NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1219, 30 August 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telesraph-rrcEa Association.!

WHOSE SHEEP WERE KILLED? Timaru, August 20. Daniel Sargent, a. settler on tf>.q';,l3ro(liers Downs, near Cricklcwood, was; charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day with stealing six sheep belonging (o a neighbour (F. W. "Wain) on different dates from May to August. Tlioir farms oilJoin. Wain staled that ho had missed 15 sheep previously. On August 17 he was working in O no of his paddocks, next accused's farm, and came <icro.~> sovor.il paunches and heart", .'nine ol" them freshly killed, ami, near In tho boundary fence, were a temporary guilows, where more sheep had bem killed. Oil accused's sido was'a skin tearing witness's brand and earmarks. Mooti.nß. aecn;?d that day, the latter had offered- to pay for any sheep missing. Accused was committed for trial, bail in bonds for .El5O being forthcoming.

RAINFALL STATISTICS. Christchurch, August 29. Farmers in. Canterbury are. complaining at present at tho absence of muchneeded'rain, and a comparison of rainfall recorded so far Ihis month with tho rainfall in the month of August for the past five or six years shows that their complaint is well founded. July this year has been also a dry month, comparatively speaking. Eain fell on seventeen days last mouth, the total being 3.l'i;i inches, as compared with 3.395 in 1!)OG, 1.722 in 1907, 7.581 in 1908, 1.730 in 1909, and 6.0-13 in 1910. On four days only has rain been experienced during the present month from the Ist to tho 29th inclusive, tho total fall being 0.079 inches. In August 190G rain fell on 11 days, the total fall being 1.532 inches, in 1907 11 days, 2.886 inches; in 1908, 8 days 0.743 inches; in 1909, 11 days, 2.405 inches; and in 1910, 12 days, 1.804 inches. KINGOON MYSTERY. Masterton, August 29. The police 'are still conducting an active investigation into the whereabouts of the young man James Kingdom, who has been missing for over a month, but so far there is no solution of the mystery. Yesterday a startling report gained currency to the effect that an arrest had been made of aa man who was alleged to have made a confession implicating himself. Tho police deny that there "has been any arrest, but are- very reticent. They, say Kingdon. will turn up all right. MANURE WORKS DESTROYED. New Plymouth, August 29. Tho boiling-down and manure works at Fitzroy, belonging to Solo Bros., wore destroyed by firo early this morning. Tho origin of tho frro is unexplained. A number of live pigs in adjoining pens were also destroyed. The buildings were insured in the South British for J2OO, and the hides, skins, and tallow for. c£l2s. Tho loss is estimated at above insurance. . BOARDINGHOUSE BURNT.

New Plymouth, August 29. A thirteen-roomedboardinghouse at Rahdtu. owned and occupied by Mr. Baker, was destroyed by firo early this morning. Most of the furniture was saved. Insurances:—On tho -building, ,C2GO in the Victoria. .£llO iu the New Zealand; on the furniture,' £200 in tho Mew Zealand.

COAL WORKERS AT PEACE. Auckland, August 29. Tho dispute between the Northern Cnal Company and unioii of workers relative to the conditions at Whangarci and Kiripaka, wore- settled at a. conference between the representatives by the adoption of an agreement oa tho lines of tho old award, with one or two alterations in the working clauses, and an increase of Gd. .a day for shift mon. . ". ■'■■■■■""farm labourers;"-'-' : Christchurch, August 29. The application for an award filed by the Agricultural and Pastoral Labourers' ■Union against tho Sheepowners' Union cams before tho Conciliation-Council this morning. The sheepowners took tho position that there was no dispute, and declined to argue the case, which was forthwith referral to the Arbitration Court. '.;,.' GISBORNE HARBOUR STAFF. . ' Gisbome, August 29. The Harbour Board has decided to ask Mr. W. Ferguson (Wellington) to. report as to the .'reorganisation of the ;staff. LABOUR CANDIDATES, ' . Christchurch,' August 29. Tho labour -representation . committee has been asked to support Labour candidates for tho Lyttelton and Eiccarton seats at the general elections.