NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

IDj Teleffraph—Press Association.) • : ' RECENT CONFLAGRATION. WAS THERE BURGLABY TOO?.. . Auckland, November 20. It is stated that investigation of the safe in Mucky and Logan's-.'premises■ showed twelve or fourteen deep incisions close to the handle, apparently caused by a chisel. The contents of the safe included several hundred pounds' worth of light .jewellery,' arid this gives- colour to the theory that there may !» somo connection between the recent conflagration and an unsuccessful attempt at burglary. UNION STATUS GONE. OWNERS CANNOT MEET TITEM. Timaru, November 20. ■The local representatives of. the shipping companies havo replied to the .request of the wharf labourers for a; conference on the proposed new agreement (which raises wages and frames new conditions), that they cannot confer on any agreement outside the Arbitration Act, as it would not be binding. Sorno of the proposed conditions were .quite unworkable. The reference to the Act is' allusion to the fact that the -union has cancelled ils registration.

REDWOOD TOWN FIRE. Blenheim, November 20. An eight-roomed house . in Redwood Town was destroyed by fire last night. The building was owned by the Co-oper-ative Saleyards Company, and occupicd by E. Fantkain. It was insured for ,£2OO in the State Office. Practically all tho furnit-ire was destroyed; it was insured for .£'lso in the New Zealand Office. DRAWING AGAINST PRODUCE. •• Timaru,'November 20. Tho Chamber of Commerce and the chief mercantile firms here' have agreed that in the case of Dominion and Australian shipments they should favour "drawing against producc," produce being defined as anything taken direct from the soil; also that tlio present custom of taking Government graders' certificates us'to-equality and f.o.b. weights be strictly adhered to. , RAIL VETO ON SOFT FRUIT, Auckland, November 20. At a largo meeting of strawberry growers, held' at Birkenhead, tho following resolution was passed:—"That, this mooting of fruitgrowers is sadly disappointed at.'tho action of tho Minister for Rail•ways in refusing the request of strawberrygrowers to allow soft fruits to J)c railed by the express to Wellington." TIMARU TO MOUNT COOK. Timaru, November 20. Mr. H. Goodwin, of Timaru, manager for 'Messrs. .Adams, Ltd...drove a 30 E.M.F. car, with four others, tfom Timaru to Mount Cook Hermitage and back on Sunday. They left at 6 a.m., and were home again at '10,7 p.m., the actual running time for 236 miles being 13j hours. The road was in.good order for cars.

" THE 'NEW ADMIRAL. ' Auckland, November 20. n.M.S. Powerful, with the new Admiral of the station, Vice-Admiral KingHall, arrived from Sydney this morning. Tlio flagship, which pioceeds to Wellington on Monday next, leaves tw-Illus-ion for Lvttelton .on December 5, and LyHelton for Sydney on December 8. ■ The Admiral will make his hc-auqu a inters at liobart for the next three months. MINING AMENDMENT SOUGHT. Waihi, November SO. Representatives cf the Amalgamated Society cf Engineers conferred with the * lining companies 10-day, with a view lo making an,agreement under the Arbitration .Vet to have the fame etlect as an award. The companies are now considering the proposals. CRIMINAL SESSIONS. Auckland. November-20. the Supreme Court to-day Edward "ers pleaded - not guilty to charges of oh billing ss. by false pretences from W. Wells, confectioner, ana of having robbed a, man named .M'Lcod of .£2 The jury brought in a verdict of guilty on both counts of the indictment. Ilis Honour found from Ihe police records that there were many previous convictions of similar ofi'nnec;- against Myers, and said that the only question was as to the mnuntr in which the man should bo dealt with, lie was sentenced to 'I wo years' hard labour, this sentenco to bo followed by four years' detention for reformative purposes-