TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 524, 18 March 1908, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

£pEH PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SIZE OF GRAIN SACKS. Oamaru, March 17. \ conference of representatives of the South Island Chambers of Com- | mere© met here to-day to consider the j Government's regulation respecting ; the size of grain sacks. Christ- ; church, Dunedin, InvercargiU, Timaru and Oamaru were represented. Alter a long discussion, in which a variety of size's were recommended by the delegates, it was eventually decided to recommend that a sack 46 by 24J be adopted. This, it was believed, would hold 2001 bof flour as well as of grain. It was also decided to ask the" Premier to allow tho carriage of grain in sacks carried over from the present season, and to communicate with the Australian Chamber ot Commerce asking that a similar size of sack be adopted there. MAORI GRIEVANCES. Wellington, March 17. Tho movement of the Maori people for a fuller recognition of their rights under tho Treaty of Waitangi appears now to be more or less general. In addition to the petition to the King which has been prepared by the King Country Maoris, and which will be discussed at Waharoa by Ins Excellency the Governor this week, the newly-formed Maori Association, which was inaugurated at Wanganui last month has framed a petition to bo presented to Parliament during the coming session. This document, which has been lying at the office of tho secretary of the Association (Mr C. R. Parata) has already over 100 signatures of Maoris representing all the tribes from Ngapuhi to Ngaitaihu. Invitations are being sent out for a conference of delegates representing all branches of the Association. It is to be held in Wellington during the first month of the Parlaimentary session. ARBITRATION COURT. The Arbitration Court continued its sittings to-day. Numerous and substantial fines were imposed in connection with breaches of the carpenters' and joiners', the tailors', the printers', and other industrial awards. A PROFESSIONAL SWAGGER. Inveracrgill, March 17. Patrick Troy was to-day sentenced to twelve months' hard labour for being a rogue and a vagabond. He was described in Court as a professional swagger and loafer, who travelled from end to end of Southland begging food. He seldom worked, and some farmhouse people were afraid to turn him away for fear he would burn stacks or do other damage. WOMEN IN CONFERENCE. £T Auckland, March 17. The W.C.T.U. passed resolutions advocating the raising the ago of consent, deploring the inculcation of the spirit of militarism in young people, advocating the removal of disabilities on women in the Legislature, and in regard to the Factory Acts, in favour of popularly elected boards for the control of institutions for the care of men, women, and children, and the abolition of the limit for proceedings for criminal offences against girls. The Minister of Education was held free of blame in respect to the management of Te Oranga Home. Officers were elected as follows: — President, Mrs Coles; corresponding secretary, Miss Webb; secretary, Miss Powell; treasurer, Miss McCarthy ; vice-president, Mrs Atkinson. THE W.OULD-BE SUICIDE. Palmerston North, March 17. The prisoner (Edward Jones, alias Johns), who attempted to commit suicide in the prison yard at the gaol this morning by cutting his throat with a sharp piece of tin, was taken to tho hospital, where it was found that his injuries were not serious. The affair was announced in the Supreme Court, where the prisoner was supposed to be brought up for sentence, and Mr Justice Cooper remanded the prisoner for a week, also directing that an examination as to his mental faculties be held. COMPENSATION COURT. Christchurch, March 17. In the Compensation Court, to-day, re the Culverden Estate, the case for the trustees was closed and the case for the Government, opened. Giving evidence for the Trustees, one witness said the estate was worth over £144,544, or £6 10s per acre,, and he could make 9 per cent. on that by cultivating all ploughable land and using crossbreds instead of merinos. His Honor remarked regarding the 9 per cent., "Yet farmers grumble You are basing your figures on a continuance of existing conditions?" Witness replied that the last two years were the worst he had seen in Canterbury, but he would be sorry to work for less than 9 per cent. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. < Pahiatua, March* 18. The Ballance Co-operative Dairy Company has had to pay out this week upwards of £4000 for milk supplied during February. Tho recent rains have checked the downward tendency of the^ supply to a certain extent, and with a few more good showers there should be expected a good autumn supply. LEVIN STATE FARM. Levin, Maroh 18. - As the Levin Experimental Farm is considered unsuitable for the Dairy School by the Government, a public meeting will be 'held in Levin on Saturday evening, to discuss the uses it should be put to in the future. Mr W. H. Field, M.P., will be present and will address the meeting.

I RIDSR ROUNDLY ABUSED. | -^ I Auckland, March 18. 1 Hi^is stated that sensational devel- ' opip^nts are expected concerning a rao£ at the recent A.R.C. summer meeting- It was rumoured at the time that the victory of a certain hor^ 1 in' one event was unexpected, ! and ; unpallatable to his connections, and "^hafc the rider was roundly ; abused^after returning to the scale ' for winning. Since then it is uni dcrst-ood that the rider in question '< lias placed the A.R.C. authorities in ! possession of his version of the case. ' A full investigation will take place. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. Auckland, March 18. In connection with the statement that the Main Trunk railway would not be completed this year, on account of the non-fulfilment of the Makatote viaduct contract, a telegram has been received by the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, from Messrs Anderson and Co., contractors, stating that, as far as they were concerned, there should be no possibility of the viadiKJj delaying t-ho completion of t-ho railI way, which they believe will be openI ed within tho specified time. DANGER OF AN OPEN FLAME. Ashburton, March 18. Shortly after 1 o'clock this morning, a two-storeyed house, owned by the Hampstead Town Board, and occupied by the Misses Fawcett, was, with contents, totally destroyed by fire. Tho origin of the fire was duo the flame of a lamp, carried by one of the occupants, catching the drapery in the hall. The occupants, who had only just time to leave the premises, were not able to save any furniture or personal effects. The brigade attended the fire, but, owing to defective water supply, was unable to render much assistance. The building was insured in the North British office for £250, and the furniture in the London, Liverpool ana* Globe office for £150. MANGAWEKA'S EPISODE. Palmerston North, March 18. At this morning's sitting of the Supreme Court, Chas. Fittor, charged witli assault with intent to <lo grievous bodily harm and having caused bodily harm to William Roach, at M'angaweka, was fined £100, and ordered to pay tho costs of tho prosecution, in default two years' imprisonment, with hard labour. He was bound over to keep tho peace for three years, in a bond for self of £500 and two securities of £250 each. Tho order for imprisonment was suspended for a week, in order to allod Fitton time to pay the fine and find securities. CADET CAMP. Auckland, March 18. The Board of Education passed a resolution expressing itself thoroughly satisfied with tho first cadet camp at Auckland, and with tho efficient work performed by tho officers, ami the orderly bearing and discipline ot tho cadets. COLLAPSE OF A BRICK WALL. Westport, March 18. At a quarter past eight o'clock this morning the brick wall of a building in coiirse of erection in Palmerston street. Westport, nineteen feet high, collapsed, and smashed in almost the complete length of one side of the Westport Times office, a wooden building. Several of the compositors had a narrow escape from serious accident. Although some of the machinery was covered by falling bricks, none of it appears to be damaged. It was raining heavily at the time of the accident, winch" the builders attribute to the new mortar running.