NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 February 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SOLDIERS ’ ELECTORAL RIGHTS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION WELLINGTON, this day The Chief Electoral Officer has issued a statement- to the effect that every member of Expeditionary Forces who have already returned to New Zealand, should make application for enrolment on the regular electoral roll of the district in which he resided before he left New Zealand. He has not lost his right of enrolment by reason of having been absent on active service, and he can obtain an absent voter’s permit if he expects to be out of his district on election day. Mon already discharged, or whose discharges will become final before the 10th April, can only vote as electors of a district and cannot have votes recorded under special provisinons for members of Expeditionary Forces of which he will then be no member. A member thus applies to tall men who have arived, or who may arrive, before March 3rd next.

EXCITEMENT ON THE COAST..

COAL SEAM ON FIRE.

WESTPORT, February 27.

The old town of Charleston, which, in the early days of gold-mining carried a population of many thousands, but which to-day is the residence of only a few families, is built over a big seam .of lignite, which in places is 20 to 40 feet in depth. The 'field has been worked only for local needs,, but lately an effort has been made to link Charleston up with Westport by railway so as to make the coal a marketable commodity. The seam is exposed in many places to a considerable depth, and on Wednesday it was found that the face known as Tom’s Pit, which is exposed to a depth of 25 feet, was on fire. There is only a slight earth covering over the coal. Messrs Bowater and Cryan, "vjho have the lease, immediately arranged a contract with W. Butterworth, who has a good pipe line with a plentiful flow of -water running close to the pit, to extinguish the fire, and it is confidently hoped this will be accomplished in a very short time. A PRIEST PUNISEHD ■ CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 27 Action has been taken by .Bishop Brodie in refusing to re-admit Father Cronin, formerly of Barfield and Ross, into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch as the direct result of the attitude of Father Cronin in visiting Christchurch without 'life permission and taking an active part on behalf of Prohibition in the present campaign. In addition, Bishop Brodie has stated that Father Cronin’s action has not the approval of ecclesiastical authority. The decision of the Bishop is conveyed in a circular letter, which has been sent out to various 'churches in the Diocese, and which was read before the various' congregations on •Sunday. In the course of his letter, Bishop Brodie says: “I can only regard Father Cronin’s conduct with pity and sadness, and must regretfully ask you, for grave reasons, not to allow him to celebrate Mass in any church or chapel in your district, or to allow him to have the hospitality of your presbytery. It is the duty of priests to refrain from any words or action which could be construed into approval of Father Cronin’s strange ; conduct, or which would convey the impression that Ms action has the approval of ecclesiastical authority.”

METHODIST CONFERENCE,

CHRISTCHURCH, February 27.

The formal opening of the Methodist. Conference took place to-night. The Mayor of Christchurch extended a hearty welcome l o the (lelegaltes to the conference on behalf of the city. *

The new president (Rev. H. E. Bellhouse) was inducted, and delivered his address.-

Rev. J. H. Blackwell, of Kaiapo!, was elected vice-president for 1919. Rev. E. Drake, Wellington, was elected president for 1919. The. ballot for secretary for 1920 will not be completed until to-morrow morning. The three condldates remaining in the ballot are Revs. A. Ashcroft, A. L. Scotter, and T. U. Vealie.

STRUGGLE ON A TRAIN. DRIVER AND MASKED MAN. 1 LEAP PROM MOVING ENGINE. Particulars of the occurrence in connection with, which a Sydney mechanic named Wilfred Lawson, aged 28, was committed for trial last week, show that the alleged oetfuae look place on the Forbes-Bathurst express a tew days before Christmas. The mail train' had stopped at a .small station near Bathurst. Whoa it moved again, and had reached some speed, Whelan, the driver, felt a tugging at his coat. He turned to find a man, wearing a mask, on the footboard of the engine. The newcomer pointed a revolver alternately at Whelan and at his fierman, Gorrie. The whole affair was so theatrical that the two train men laughed, thinking one of their mates was playing a joke. The stranger insisted on being taken seriously. “Stop the train,” he shouted, poking the revolver at Yvhelan. Whelan stared for a moment, and then grabbed him. ' The would-bc robber was strong, and a lively tussle ensued. Whelan got the mart’s rovok er wrist in one hand, while the powerful fingers of the other hand gripped the intruder’s throat. Gorrie rushed tc his chief’s assistance. The struggle in the back of the swaying engine-cab, while the train was racing at 50 miles an hour, was brief. The train men disarmed the man, put him on the floor, and jumped for the controls. The train had reached a sharp curve, which is generally negotia/td with care, and was swaying dizzily and dangerously. The man got up off the floor, pawed the air a moment, and foil out on to the line.

Whelan stopped :he train, and he and the fireman ran back. They found the man lying unconscious beside the rails. His cartridge belt had burst, and a great number of cartridges and his black mask lay around nim. They put him on the train, and handed him over to the Bathurst police.

RUSSIAN ROYALTY. ,i LIVING IN THE ...CRIMEA. Received 11.0. LONDON, February 26. - Grand Duke Cyril ‘ states that the Dowager Empress Marie and Grand Dnkes Nicholas and Boris are living in the Crimea. He believes the Czar’s brother Michael is dead. PUNISHMENT OF GERMANS. . FOR BELGRAVE ATROCITIES. FRENCH NAVAL CLAIMS. . Received 11.0. PARIS ( February 26. Leyous Informed the Navy Commission that France has been unable to replace war losses in the navy owing to her dockyards and arsenals being fully employed in building Submarines, repairing war-ships, ' and turning out war materials for the Allies. Other navies occupied a more advantageous position. Reconstruction of the French navy’s strength required the surrender of part of the enemy’s naval tonnage.

“Le Matin’s” Brussels jcorre&pondeut states that the Belgian Premier, speaking in the Senate, insists upon the punishment of those responsible for atrocities perpetrated by th© enemy in Belgium. He was conJEdent that the Peace Conference, to which |all| Available evidence was transmitted, would see justice don©. MORE STRIKES IN GERMANY ; fighting at dusseldosff Received 11.45 COPENHAGEN, February 25 There is a general strike in the anthracite coal district in Middle Germany for the purpose of forcing the Government to recognise the Workmen’s Councils. There is fierce street fighting at Duss'eldorff between the Government troops and the Sparticisfs'

LUDENDORFF RETURNING.

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAR

COPENHAGEN, Feb. 26

Ludendbrff has written to Ebert announcing his intention to return to return to Germany and serve the people as formerly. He points out the necessity of people understanding he was not responsible for the war. Ebert sh ou 1d; ! oxon era t e him.

The situation in Norway as regards Bolshevism 'f" is" extremely delicate. Parts of Norway ,a re suffering from severe lack of food. The political situation in Sweden is better, due largely to standing army and the strong conservatism of the people. GERMAN STEAMERS. FOR AUSTRALIAN TRADE. Received 11.0. LONDON, February 26. In fhe House of Lords, Lord Templeton asked what steps the Government was taking to secure for the Australasian trade enemy steamers specially built for that purpose, and now available.

Lord Lytton replied that the question was premature. Britain had made a demand for ships which had not yet been handed over to WS Allies.