DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

HEAVY FINES JGR SMUGGLING. By Telegraph— Press Association. Wanganui, Yesterday. Fines totalling £l7O were imposed by the magistrate, Mr. W. Wilson, upon five defendants for breaches of the Customs Act in having possession of uncustomed goods, blankets. This is another of the series of prosecutions arising out of the disappearance of a number of blankets from the steamship Armagh, when lying in the roadstead nt the end of last month. The following were the linos imposed:—J. Irwine, captain of lighter £SO, C. C.'-ne £4O, N. Waller £3O, C. iFirmin and R. Hammond £25 each. EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES. Napier, Yesterday. At the Police Court, James Scheele, until recently secretary of the Hospital Board, pleaded guilty' to thefts of the board's money totalling £1382 Ids Bd. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. SOLDIERS' LAND HUNGER. Dannevirkc, Yesterday. Evidence of the land hunger that exists amongst returned soldiers is afforded by the Tiratnc block, near Dannevirke, which has set aside for soldier settlement, the ballot taking place next week. For the 34 sections there are hundreds of applicants from all over the Dominion, and the ballot will easily be the biggest yet held in Hawke's Bay. The demand for plans and application forms is still unsatisfied, well over a thousand having been issued to date, and there are several days to go before the closing of applications. (Special steps are to be taken to accommodate the influx of land seekers when they present themselves for examination by the Land Board n«xt week.

SLEEP.IX'G SICKNESS. Palmcrstori North, Yesterday. A death from sleeping sickness has juat occurred at the Pahnerston North hospital. The victim, a man named Robert Harrison, was a respected resident of the town. WESPORT HARBOR BOARD DISPUTE. Greymouth, Yesterday.

The dispute between the Greymouth Harbor Board and the Railway Department is approaching a climax. The board's request for a statement of expenditure on the Grev-Brunner railway has been ignored, and the board is obtaining legal advice: a Supfeme Court jaction is probable. Great indignation is ! expressed, and a public meeting has been i palled.