NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1077, 16 March 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By. Tclegraph.-Press ABfociation.) .'■ ■ ' — -♦ .- ■ THE FIRST SOD TURNED. UNDERTAKING TO COST j>50.000. Auckland, March 15. The Hon. R. M'KeiHiio (Minister for Puwic AVorks) this afternoon turned tho T l ,* 0 ! 111 ronnection with the drainage f the Rangitniki and Tafawora swampe, egislnUon dealing with which w a6 put through, last session 0 ',?" 1, th » Wβ outlet7or he m'T"•• ■ work of cleaning out , (ho old drains is now in progress and iii ennery hus been purclLed or 3? do iX COMMISSION MAY BE BAULKED. PROTEST BY MINERS. - P 1f „ . Westport, March 15. M»Z-\ Pn^ wl 9J n F ol >feronce of.miners' i„, S *? from Denniston, Granity, StockL 0"! «nd Mpkibmui, held in Westport : - ,J.nat this conference outers its strong piotest ngains the appointment of Messrs. 3n ld F " lfon on the Royal Cominisnu™ i i" P ( i % Hl ° Gov «'iiment to inquire into he ventilation and sanitation Dom?n a,,d r B»; 1 mi «<* throughout tho f " r T ,h r' "; e considcr t|,nt the fhnnW recommendntions should have been given effect to, and in onfT" ° f th f fei, e™«on'e recommendaons being not considered, the whole of the miners throughout the Dominion bo aikod _ not to give evidence or assist the commission in nny way." , £3000 IN TOURIST TICKETS. • AT CHRISTCHURCH ALONE, „. TT Duncdin, March 15. J lie Hon. Phomas Mackensie iufonued a Dnnedin "Star" representative that tho tourist traffic this year had been a record everywhere. At the ■Christehurch office tuone the Department sold £9000 worth of tourists' tickets. Had the necessary accommodation been forthcoming,', double the number of tourists could have been taken at Mount Cook. The foundation of the Mount Cook Hermitage would bo put in by day labour, at a probable cost of .£750, and' the new building can be proceeded with as soon as next season admits. The new track over the Southern Alps, is, being pushed on, and men arc on both sides of the divide working on tho track formation. A PERSON OF BLUE BLOOD. AND HOW HE FARED. Auckland, March 15. In the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Cooper sentenced Evelyn V. Kitson, charged with false pretences and forgery and attempting to commit suicide, to reformatory .treatment not exceeding seven years. Accused .had. posed in different parts of New Zealand as a descendant.of the British • aristocracy, aud gained admission to loading social circles. Roscoo Chadwick, charged with false pretences, forgery, and utter-, ing, was ordered five years'' detention' in a reformatory. ■ MUNICIPAL HALL' FOR FOXTON. ",'. . ' Foxton, March 15. Thc ; poll for the erection of a municipal hall, to cost .£2BOO, was carried, by 198 votes to 43. The result was received with cheers, and the Hayor (Mr. Styles) thanked ratepayers for tho support aocorded the council's scheme. DEER SHOOTING, Christehurch, March 15. The Hon. D. Buddo informed a reporter this morning that the date of tho opening of the deer shooting season in. Canterbury, and tho number of licenses to be issued by the Canterbury and Ashburton Acclimatisation Societies would, bo gazetted this week. Owing to the disappointment of more than One deerstalker ast season, the number of licenses have been reduced in Canterbury. The number will be: Canterbury eight, Ashburton. three. This will give the herds, the Minister considers, a better opportunity of increasing their numbers. .The season will open on April 1, and will close on May 20. ■ FAR NORTH TRAINS, Dargaville, March 15. Now that, the North Auckland, Main Trunk railway is creeping along, the county council at Paparoa decided to ask the Government tn run a midday train from the, railhead to Auckland; also that a special stock train be run. DIVORCE CASE. Gisborne, March 15. ' A decree nisi was granted in the divorce case Thomas Jeffs v. Robiha May Jeffs, on the ground of misconduct.