NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 March 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

THE MATRICULATION EXAMS. CONCESSIONS TO SOLDIERS WELLINGTON, March 19. At a recent meeting the University Senate passed a regulation specially providing for soldiers whose matriculation examinations have been interfered with by service. It is now announced that those desirous of availing themselves of concessions should apply to the University College. BUSH FIRES IN THE SOUTH. LARGE AREA SWEPT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE SETTLERS FIGHT FLAMES. DANNEVIRKE, March 18 Fanned by a gale, ibush fires have been raging in the district, and extensive damage must have been done. The gale died down towards evening, and rain fell, and it is thought the settlers have now got the better of the flames. This, however, is by no means clear, as all hands are 15usily fighting the fire, and information is meagre.

Taking advantage of the dry spell, and in view of an expected change to rain, many settlers in the country districts started last week to burn off the small patches of bush which still stand on many of the more recently settled sections. The heavy gale which sprang up, however, during the night, caused this necessary operation to become a great menace to themselves and their neighbours, and the bush fires were the result. The fire was spreading rapidly from log to log to-day. At Terehunga, a rich dairying Cistdict, the settlers had a very strenuous time, and in defending their homes from the flames, Messrs McLean, Stafield, Power, Sharplin, J. F. Harris, and Cubit, with probably many others were up all night. In the Ruaroa district, which lias been more ;reccntly reclaimed from the bush, matters were much worse, and : vague reports to hand gave the damage as being very considerable, it being stated that haystacks, and even bouses, have been destroyed, with loss of stocks in some cases.

It is stated that the 'beginnings of Mr. Gieson 's new house have been destroyed, and also the camps of the workmen. There is no doubt that with the high wind and dry state of the country the fire has swept a large area. Heavy bush fires are also said t 6 be raging in the coast district, especially at Horoeka, but no definite details are available from this quarter.

area

A STOWAWAY'S FAEE,

MUST BE PAID.

THOUGH HE SERVED TERM

|Monday

Reserved judgment was given by Mr Riddel], S.M., to-day, in an unusual case, in which Michael O'Connor sued the Union Steam Ship Company for the sum of £2B 14s Id,, alleged to havlp been takj m '.fnom plaintiff !hy the company in August, 1918, and which the company refused to pay in full when demand was made. Plaintiff was one of ia party of stowaways, but on the vogaye to Sydney the party was discovered and brought back to Wellington by the. next boat. O'Connor was charged with leaving New Zealand without a permit, land sentenced to thrive months' imprisonment, and was also convicted on the charge of stowing away and ordered to pay the boat fare to and from Sydney, £9. O'Connor did not pay, and was kept in prison for an additioal month. The company admitted that it held £2B 4s Id. taken from O'Con' nor when fro was found on the steamer, but counter-claimed for £9, plus 4s 8d goods supplied, and before the action was taken offered to pay the amount less £9 4s Bd. Plaintiff declined the offer, though he admitted liability for 'ho meo.., Tfie company paid £l9 9s 5d into court. Plaintiff submitted that his. position was affected by section 248 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1908, that having suffered a florin of imprisonment, he was released from further proceedings, civil or criminal. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £9 4s 8d over and above the amount paid into court, with £1 16s costs, and judgment for the company on the counterclaim for £9 4s 8d and costs £1 4s.

NEW ZEALAND FORCES.

THIJIR PRESENT DISPOSITION.

WELLINGTON, This Day.

The Minister of Defence has received a cablegram giving the following particulars of the disposition of mi->mb~ers of the New Zealaiid Expeditionary Force:—ln Franco, 6019; on fthe

United Kingdom, 22,203; patients in hospital in the United Kingdom, 40G0; married men with wives and families in the United Kingdom, 1306; nurses and Cross workers to be evacuated, 365. The total abroad is 33,956. The total evacuated from England to New Zealand since the armistice is 12,530. MINE SWEEPING ONLY 15 NOT ACCOUNTED I*oll WELLINGTON, this day Of the GO mines which the Gorman naval representatives, who signed the armistice, stated the raider Wolf had sown in New Zeland waers, 45 have already been accounted for. Minesweeping operations are being continued in the danger zone at Farewell Spit and North Cape.