NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) « CRIES OF "MURDERI" HUSBAND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. Auckland, Juno 26. A crowd about the trout of the tish aud refreshments shop of Jlrs. Callnghau, ia ■ Karangahapo lioad, about half-past twelvo attracted tho attention of Sergeant M'Dounell. lie was informed that cries for help, and, screams ot "Murder!" had boon heard in a woman's voico coming from tho place, lie then himself heard tho cries repeated, and made his way to the back of tho place. Tho back door was bolted, but lie' heard the cries continuing, and also the sound of a man's voice. When ho called out, a man, who gavo his name as Charles Cunningham, came to tho door. Mrs, Cunningham also camo to the door, and made allocutions concerning the man's conduct. Cunningham said that tho woman was suffering from tho effects of drink, and hp had locked up the place to see that she was all right. After making further inquiries, tho sergeant arrested Cunningham, who gavo his ago as 31 years, and his vocation as a general dealer. At tho Police Court to-day, on a charge of criminal assault, Cunningham was remanded by Mr. Page, S.M., for a week. Bail was allowed in two sureties of .£35 each,

SUCCESSFUL ALIBI. MAN CLEARS HIS CHARACTER, Invercargill, Juno 20. Tho appeal £>f Colin Gerald, a. well* known farmer, against a conviction by tho magistrate of stealing a motor tyrj and other articles was upheld by Six Joshua Williams. The defence was thai , accused was at homo some miles away. on tho night of tho robbery. His Honour said additional cvidouco in support of this had been adduced and a much stronger caso made out than l>e. foro the magistrate. Two independent witnesses had testified to having met? accused at his homo on the night of tho robbery, and if the Court disregarded their evidence it would havfe to find they had conspircd to defeat justice by swearing falsely. Tho oonviction was quashed. THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. SHOULD HOTELS CLOSE? Auckland, June 2G. A meeting of 100 shopkeepei's decided to present a petition to Parliament pray-) ing for tho return to the former optional j ball-holiday system instead of tho pre-! sent compulsory Saturday ■ half-, day dccided upon, at tho last local olcctions, or, failing that,; tho compulsory closing on Saturday of allbusiness places. Tho chairman, Mr.. Hannan, stated that tho system was cans-' ing a diversion of trade, and tho iucreaso; of drunkenness suggested to his mind that if tho shops dose, hotels should close too.

CLERGYMAN CLAIMS FOR SLANDER; ■ Gisborne, Juno 2G. At the Supreme Court to-night, Mr.. Justice Cooper heard a claim for .£SOO for alleged slander brought by Wi Paraire, a Native clergyman and a well-known Rugby football player, against Weretena To Ariki Huka, a Nativo woman. Plain* tiff contended that defendant had slan< dered him by stating that ho (a married man) was the father of To Wia's child. Tho parties hail from Nuhalta, where plaintiff was at ono timo stationed. Plaintiff is at present assistant-master at Torau College for Nativo Divinity students. Ho denied the suggestion of parentage, end stated that tho reason why he brought' the action .was to clear his character as', an ordained clergyman of tho English, Church. A good deal of evidence was heard, and tho case was adjourned till to-morrow. LABOURERS OUT OF WORK. ~ Dunedin,.Juuo 2G. Mr. . JI. i M'Allen, ' eecrotary of tho General Labourers' Uniou, • states that there are at present fully 100 labourew out of work in Dunedin.. 110 aeserts that ihero are in ptago, at any rate, plenty of men available to fill the demand for workers both in the town and' in tho country. In fact, ho n?sertcdl that able strong mon wero leaving tha Dominion for Australia in search, of work, and that tho places wore being filled by London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow farm labourers, who, howcvct, will not leavo town. He said that ten young men from Central Olago left for Australia, stating that they could/ uot get work in their ilooalitiies as farm' labourers.

THE HORSE THIEF. Gisborno, June 26. At the Supreme Couvt tojay, before 1 Mr. Justice Cooper, Henry White, a young Native, who had pleaded guilty at Tokomaru Bay to stealing <i horse, was sen- : tenced to two years hard labour. The . prisoner had a bad record, having hoen admitted to probation for horse-stcalinß at Auckland in February Inst, and had. also served terms of 3J months and six months on other charges. John Alexander M.unroe, charged with j assault with intent to do previous bodily harm, was acquitted, as was also Nufck Mnkaore, on a charge of horse-stealing. LONDON PORT WAKING UP. Gisborno, Juno 28. Advice has been received from London' that the Port of London Authority lias accepted a tender at over four hundred thousand pounds for Albert Docks inn provements. . . FEARS FOR TUG TOANUI. Glsborne, June 28. The Sheepfarmers' Company has raj ceived advioe from Home that there ad reason to believe that the Toanui was totally wrecked on Seven Stones and the crow lost, during; thick weather,