOLOGISE. _ CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Last night a deputation appointed by Monday’s meeting waited on the Mayor with regard to certain remarks he is alleged to have made at Ariiberley reflecting o u the English wives of New Zealand soldibrs. The deputation was headed by Mrs. Mathieson, who read to Mr Holland a resolution passed at the meeting calling‘ ori Mirf to apologise. Mr. Holland thanked the-deputation for bringing the matter before', him. Mr. Morrison, the man on whom the meeting had based its demand,Avas of a fairly excitable temperament, and the meeting was entirely beholden to his account of what -had really beerisaid. The Mayor explained-’'that his Amberlcy remarks had been addressed ; entirely to soldiers leaving the Donw inion who were engaged to Nqw Zealand girls, as he knew of cases where New Zealanders had been unfaithful to their New Zealand sweethearts and had brought back as wives ,:.the ..silly;■little factory type of women.,- He ; had said nothing against English women, whom he admired and respected. Mrs. Mathieson said they must re* port the Mayor’ s explanations to another meeting.