NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 137, 4 March 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(DY TELEGRAM—ritI!S3 ASSOCIATION.}. ,

. , LOST IN'THE ISLANDS. • Auckland, March 3. On January 18, according to news from Fiji by the Hauroto, the schooncr Discoverer went high and dry on to a reef in the Gilbert Group. Two of the men got ashore, but at first refused to give information. Later thoy admitted that the vessel was tho Pullche, of Valparaiso, which port- they left on October 10, bound for Tahiti. They had no register or clearance papers, and did not know which of the groups they wero in. . BAKERS' CONFERENCE. New Plymouth, March 3. ' Tho New Zealand Bakers' Conferenco opened hero this morning. The annual report stated that tho Salo of Foods and Drugs Act passed last session must be, considered a fair measure. . A motion was proposed to make employees pay for goods which they spoiled, but tho conference decided to leavo the - matter to individual bakers,- with a recommendation that when an ..employee was dismissed for spoiling goods, the other bakers be advised, so that they shall not employ him. A recommendation was passed to all master bakers strictly to prohibit smoking during the making or delivering of goods. CATTLE KILLED BY HOUSE PAINT. Auckland, March 3. J. lie death of cattle at Waiuku from an unknown cause has been explained. It was due to lead poisoning through the cattle eating paint from now houses. NEW UNION STEAMERS. _. „ . ' Dunsdln, March 3. xlie Union Company has been advised thai the new cargo steamer Waitemata was successfully launched. The Miowera.is to be renamed tho Maitai. and on account of arrangements made foi ns 10 Marama and Manuka t« ths Vancouver service during the winter, will also_ bo placed .in tho intercolonial ser. vice _ until, the arrival of the Mak'ura, now builduig on the Olydo. The Miowera i' being surveyed in Sydney, and her accom podation altered to suit the special require merits of the intercolonial trade. CANVASSER KICKED DOWNSTAIRS. - , ■ ' Christchurch, 'March ,3. Hecksber,' a Gorman, • was fined £10 anc costs,to-day for kicking downstair? ono Wii jesden,, and causing him bodily harm.' Hecksher had- advertised for canvassers for the Widows' Fund Life Assurance Association. Out of thirty applicants he selected four, Willesden being one.' He' held a class of the four to explain tho operation of a certain insurance table under which the ' canvassers ivould have to work. Willesden did not understand the details readily, and asked questions. Hecksher lost his ■ temper, and committed the assault. He appear |n .Court, . and was represented by' counsel, who pleaded guilty' for. him. Half: the finb was ordered to go to Willesden. ■ DRINKING BY WOMEN. \ ; Auckland, March 3. At a meeting of the Auckland Licensing Committee, Sub-Inspector Gordon .said he wished to bring under notice a matter that had como to tho fisrs of the police, and catno in-.tho nature-of a surprise. 'That was the drinking habit among women at some of the suburban hotels. They were mostly well- ; dressed, respectable women, and were not infrequently accompanied by young girls and children. ; In ■ seven hotels visited on one' night no less than fifty-five women,- who had five children with them, were found drinking. In some of the hotels rooms were specially marked for " ladies : only." He mentioned the matter in the hope that the committee might suggest some means to prevent the evil spreading. . RUA'S CAMP VISITED. " Auckland, March 3. Dr. Bell, Government, Geologist, yesterday reached • Wharekopao, via tho Urowera' jountry, visiting tho "Prophet!' Rua's'pah it'"Maungapohoatu. Ho said ho had had a ' very, interesting trip through ; in fact,' he had had no morp interesting trip in the Dominion than this. Hb was cordially received by Rua, who;has a wonderful settlement, comprising about,'one'hundrcd houses, and a temple' three stories high, built in tho Egyptian stylo. Dr. Bell proceeded direct to his canvp near Whatatutu, not coming to town. Ho intends being in tho district for six weeks or two mouths, arid will personally supervise the geological survey of tlu ( ( ' . POLICE AND SUPERANNUATION. . _ ■ ; * Napier, March' 3. A meeting of police representatives to consider the advisability or joining the Publio Service ■ Superannuation Fund .resolved "That as tho Public Service Superannuation Fund is defective and as necessary, amend- • ments will have to be made to render! it acceptable to the service, it is considered it would be of great benefit to the police force as a whole to amend the Police Provident Fund regulations, so as to bring them into line with those of tho Public Seryice Fund," , It was decided to ■ co-operate with; the Wellington and Christchurch police in obtaining , legal advice as to, the imperfections of the - Public Service Superannuation' Act. SCOW TOWED OFF. ■ : Auckland, March\3. The" scow tramp, which - went ashore on the Wost Coast "over six months'ago, waa ' floated off and towed to Kaiapara yesterday.' ; BEER AND OYSTERS; v Dunedin, March 3. William Anderson, for selling heer at an' oyster stand at the Tahuna Park Trotting meeting, was- fined £10 and costs, in the Police Court this morning. ' , v . ■AN ISLAND TRAGEDY. \V Auckland, March 3. The Hauroto, from'Fiji,-brings news of a murder committed on the estate of Messrs. Elgood and Clure, Naikoroko.ro, where an Indian woman was hacked to death by a nan named,Badal. The woman had fearful ivounds on her head and arms. •' Badal admitted his guilt. The motive of the crimo ivas jealousy. ■ >;■ ' ' " 1 ■ ISLAND MISSIONARY MISSING. ' ' Auckland, March 3: 'Private 'advice per, the, Iris, states that ;he Rev.- Stanley' Howard, a missionary sta;ioned''. at Aoba, New"Hebrides, is .missing. jable advico received at Norfolk Island froir Noumea, just prior to; tho Iris sailing, stated it was believed that Mr. Howard had ost his life, while in the course of carrying >ut his' work of visiting stations.

MEDICAL ADVICE TO POOR MOTHERS. Auckland, March' 3. 7 In an interesting scheme submitted to tiki' City Council, Dr. Purdy proposed a system of free mcdical advice to poor mothers, and the provision of free meals to them after child-birth by the. Charitable Aid Board. WESTUND TRADES AND LABOUR ; COUNCIL. • - Resfton, March 3. . This aftornomi the Westlaml Trades and Labour Council was occupied with formal business. The annual report showed that, there are 2003 members of the West Coast Unions, and advocated a Colonial Federation of Unions, with headquarters at Wellington. The report was adopted. The. election of oflioers takes place to-morrow. Mr. H. I3ctta (secretary)'resigns his position. GRASS-SEED DISTRIBUTION." - New Plymouth, March 3. Regarding grass-socd distribution to "set-' tiers suffering /by bush ' fires, ■ though Sir Joseph Ward's telegram stated that seed would bo furnished to air who suffered by fire, applicants here are being: informed that the accommodation for four years,' without interest, is only for settlers unable to uuroh'ase seed for tliemselvea.' '