NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1356, 6 February 1912, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Tclceraph-Prese AMo.ilatlon.) '-* / AUSTRALIAN SMOKE. TimaruJ February 5. Throughout yesterday and to-day. ' the atmosphere in this district was hazy, the ranges wore roiled and the evening eky was brown with Australian smoke. ANOTHER WHALER'S TRYPOT, Timaru, Fobruarys. A whaler's trypot has turned up in Timaru, where it had been in .use as a drtuking trough at a town dairy for twenty years or more. SWAMP FLAX HANDS. Palmerston N., February 5. The new demands by the- ewnnip hands in the flax industry have .been presented to .the millcre, and as some have not been agreed to there is a possibility of trouble. At a mooting of tho Flaxmill Employees' Union the following resolution ' was passed:—"That this meeting express regret at the unsatisfactory replies receivcU from the Ploxmillcrs' Association to their requests for alteration of the conditions of work of the men employed in the ewamps—that tho union requests an immediate answer to each of the clauses embodied in their claims, and, failing this, they will call a. mass meeting to deal with the matter, cither with or without the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act." Tho demands deal mainly with ■ conditions of work, and only indirectly with remuneration. Tho work is almost entirely piece-work. TALLY CLERKS' DEMANDS. Auckland, February 5. Some of the tally clerks employed on tho wharves declined to start work this morning under the present pay—ls. 3d. per hour—considering the work worth as much as that paid the waterside workers, who, under the new award, will receive Iβ. sd. per hour from Thursday next. The companies have promised to consider tho position. The places of the moa who ceased work were promptly filled. AUCKLAND'S GAS SUPPLY. ' " Auckland, February 5. • The great increase- in the demand for gas,,.due to the expansion of the city, was mentioned by the chairman' of ■ the Auckland Gas Company at tho shareholders' meeting to-day. Tho company, h« said, had been forced to consider future reqniromonte, and a scheme had'been decided on which, when it was ultimately completod, would give the company a manufacturing capacity of 10,000,000 cubic foat of gas per day. Tho increase in tho sales sinco 1907 had been 50 per cent. DROWNING ACCIDENT. Waihi, February 5. A young, man named Albert Skinner was drowned at Bowontown Estuary yesterday, lie was swimming'out to an anchored boat, and when closo to the boat was seen to throw up his arms and sink, Tho body was recovered an hour kler. SHIPPING ACCIDENT. Gisborne, February 5. Whilst tendering the Mokoia last evening during a heavy swell, a. lighter carried away her mast and the derrick, which fell overboard. The vessel was drifting on to' the Tuatea, the' Union Company's passenger tender, and the' latter went astern to avoid the impact. Her mast cauffht in a steel rope hangiug froni the Mokoia'e derrick and tho tcp half of the mast was snapped cff. SUPREME COURT. Palmerston North, February 5. The Supremo Court sessions opened beforo the Chief Justice this morning. The criminal calendar was a light, ono, there being only four charges of a minor character. His Honour congratulated the district on the comparative immunity from crime.' '■ A true bill was returned against Pabrick M'Caffexty for assault and causing actual bodily harm. Accused, who was t cabman, wae found guilty of tho assault, which consisted in kicking another cabman and breaking his jaw. James Fitzgerald on a charge of assault and robbery at Shannon was found guilty of common assault and placed on twelve months' probation, one condition being that he did not touch liquor or visit hotels during that period. ALLEGATIONS TO BE SIFTED. Christchurch, February 5. At a meeting of the City Coiuicil tonight the Mayor brought down a scheme for improving the city roads and footpaths, involving a cost of .£120,000. The scheme will be discuesed .at a special meeting to bo hold next week. At the same meeting serious complaints will be made regarding diseased meat being sent out from tho municipal abattoirs and the council has decided to hold a special inquiry into, the allegations. FATAL HOTEL FIRE. Westport, February i. A large two-story hotel, occupied by Mr Martin, and owned by Mr. L. T. Watson, situated at Granity, was destroyed by fire at three o'clock this, morning. An adjoining hall was also gutted. Th« charred remains of a miner named Watkins were found in the debris. Tho iisurances are not aecertainable. HOTELKEEPER FINED. Gisborne, February 5., Two cases arising out of the death of a man named Klein, at Port Awanui, were heard at the latter place to-day, before Mr. W.'A. Barton, S.M. F. G. Allen, licensee of the Sea: View Hotel, near Port Awanui, was charged, .with manslaughter, in that he supplied oxecssive. quantities of liquor to Klein, who was under his care in a helpless condition.' Tho magistrate,, considering that there . was insufficient evidence, . this charge was dismissed, but for permitting drunkenness on his promises Allen was fined £\b. and had his license endorsed. , DIVORCE.' Auckland, February 5. In tho'Supreme Court a decree nisi was granted in the suit Jolui D. Austin against ■ Fannie Austin and Charlof Stokes (co-respondent).