NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 38, 4 February 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

A SUSPICIOUS PIKE. Per press Asjioc,ia,tioii. Hastings, Alonday. A lire afaa distuveoid-ai; t. uc Hawke's Bay motor garage on .'Saturday night in the lining hoards of the dividing wall, it was extinguished. There is u strong suspicion of incendiarism. The police are investigating. A FiJIAN TRACEHY. ■. Auckland, Monday. An extraordinary shooting case is reported from Lautoka, Fiji, a native fe'trl employed as a nurse by Mrs Mecltam was found dead in her bedroom with a bullet wound right through the heart. Mr Mecham heard a report from his bedroom, and went to find the cause He found the girl dead, with two lin (ban servants standing by. They said that, hearing a shot, they had rushed here, from the kitchen. ft is thought, that the gu-1 must have been handling a revolver when it exploded.

VACCINATION. ~ „ Auckland, Monday. !>. iurdy, referring to the alleged ineflicieney of the New Zealand °vmph said that a laboratory for the preparation of vaccine in Wellington was one of the most up-to-date lie had seen Ouite recently the Chief Health Officer "had received a new strain of lymph which was presented to the New Zealand Government by Hr. Graham Bey, of the Egyptian Public Health Service. This lymph was acknowledged to be one of the finest m the world, and Hr. Purdy never knew of a failure where it had been used. *■

A LADY DOCTOR. Dargavillc, Monday. Dr. Eleanor Southey Baker comment;-, ed duty on Saturday as locum tcnens as> medical superintendent of the Northern Wairoa Hospital. It is believed she is the first lady doctor to occupy such a position in the Dominion.

PIKES. . , Dargaville, Monday. A lire at Kaehic on Sunday morni»« destroyed a block of buildings, compris- >' P-, I ,™ B store ' t; - Wnelmm's store and billiard room, J. Lineham's store " * vel "f e- , The insurances total £iw. iiie loss i 3 much in excess of the insurances.

AUCKLAND LAND DEAL. Auckland, Monday, Evidence of the rapid increase iu value 01 property in the environs of Auckland may be gained from the fact that a property of 388 acres, part of One-tree Hill estate, has been sold for £(8,000 by Sir John Campbell to a Wei mgtou syndicate, which intends to subdivide it for building purposes

CHEAP GRAPES. Auckland, Monday, ihe first shipment of Australian grapes direct to Auckland was brought by the Aiokoia this morning, ft comprised two tons of black Hamburg muscatels. The berries are smaller than those grown in the open here. It is bkely the shipment will be sold at a loss to the consignors.

UNIVERSITY SENATE. Wellington, Monday. The University Senate concluded its session to-day. The next meeting will be held at Auckland in January of next year,

AUCKLAND GAS. Auckland, Last Night. ( At the meeting of the Auckland Gas Company to-day, it was decided that the price of gas be reduced by 3d per 1000 cubic feet. A dividend for the half year of 8s (id per share, representing £15,331, was authorised. THE FLAX INDUSTRY. Auckland, Last Night- ■ The quantity of flax graded at Auck-, land during January, 1908, was 3635 bales, or C 27 tons, of the approximate value of .£14,500. This represents an increase of 25 tons on that of last year. LABOR UNION AND ARBITRATION, Dttnedin, Last Night. As an outcome of the dispute between the Wharf Laborers' Union and the em--ployers a meeting of the Union was held to-night to consider the question of cancellation of registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The meeting was attended by over 90 members, and it was unanimously decided to cancel registration.

WELCOME TO MR. HALL-JONES. Wellington, Last Night, Mr. Hall-Jones was welcomed back to New Zealand at a gathering of the Liberal and Labor Federation held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall tonight. There was a large attendance, the - Premier and Lady Ward, Ministers and members of Parliament and prominent citizens being present. Speeches were made appreciative of the guest's restoration to health and of his return to Ministerial office. A resolution was carried expressing pleasure at seeing Mr Hall-Jones once more in the Dominion, and trusting that for many years to come he might be spared to continue to work for the people of the country.

PROSPEROUS GAS COMPANY. Wellington, Last Night. The annual meeting of the Wellington Gas Company was held to-day. The usual dividend of 10 per cent, was agreed to. A sum of £IO,OOO was placed to the works extension reserve, and £11,798 carried forward. The chairman stated that the net profits exceeded those of the previous year by £7609. The average increase during the past five years was over 10 per cent, per annum.

ARBITRATION COURT. Duuedin, Last Night. At the Arbitration Court to-day, H. Riddle Balfour was convicted and ordered to pay cost. In the case of where Henderson and Grey, lime burners (Mil; burn), were charged with paying underrate wages, decision was reserved. For a breach of the bakers' award by H. Chalmers, a conviction was recorded. H. Milligan, of Oamaru, was charged with a breach of the tailors' award by enij ploying too many apprentices. The fence was that respondent could not get hands. He was fined £3 and Court costs. T. B. Gibb, of Oamaru, was charged with a breach of the bakere' award. The breach was proved, and the case was dismissed. The Court had no power to give costs against the Inspector. Irvino and Stevenson were cited for an alleged breach of the butchers' award by not paying a first smalt- i goodsman the award wages. The Court decided that the man was a second hand, and the case was dismissed.

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE. Invercargill, Last Night. A conference between slaughtermen and representatives of Southland freezing works was held this afternoon and evening to review a. draft agreement defining the wages, conditions of work, etc. Nothing was finally fixed, but everyv; thing goes smoothly.

WELl.r;:r >r HAKBOK BOARD. • ■dlington, Bast Night. At a ; Meeting of the Harbor Board,h .:- fternoon, Mr. Fletcher moved: • .:. .i . ,iew of the altered position due to the adoption of Evans' Bay reelamatioß scheme and to the intended purchase of the patent slip pro. perty, the Board hereby resolves to reI scind the resolution authorising the construction of the dock at Clyde Quay, and to have the necessary steps taken forthwith to secure a more geous site in close proximity to the patent slip in Evans' Bay." 'Mr. Wilford moved as an amendment that the secres tary be instructed to ascertain from the contractor for the dock and to report to the Boar 3 whether they are willing to cancel their present contract and urx on what terms. After considerable discussion the chairman said it was clear

that members did not understand the position. The Bite was chosen as a result of negotiations and agreements with the City Council which could be varied because they were matters of law. He ruled that neither the motion nor

the amendment could be put. Mr. Wirford thereupon said his amendment would as a main motion be quite, correct, and gave notice to move it at. next meeting.

INSURANCE RATES. Masterton, Last Night, A local paper is informed on good authority that the lire insurance companies have practically decided to increase their rates of insurance in connection with al! classes of risks, and the State Fire Insurance Depart- : repared to raise its rates in aee jo with the increases proposed by pri.uce companies, and generally to act ia ooaformily with its business rivals.