NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 318, 17 January 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Per Press Association. SHEARERS' DISPUTE. l'alnierston North, Last Night. A meeting of the executive of the Farmers' Union was held to-day, when it was announced that a subcommittee in connection with the shearers' dispute would meet in a fortnight's time to receive the reply from the various branches, and it is anticipated that within a month a. conference will be arranged with the shearers with a view to settlement. FIRE BOARDS. [ Wellington, Last Night. I Monday, February 10th, is fixed as • the date upon which the insurance companies concerned shall elect three representatives for each of the following Fire Boards:—Alexandra, Dannevirke, Hokitika, Lawrence, Maori Hill, Masterton, .Milton, New Plymouth, I'ctone, Wainiate, Whangarci. RIFLE BELT. Wellington, Last Niglit. Arthur Ballinger, who last year won butriglit the championship rifle belt, lias written to the New Zealand llille 'As-, 1 sociation stating the conditions on which he donates the licit to the Association for future competition. Tl'c chief conditions arc that the belt shall be known as the ''Ballinger Belt"; that it shall be competed for annually, and shall lie held by the winner for one year only. . EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. Invereargill, Last Night. Sir W. Pryor, secretary of the New ' Zealand Employers' Federation, deliver- ' cd an address to-night on the work of the Association to a large meeting _ of local employers. Mr Pryor' explained the attitude of the Federation towards labor. They were not antagonistic, but wanted reasonable laws and fair admine istration of them. Tile watchword was f "Moderation," and the need of organisaH tion among employers and of eo-opera- '- tion between different sections, .sifch n manufacturers and traders with farmers. Mr Pryor's visit resulted in a considerable increase of members of the local Association.

BURGLARY. Invereargill, Last Night. The offices of W. T. Murray and Co. were burglariously entered last night. Sir Iloyles, secretary of the company, locked up at six o'clock. This morning two windows were found broken, and the place ransacked. No valuables were secured.

SLY GROG-SELLING. Auckland, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, before Sir. Dyer, the partly-heard charges of sly grog-selling against John Shechan and Bert Duncan were proceeded with. After considerable evidence, Duncan nnd Sheehan were each sentenced to a month's imprisonment.

THE NEW TARIFF. Wellington, Thursday. The New Zealand Times state that inquiries as to the effect of the new tariff in cheapening prices show that on some articles tile consumer will get n'j reduction owing to advances in the price nt Home. Maizena, cornflour, infants' patent foods, and cotton, silk, and linen goods have all gone up. The remission of the sugar duty, valued at £205,000, and the duty on dried fruits, .£44,000, directly benefits tile consumer; prices being lowered to the extent of the lessened duty. Confectioners .and jam-makers have, however, not yet lowered their prices. The local boot trade is also reported to lieneht by the tariff, and the demand for American boots has sensibly decreased.

A NEW WATERFALL. Masterton, Thursday. While exploring the Tararua rang?s, a son of Mr D. McOregor, senr., discovered a very lieautiiul cascade, estimated to have a hundred feet fall. The locality is not at present accessible, but probably a track will shortly be cut to it. The cascade lias been named McGregor Full, alter Mr D. McGregor, senr., to whose energy mainly the public are indebted for the excellent track to Mt. Holdsworth and the accommodation provided for tourists at the Mountain House.

DRV WEATHER IN MASTERTON. Masterton, January 10. The drought still continues. Farmers are bewailing their lot.

PRISONERS SENTENCED. Wellington, Thursday. The following sentences w«re imposed to-day by Mr Justice Button:—Alfred •John Wanstall, for horse-stealing, 18 montho' imprisonment with hard labor; John Lewis, false pretences, 18 months'; John Mitchell, breaking and entering fit Maugatoro, New Plymouth, 12 months'; John Smith, alias Andrew Guthrie, indecency, 12 months'; Hape Taura, forgery and uttering in WaJrarapa, 12 months'. Ernest Gray, who had pleaded guilty to stealing £2O at New Plymouth, was admitted to probation. NAPIER HARBOR TRADE. Napier, Thursday. The Harbor Board's business shows large increases in all departments. The revenue is £7645 more than last year—an increase of over 30 per cent. A contract lias been let at £24,000 for extending the Glasgow wharf, and m eighteen mouths ocean liners, it is expected, will bo alongside. The chairman, Mr Brown, has for several years stated that the revenue must expand while the Government continue the policy of cutting up large estates. This opinion is borne out by the Board's figures. FLOWER SHtOW. Wellington, Wednesday. The Wellington Rose and Carnation Club's show, held in the Town Hall today, was a great success, there being a magittccnt display of blooms. A tenguinea cup for the best collection of sweet peas was won by H. A. Fox.

DANNEVIRKE ITEMS. Daunevirke, Thursday. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Lauritz Friess and his son, aged thirteen, were each fined £2 and costs 7s for illegally taking trout from a stream. The father speared and the son "tickhd"' ten trout. A man for supplying liquor to a piohibted person was lined £2, and the prohibited person for procuring liquor was lined £2. The Native Land Court Judges ha/e commenced a sitting in Danncvirke. LAND SALE. Wellington, Wednesday. The Marainganga Estate, on the East Coast, just south of Cape Turnagain, was submitted to auction at Wellington to-day by Murray, Roberts and Co. on behalf of Hanilyside, Roberts and Co, The estate consists of 3«,(i00 acres, and was ollered in 22 blocks, ranging from •<BO acres to 480 acres. Thirteen blocks Were sold, aggregating 20,011 acres, at prices ranging from £2 15s to £lO llis per acre. hundred thousand pounds cash was paid over by the various purchasers.

DRAINAGE BOARD. PaJmerston N., Thursday A conference of all local bodies within the watershed of the Manawatu and Difoua rivers tfipfc plupf. to-day to discus the „f forming ono diamage <o ol the whole of the watershed. •. .•• , nit tee was appointed to lile whole queslion of the control of the two rivers. A meeting of the committee was held after the general meeting, and Mr Kit/,Herbert was instructed to go to Welling.", ton to-morrow to interview the Ministeis With a view to obtaining the report of the Government engineer that haa been made on the rivers, and also to Procure a general report.

PAItTJAMENTARY BUILDINGS FIRE. . Wellington, Wednesday. Ihe evidence taken by the police ragaiaing the fire which destroyed Parliament Buildings on December 11th, iiaa been submitted to the Government. The report is inconclusive, but goes to disprove the story that a "shivoo" waa . held in the interpreters' room durte the evening before the fire.