NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 January 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

WANGANUI COURT-MARTIAL.

LIEUT. CRAMPTON’S DEFENCE

WELLINGTON, Jan. 24,

Several Returned Soldiers’ Associations have urged the Wellington subcommittee of the Dominion executive to engage counsel on behalf of Lieutenant Cramptou, who is to appear before a court-martial on January 29, to answer charges in connection with the treatment of “conscientious objectors” at the Wanganui detention barracks. Lieutenant Crampton had active service with the Main Body. The sub-committee has decided to engage counsel. BRAVE MAORIS. A SPECIAL HONOUR. GISBORNE, Jan. 24. Arrangements have been made for the transport -with the Maori Pioneer Battalion, expected in March, to land her troops at Gisborne. This concession is being made bccausb the Eastern Maori distftet supplied more than half the natives sent to the war. The native peoplfc. of the East Coast are preparing a great hui for the entertainment of the returning soldiers, and a fitting wfclcome in accordance with Maori Custom. It is expected that over 1200 Maoris will come in the first ship, and, if possible, a second ship with the balance of 600 will also be despatched to Gisborne. The Maoris will be received at Gisborne by the Acting Premier, the Native- Minister, and other members of the Executive.

SOFT DRINKS. AN IMPORTANT DECISION. B*LENHEIM, Jan. 24. An important decision to hotelkeepers was given to-day by Mr Evans, S.M., Tlf' licVnscbi of < the Mahakipawa Hotel was charged with keeping open his premises for the sale of intoxicating liquor after six o ’clock. A lodger and three other persons entered the hotel at nine o ’clock and asked for drinks. The licensee supplied them with soft drinks, exposing the liquors in the yar.> ‘The magistrate said hfe was satrsified as to the bona fides of the licensee, but convicted .'the three persons of being unlawfully on licensed premises, holding that they had gone in for the purpose of trying to obtain intoxicants and that their entry was illegal. He dismissed the information against the licenses, holding that leaving the side door open was not a breach of the Act, and that exposure of liquor in the bar, on the sale of soft drinks was not, under the circumstances, exposure for the sale of intoxicants. The presumption that any person could have bought intoxicants was negatived by the evidenre.

A SERIOUS FIRE. » 20C SHEEP BURNED. WELLINGTON, this day A fire on the property of Mr. Chas. Blako at Waingawa destroyed 200 sheep and did other damage. • ARRIVAL OF NIAGARA. QUARANTINED IN AUCKLAND AUCKLAND, this day The E.M.S; Niagara arrived from Sydney early this morning’, and anchored in the channel. The Health Officer visited her, but did not go aboard. It is understood there is some sickness, and that officer is communicating with Wellington. A later telegram states the Niagara has been quarantined, as there is one case of influenza aboard.