SOUTHERN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 161, 8 July 1909, Page 6

SOUTHERN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON~mOCESA-. SYNOD. WELLINGTON, this day. The Wellington Diocesan Synod continued its sittings to-day. The report of the diocesan office executive sub-commit-tee showed that in the general church fund there was a credit balance of £30 9/4, which was the first that had occurred for some years back. Outstanding assessments, however, amounted to £1010 4/3, as against £934 15/7 last year. The Rev. C. C. Harper (Palmerston) moved to alter the rules in order to make the surplice fee chargeable for marriage after license 10/- instead of £1. Ths motion was lost on the voices. SUICIDE AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. A young man named Robert Woodhouse committed suicide in Cathedral Square, near the old tram sheds, about 11.40 tonight, by shooting himself with a gun. No particulars are available as to the reason for the act. NO-LICENSE CELEBRATION. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A largely-attended meeting was held at Newtown to-night to celebrate the recent no-license victories. The Rev. W. J. Williams, president of the New Zealand Alliance, was in the chair. A resolution was parsed, expressing thankfulness at ! the carrying of no-license in Wellington j South and Wellington Suburbs, which was j held to be a stride forward towards the freedom of the Dominion from the liquor traffic. The Rev. F. W. Isitt, organiser to the j New Zealand Alliance, who recently returned from Clutha, spoke of the good that no-license had accomplished there, j MISSIONARY BROTHERHOOD. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Further consideration was given by the Diocesan Synod to-night to the scheme suggested by the Rev. G. T. Woodward (Foxton) for the organisation of a brotherhood in the diocese for coping with (1) religious education of the young, (2) street missions, and (3) religious work among bodies of labouring men. Eventually it was resolved, " That this Synod considers worthy of most earnest consideration the proposal to establish a brotherhood devoted to voluntary service for this diocese, and appoints the Revs. C. C. Harper, J. H. Sykes, G. Woodward and J. Walker, with power to add to their number, to consider the matter, and, if the scheme be found practicable, to draw up a report to be presented at the next meeting of the Synod."

MOUNTED RIFLES IN CAMP. PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday. The No. 3 Regiment, Wellington Mounted Rifles, went into camp on the show grounds to-day. The parade state is as follows:—Hunterville troop -30, Feilding 30, Manawatu 35. This is an important camp, as it is the first time all the squadrons have been in camp at once, the previous practice being for each troop to hold a separate camp. The camp is -under the command of Lieuten-ant-Colonel D. Pri-ngle, and Staff Ser-geant-Major Dovey (mounted instructor) is also present. Captain H. H. Browne, mounted instructor for the North Island, will arrive to-morrow, and LieutenantColonel Bauchop, officer commanding the Wellington district, will reach here on Saturday. Before chtfreh parade on Sunday Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop will present long service medals. A comprehensive programme of work has been mapped out for the camp, which lasts until I Wednesday next.

MISCELLANEOUS. TIMAHU, this day. A young Timaru man named Spurdom has been arrested on a charge of having stolen a barrel of whisky from the Crown i Hotel, for which offence four seamen' were previously in custody. The South Canterbury Dairy Factory is being sold in sections. WESTPORT, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court, Peter Gumming, found guilty on Monday of having committed an offence upon a young girl, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A public meeting, addressed by Messrs. Ell, Witty, Taylor, Russell, and Laurenson, M.P.'s, unanimously agreed to a motion protesting against the proposal of the _\orth Canterbury Charitable Aid I B°ard to sell a portion of the Twigger Estate, and expressing the opinion that the interests of the public would be best | served by the Board retaining possession of the land and disposing of it by way of perpetual lease, with a provision for revaluation, as by this method facilities would be given a large number of wageearners to secure sites for homes on easy terms. It was stated that the Board had practically decided to abandon the proposed sale of the land. Several motor car drivers have beep fined for driving at excessive speeds in the city and suburbs.