NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 339, 28 October 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(BV TELEGRAPH—FIIESS ASSOCIATION.) f YOUTHFUL MARAUDERS. ■ Nelson, October 27. Several robberies, from shops of monoytoys,'etc., were'reported recently, and tn< police have apprehended a gang of live boys ranging in age from eight -to eleven years. All have confessed. One place was broker into by means of a brace and bit. There were only small hauls, the money taken from one shop being spent in the other, which in turn would bo raided. From ono place tha gang took a load of coppers and.some fireworks. The boys will be brought before the Court oil Monday. THE LABOUR MARKET. . Christchuroh, October 27. The Labour Department has sent severs' small parties of workmen to the Domett rail' way works, and a small party to the Midland Railway. Employers are complaining of the great difficulty experienced in securing female employees for shirt and other clothing factories, and the officials of the Labour Department state that there is a decided scarcity of labour in those industries. • AN INTERESTING CASE. i Christchurch, October 27. At the Lyttelton Police Court to-morro* morning proceedings will be taken against tha Management Committee of the LytteltoD friendly societies, Mr. J. T. Brice and eight others, who will be charged that not being registered chemists they kept a place of business for the sale and dispensing of medicines in Lyttelton without having a registered chemist in charge. There are two informations covering periods each of three' weeks, and a week apart. The case is being brought by Mr. Charles W. Neilson, a Wellington solicitor, on behalf of the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand.

ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM. Wanganul, October 27. Further evidence of the presence in Wanga nui of a fire-raiser was discovered this morn- ' ing at the infant school, where a quantity ol paper < and rubbish had been ( placed in the corner of a shelter shed which' is underneath the school building. . The paper had'burned out, without setting fire' to the buildings, which were only scorched a little where the incendiary had been at work. This makes tha fifth incendiary act within a fortnight. SCHOOL OF ENCINEERINC. Christchurch, October' 27. The Canterbury College Board of Govep nors have accepted tenders' for a hydraulic , plant, in connection with the School of Engineering. The amount of the tender accepted is £2392, and it is considered that the new plant will fully equip the hydraulic laboratory. DRIVERS' DISPUTE. Christchurch, October 27. The Canterbury Drivers' Industrial Uniol , of Workers have , filed notice' of a dispute with the employers. The wage's demanded by the union for competent drivers in constant employment are as follow:—For those driving and attending one horse, a weekly , minimum wage of £2 10s.; for two 'horses, £2 155., and 3s. per week in addition to the minimum for each additional horse, either, driven or attended to. The minimum wagep , demanded for youths under twenty are 355. and 40s per week for. driving and attending one and two horses respectively. .The men ask for a 45-hour week, exclusive of ■the time occupied in necessary attendance on horses. The. usual demands are' made in regard to overtime, preference, holidays,'and other'matters. . A SERIOUS CHARGE". • . Auckland, October .27> , , . The number of charges against men, youni and oldj of committing,'grave assaults upon little girls has been unpleasantly frequent of late, almost every week bringing forth one or more of these'indictments. This afternoon another* "(vas ; 'added to'the list, a young man named Herbert M'Kay being l arrested 1 on a .charge of'having committed a criminal assault upon a-little girl : at ' Mt. '-Eden ' Detective Miller, in asking-for-a remand at' the Police Court this afternoon, said that) 1 the offence was alleged- to have been committed in-a barber's shop-at Mt. Eden, ir which the accused was employed. M'Kaj, was remanded until Monday next,-bail beinj fixed in-two sureties, each of £50.

MEETING OF ENCINEEFiS. Chrlstchurch, October 27. Mr. A. R. Hislop, secretary of the Institute N of Marine Engineers, addressed a large meeting of engineers to-night in support of the proposal for, the amalgamation of the two 'engineering societies in New. Zealand, and engineers who do not belong to either society, with_ the object of protesting against the provisions of the Machinery Act, under which engine drivers could take positions which should be occupied by duly qualified engineers. • ■ * NEWS IN BRIEF. Auckland, October 27. . The Arbitration Court fixed the, wages ol coopers at the rate offered by tho. employers - —£2 15s. a week,, being an increase of 3s. a week. A reduction of one hour in the week's work was made. Chrlstchurch, October' 27. Regarding the loan of £50lX) to be raised under the City of .Chrlstchurch Sanitation Empowering Act. 1908. the Finance Commit ■■ tee reported to the City Council last night that in the present state of the money market endeavours'should be made to , obtain a loan from the Government under Section 66 of the Public Health Act; 1900; and the cqm--mittee recommended that application should be made for a loan of £5000 tor a period of ,26 years.