NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1916, Page 8

NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.

SHELL FIRE AND BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS. AN INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 13. An interesting demonstration of the effect of shell fire on barbed wire entanglements took place at Miramar this morning. A gun detachment, under Lieut. Paterson, fired half-a-dozen rounds of 151b shrapnel, and four rounds of a special shell invented by a resident of Dmiedin and manufactured by the Defence Department. Colonel Allen, Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Robin, Commander of the Forces, and Major Roberts, Director of Ordnance, witnessed the shooting. The test was carried out at short range, but this, while it introduced some difficulties in the matter of bursting shells correctly, owing to the fuses having the minimum of setting, did not affect the test as agajnst wire. The entanglements, which were designed on the lines of those regularly used on the Continent, suffered much damage from the shrapnel, and the special shell which burst correctly in front of. the target tore a hole big enough to make an easy passage. The demonstration was a useful contribution to the knowledge of the artillerists present, and .showed means that are coming to the fore for superseding the difficult work of cuttirig through the wire by hand. COMPULSION BILL. The Compulsory Service Bill came before Cabinet for final revision this morning, and it will be introduced in the House next week, as soon as the debate, on the Address-in-Keply concludes. "It is intended,'' said the Prime Minister to-day, "to get at the shirker, and to compel him to do his duty for his country. That it will have that effect I have not the faintest doubt. The only exemptions to be granted will be to those necessary for carrying on the services and industries of the Dominion."

SUPREME COURT. To-day William Jensen and David Patterson, for theft of whisky from the steamer Waimea, were admitted to probation for twelve months and ordered tp pay £5 each towards the cost of the prosecution. Man Sing, a Chinaman, for indecent assault on a little girl, was sentenced to two years' hard labor. Thomas Brown was sent to hard labor for twelve months for theft from the person, and declared to be an habitual criminal. For a similar ofl'enee, Frederick AVatson, a recent arrival, with a criminal record in Australia, was sentenced to two years' hard labor. Francis Alfred Larkin, for obtaining a quantity of corn sacks from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co., by false pretences, was sentenced to two months'- on each of three charges, the terms to be cumulative. Thomas Watson, witli a previous criminal record, was sentenced to eighteen months on each of two charges of forgery and uttering, the sentences to run concurrently, Wireinu Waaka, a Maori youth, who admitted charges of breaking and entering and theft, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, conditionally on. his remaining two years on a farm whefeon a place for him has been offered. Albert .Tames Adorns and Ralph Robert Carr, f#r theft of goods from the Corinthie's surgery, were sentenced to two months' imprisonment, the Chief Justice taking into consideration the fact that the men had already been in gaol for some time. John Dillon, a ship's steward, was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labor for assault, and robbery. Charlie Burrows was sentenced to two vears' hard labsr for assault and causing bodily harm, and Delina Pine, who 1-ad been associated with Burrows in the commission of the offence, was sentenced to one month's hard labor and two years' reformative treatment. A CAS EXPLOSION. An explosion of a gas cylinder on the steamer Niwarn resulted in a seaman ■lamed Davis suffering injuries, leading to his admission to the hospital.