DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1916, Page 7

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

A DESERTER IN TROUBLE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christehureli, July 28. Robert McLacldan was charged with deserting from Trentham, whero ho was in the 14th Reinforcements, also witli stealing rings and other jewellery from girls. Evidence was given that he had met girls in the street and taken jewellery from them, apparently as a joke, and. then pawned it. The girls gave evidence that they were trying to get things back. Accused made a statement that their stories were untrue. He was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for'the iheft and ordered to be returned to the military on the expiration of his sentence.

RETURNED SOLDIERS CONFERENCE Wellington, July 28. A largely attended conference of returned soldiers from all parts of hew Zealand was opened here to-day, Captain Donald Si'mson presiding. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor (Mr. Luke), Colonel das. Al'lei. (Minister of Defence), General Sir A. Robin, and Major Norton Francis (Director of Base Records). In the course of his speech, Colonel Allen urged the men to remember the lessons they had learned. in the trenches and to transplant them to their civilian life now that they had returned. By doing this the.v >vor.W greatly assist in solving the problem of the welfare of the Empire. lie welcomed the formation of returned soldiers' organisations as voicing the genuine- opinions of returned men as against the views of a small minority who manufactured grievances. The conference is proceeding SUPREME COURT. Dnnedin, Inly 28. Daniel Cassidy, who pleaded guilty in the lower court to a charge of attempt' ed rape and also indecent assault, came up for sentence, and was ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for, a term not exceeding throe veal's on the first charge and imprisoned until the rising ef the court on the second charge. RAILWAY MATTERS. Wellington, July 27. An influential deputation of citizens, supported by several members of Par linment, waited on the Minister lot Railways, and asked that arrangements b made to run the Manawatu trail; through to Lambton station. Mr. He! 'Vies replied that this was iinpractjcabl. even as a temporary measure, as ii would entail the expenditure oi at least j £IOO,OOO. He strongly favored the | earlv erection of the promised central ■ -tation in Wellington, but linancial diiii-j culties consequent on the war had pro-j vented this. People must meanwhile put up with the dillicnlties as well as they ;an. The railway working account for the period ended June 24 is as follows (shillings and pence being omitted): —Revenue, North Island £20(>,!)3;!, South Island £150,355, total .1303,289; expenditure, North Island £121,443, South Island £103,525, total £224,9(11); total. £224,969. Percentage of revenue expended was 56.70, compared with 68.11 Ifwi yffti • < t