NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 May 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

DISLOYAL UTTERANCE. ~ FIRST MAORI CONVICTION. TE AWAMUTU, May 25. The Government's decision to concript the Waikato Maoris resulted in a native named Taiwhaie appearing before Mr. E. Rawson, S.M., at the To Awamutu Court on a charge of makirog .disloyal hi'tteranqes. -Thife Is the first case of its kind, applying to a native, under the War Regulations. Tho police said the majority of the members of the Waikato tribe are hostile to conscription, and only those Located by the police had been registered. The accused, it seems, was one of a party at Kihikihi recently, when it was suggested what a fine soldier he would make - He retorted, the evidence stated, that if he received £IOOO he would not go and fight, and expressed the desire for a German victory, and German occupation of New Zealand. Cautioned by the police he twice repeated his words. The case was brought as a warning to other natives, who, the police reported, were giving a good of trouble over the conscription Issue. The accused was convicted and was sentenced to one months’ imprisonment with hard labour, but a warning was issued that Leniency would not - be shown in future. FIRE AT GORE. BUSINESS BLOCK BURNED, INSURANCES £15,700. GORE, Sunday. A disastrous fire, which occurred in at five o’clock this morning, destroyed practically all Holland’s Buildings, a two-storey block in Main Street. The following premises were destroyed: Mr. Hamilton, jeweller. Mr, Harliwick, fruiterer. Mr. Forbes, bookseller, Mr. Calder, draper. Mr. Edgar Watt, draper. Miss,, Barclay, dressmakere. Returned Soldiers’ Clubroom. Mrs. ■ S. ■ 'Henderson’s private apartments’.

The drapery stocks of Messrs McGfuer and-Taylor and Company were destroyed. The ' insurances on Holland’s were £BOOO. The stocks of the various tenants were insured as follows: —Mr. ' Calder, £1000; Mr. Hamilton, £1600; Mr. Watt, £1000; Mr. Forbes £600; Messrs McGruer and Taylor and Company ‘£Bsoo. Messrs Harliwick and Henderson . and Miss Barclay and the Soldiers’ Club were uninsured. The Insurance companics affected are:—New Zealand, National, Guardian, Standard, Norwich Union, and Commercial Union. The origin of the fire is a mystery. Mrs. Henderson,. became aware of the presence of smoke at an early hour, and found the passage outside her room full, of smoke. The fire was fought in a fierce gale by the volunteer brigade, which did excellent work.

N. Z. FARMERS' UNION. WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. MASTERTON, this day. The Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union Conference opened to-day, a large number of delegates being present. The President’s address dealt with matters of importance to the farming community, and the Dominion’s part in the war, tit§ cost of living, the Second Division demands, Srrtl other topics of general interest in connection with the war situation. He expressed little sympathy with tne S"'ond Division demands. He urged the farmers to do their utmost to make the land as productive as possible during the war period. He believed the “go slow” policy of the trade unions was really the greatest cause of the increase in the cost of living.