NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3618, 3 November 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

TAUPO TO TAR A TRAMWAY. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. ROTORUA, Nov. 2. Tlic Taupo-Totara Timber .Company Tramway Commission sat here to-day. Mr. M. H. Hampson wSs allowed to represent the Chamber of Commerce, County Council and public bodies. Mr. Valle was appointed .t<X represent Rotorua on the commission’s itinerary. Mr. H. A. Goudie (Forestry Department) gave evidence as to the prospects of freight from timber in the near future.

Mr., Vailc asked, and was promised, the production of various deeds and documents whereby the Taupo-Totara Timber Company held land and concessions, Mr. Dalziell explained various assertions, denying that the company’s request for the Government to buy their tramway was turned down four times. Mr. K. S. Cox, settler ,of Atiamuri (near the company’s line), gave evidence in support of the Government purchase of the line, (including the lowering of freights on fertilisers. THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2. Canterbury College will not send in a nomination for the 1921 Rhodes scholarships. SUCCESSFUL BAND RETURNS. WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. Tlie Second Regiment Band, of Timaru, has returned from the Ballarat Eisteddfod, where it competed' in the “A” grade contest, being the only New Zealand band present. It took .first place in the sight reading test and night quickstep. Mr. E, Schnaek was second in the soprano solo, Mr. 11. Osborne second in the B flat cornet, second place in the septette, and first in the trombone trio contest.

A FORGED WILL. THREE MEN PLEAD,GUILTY. ■ ( ; ' I '' DUNEDIN, Nov. 2. ■ The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were opened to-day, there being four charges against six persons. William Charles Pitches, Hugh McAllister and William White were charged with having forged a document at Ophir purporting to be the will of George Henry Reaper. Accused all pleaded guilty. The judge stated that Pitches was really responsible for what was done, and he was fined £2OO, the other two being ordered to come up for sentence if called. Ernest James Taylor, who pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to a charge of‘false pretences, was sentenced to two years on each of the two charges, sentences to be cumulative, and was also declared an habitual criminal.

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY. TROUBLE THREATENED. AUCKLAND, Nov. 2. Trouble is threatening in the freezing industry off. the Dominion, 1 the 1920-21 season of which is due to start at an early date. This is due to the fact that a conference of representatives of the employers and workers which met in Wellington recently* to revise present wages for the forthcoming season failed to reach an agreement.

After a series of conferences lasting for two days the employers made an offer which was rejected. Their best proposal was an increase of 10 per cent, on present rales for workers paid by the hour, and 12A per cent, for those on piecework.

HOWARD ELLIOTT DEFENDED

CHALLENGE TO' M.P. ’S & WANGANUI, Nov. 2. At a meeting of the Wanganui executive of the Protestant Political Association, a ' resolution was passed declaring that the statements made in the House off Representatives hy Messrs Holland and McCallum, * against Mr, Howard Elliott, were untrue in every particular, and defamatory, challenging those concerned to repeat them outside the House, and further challenging Mr. Holland to prove that the agitation against the ne tern ore decree was the work of one man, or that his statement concerning Mr. Elliott was not wholly unfounded. If Mr. Holland can prove either of his statements the executive will pay to Wanganui Hospital £IOO, provided he will, do the same should he fail. Similarly Mr. McCalis also challenged. r SOLDIERS AND “CONSH3ES”. resolution by hawera B.S.A. HAWERA, This Day. The Returned Soldiers’ Association passed a resolution stronodv supporting the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association in protesting against the par-

cloning of the military defaulters on Armistice Day. A copy of the resolution is to be sent to the Premier and the general secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers r Association.