DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

■ -3»r. BREACHES OF GAMING ACT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 22. In the Magistrate's Court, for breaches of the Gaming Act, L-iwlor wh fined £lO, John Sullivan £2O, and Michael Fitzgibbon I'UO. A MYSTERIOUS FIRE. Greymouth, Last Ngibf. Yesterday morning tho weigh-bridge, cabin and lamp room at Paparoa mine was completely destroyed by fire. Many of the miners' lamps were in the room, none being saved. It is estimated the damage amounts to Cl5O. The outbreak is a mysterious! one. NEGLECT OF DUTY PUNISHLD. Wellington, March 22. The quartermaster of a certain steam: er, named Willan Dunne, was charged at the Magistrate's Court with breaches of the war regulations by leaving the ship when he should have remained at the gangway. The offences were alleged to have taken place botli at Timaru and Lyttelton. Tho master and .liicf officer gave evidence that Dunne left the gangway without leave, and on one occasion a person without a pass was permitted to board the ship while Dunne w\;-i on duty at the gangway.' Tha magistrate, Mr. McCarthy, said this was not an ordinary case of'failure to do duty. Accused bid flatly refused to obey orders. On one charge Dunne Was convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and on the other was convicted and discharged. MINERS' TROUBLES. Greymouth, March 21. After a meeting of +he Union of the State collieries this morning it was announced that there would be. no work tomorrow. It is understood that the deadlock amongst the men r-1 ill exists. The Paparoa mine was idle yesterday and to-day. The trouble was over the driver of a horse refusing to obey orders. " e driver alleged that the horse was offensively diseased and walked out of the mine on Friday last and did not present J.imsclf for" work the following day, alleging that it was a regular holiday. He said it was news to him when told by the Military Sei vice Board at Greymouth on Tuesday last that his services had been dispensed with at the mine. The miners' union has now taken the matter up. FLOODS IN SOUTH ISLAND. Nelson, March 21. Flood damage at Brightwater is far more serious than was at first reported. The Government protection wall was carried away and lange areas inundated. Some orchards have been swept away and railway traffic stopped for a week at least owing to big wash-outs on the line. The immediate reinstatement of the protection wall is essential for the safety of Brightwater. Gore, March 21. The Mataura river reached its maximum about noon to-day. The flood water is not yet into the town to any extent and the damage is nil river i required to rise another six inches to a foot for a renetilion of last year's flood. COURT-MARTIAL SENTENCE. Dnnedin, March 21. The sentence »> the court-martial was promulgated, to-day on Private William Baxter, the fourth of a Brighton family of conscientious objectors to be dealt with in this way. Baxter was drawn in the ballot and refused to undergo the medical examination. On the clmrge of disobeying a lawful command he was sentenced to 11 months' hard labor.