GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 187, 6 February 1912, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

A TERRITORIAL FINED. By Telegraph—Press Association, Hamilton, Monday. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Sydney Beaven was charged with not attending parades in the terms embodied in the Defence Act. Defendant is a member of the Municipal Fire Brigade, and stated that he considered that he ' served his country sufficiently. Lieut. ) Burgess said there was a number of I similar cases, and the result of the present case was awaited by other defaulters. No member of local instituI tions were exempt under the Act, al- | though he did all he could to meet • them. Mr. Loughnan, the S.M., said J the Act had to be carried out. He j would impose a substantial penalty, as j he regarded defendant's excuse as ficti- > tious and inadequate. Being a member of a fire brigade did not exempt J him. Defendant was fined £2 and 7s ) costs, but in any future cases the magisI trate said he would inflict a severe i penalty.

MILITARY CADETS. Wellington, Monday. Regarding the examination recently held of candidates for New Zealand vacancies in the Australian Military Training College, the Defence Department states that the six successful candidates have yet to submit themselves to the General Officer comjiaiuling 'for his approval and also to i the final medical test. The remaining four vacancies will not be filled by selection, as previously stated. DECEASED PERSONS' ESTATES. WeJington, Monday. During the month of January, 192 estates of deceased persons were certified for stamp duty. The largest was that of James Johnston, Wellington, £32,057. The highest Taranaki estates were James Cowper £5062 and Mary A. Smith £3058. STRIKE OF TALLY CLERKS. Auckland, Monday. Some of the tally clerks employed at the wharves declined to start work this morning under the present pay—ls 3d per hour, considering themselves to be worth as much as waterside workers, who, under the new award, will receive Is 5d an hour from Thursday. The companies promised to consider the position. The positions of the men who ceased work were promptly filled. FLAX SWAMP HANDS. Palmerston N., Monday. New demands by swamp hands in "the flax industry have been presented to the millers, and as some have not been agreed to there is a possibility of trouble. At a meeting of the Flaxmill Employees' Union the following resolution was passed: "That this meeting express regret at the unsatisfactory replies received from the Flaxmillers' Association to their requests for an alteration of the conditions of the work of the' men employed in swamps, , that the union requests an immediate answer to each of the clauses embodied in their claims, and failing this they will call a meeting to deal with the matter either with or without the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act." The demands deal mainly with the conditions of work, and only indirectly with the remuneration, which is almost entirely peacework.

NAPIER GAS, COMPANY. Napier, Monday. The annual report of. the Napier Gas Company states that the tramway system, now about to be installed, will involve considerable alteration and expense to the company. The work of removing main pipes from the street on the line of the route and relaying the same in the footpaths on both sides is now being carried out, the cost of the labor being charged against revenue. After writing off £IOOO for the depreciation of the plant there remains a balance of profit of £7150 9s 3d. It was decided that a further dividend amounting to £5533 17s 6d be paid, and that the balance, £lf>22 lis 9d, be carried forward. Mr. E. W. Knowles was re-elected chairman of directors. ACCIDENTS TO SHIPPING. Gisborne, Monday. Whilst tendering the Mokoia last evening, . (luring a heavy swell, the lighter carried away her mast and derrick, which fell overboard. The vessel was drifting on to the Tuatea, the Union Company's passenger tender, and the latter went astern to avoid tlie impact, when her mast caught in a steel rope hanging from the Mokoia's derrick, and the top half of the mast was snapped off.