NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 314, 29 September 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

(HI TBLIGUAPB— FRESS 1BS0CUTI08.) VOLUNTEERING DIFFICULTY. PUBLIC MEETING AT DUNEDIN. <, ... Dunodin, September 28. At a public meeting held to-night to pron, f tlle , disb andmcnt of the North mrnVl" 1 ,, pS ' 1° fol i?mi ng ros °lution was m ii i ! an Lv ously: That thi * meeting, called by pubho request for the purpose ot conßidemg the threatened disbarment of tho North nunedm Rifles, hereby desirea to place on record that such dkbandmont would 1)0 a great calamity at tho present time and detrimental to tho best interest of volunteering in the Dominion. While not wish"lF "n 3 r wa y to cr iticiso the judgment of tho Defence the meeting respectfully asics tho Minister for Defence w take stops to hold an outsido commission of inquiry for tlw purposo of hearing both sides v J , ql !? stion an( i thereby elucidating tho difficulty. 1 Mr. Green (Mayor of North Jiast Valley) occupied the chair. Frequent allusions were made to Lieut.-Colonel Stoneham and Scrgt.-Major Benfell, and a. good many of tho remarks were intemperate and arguments were heated. 1 Oil was finally poured on the troubled waters by Mr. G. M.' Thomson. .

CANTERBURY COLLEGE. SUPERANNUATION: DARWIN CENTENARY. , ' Chrlstchurch, September 28. At the meeting of the Canterbury Collegj Boat-d of Governors, held this afternoon, tho Oollege Committee recommended that tho Senate of the University of New Zealand bo asked to support the proposal that profesff other officials of the university and its affiliated institutions should be included in the Orovernment superannuation scheme; that the invitation of Cambridge University to Canterbury College to be represented at the commemoration of tho centenary of Charles Darwin's birth, which will he held m June next, be accepted, and that Professor Rutherford bo asked to represent the college _on the occasion. ' The report was adopted.

OVERHEAD SYSTEM OF TRAMWAY CONSTRUCTION. i . rm , ~ • Auckland, September 28. The Auckland Fire Board lias declared that the present overhead system of tramway construction involves additional risk of fire to those building which face, the tramway lines, ana is now approaching the various local oodles with a view to getting them to exercise their powers under the deed of delegation and Order-m-Council under which the board claims the company can be compelled Trade re S , 2 at ' ons °f the Board of NAUTICAL INQUIRY. Auckland, September 28. . A nautical inquiry was held this afternoon into the recent mishap to the Navua while m the Cook Group. Mr. Mays, who appeared for the Collector of Customs, stated that on August 11 the Navua touched on a ooral head at Raratonga roadstead, and on August 18, on the same trip, grounded for half an hour near the landing-place at Mauki, Cook Group. In the interests of the travel, hng publio the Minister for Customs had directed that the matter be publicly inquired into. After evidence the Court found that the captain of the Navua was not'to blame and recommended a thorough survey of the waters in the vicinity of Raratonga and , Mauki anchorages. The Department wen* ordered to pay costs. HOMING PIGEON RACE. mi_ tt Dunedln, September 28. The Homing Pigeon Club's race from Ashburton to Dunedin, a distance of 150 miles, on Saturday, was a record for the Dominion! The entries totalled 131 birds,. representing Jo lofts. The best time was made by Finnegans Monsignor Evans—2 hours 17J minutes. ■ ' • AMERICAN DESERTER CHARGED, ri. o , , Cisbo fnei September 28. John Gawley Moncur pleaded guilty at the Police Court to a charge of theft from a country residence, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. Prisoner, who stated that he left the American Fleet at Auckland, went , to the house where the theft was, committe'd to see if he could obtain work, and whilst the only occupant (a lady) was playing the piano, he went through the rooms and stole two purses with money m them. He was arrested an hour ater by Detective Rawle, as he was about to leave by. steamer for the south. THE SOUTHERN MINING TROUBLE. mx. r, T , Dunlin, September 28. lne breon Island coalminers who weredis* appointed at the Arbitration Court's.recent award,* have decided to invito the chairman of the Conciliation Board to provide for and adjust matters not dealt with in the award.