TELEGRAMS.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1432, 4 March 1911, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

|(p_fc PBESS ASSOCIATION.) DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED. Auckland, March 3Advice was received in Auckland this morning that' Alfred. Cash, found gulity of murdering his wife at Helensville on Christmas Day, and condemned to death, had - had his death sentence commuted to • imprisonment for- life. .Cash had been confined in the Moiu_t Eden prison and a constant watch kept on him day and night. Though lie has conversed with his keepers occasionally, the prisoner has generally maintained a listless attitude, and when the gaoler acquainted him with the decision of the Cabinet he received the news quite casually. Although Cash .is by no means in a low physical condition, the authorities, upon the advice of the gaol surgeon, have had him removed to the prison hospital, where he can converse with his fellow prisoners. A PARENT'S OBJECTION. Christchurch, March 3. A letter was read at a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College from the parent of a student, objecting to Bible-reading and the saying of the Lord's Grayer prior to classes starting. He protested that this was illegal, and stated that his object m writing was to prevent anything taking place which would interfere with the secular education of children. He had received a letter *rom a committee of the Board to the effect that no pupil was, or had beon, required to attend prayer and Bible-reading, and that the practice had the approval of the committee. Mr Rushbridge, one of the members of the Board, made a strong protest against the; practice, but a motion he moved requesting the director to discontinue the practice was unseconded. A CHAIRMAN REAPPOINTED. j Ashburton, March 3. At a meeting to-day the Ashburton County Council again elected Mr 1 Hugo Friedlander as representative on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. On Tuesday last Mr Friedlander resigned the chairmanship of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in consequence of an action pending against him by Mr Henry Davis, the Mayor, charging him with contravention of the Act by supplying goods to the Board exceeding £10 m value during one financial year. The reappointment was carried by five votes to two. THE PAPUAN MYSTERY. Christchurch, March 3. Mrs Gilmour (wife of a Papuan missionary), who was welcomed at the Methodist Conference to-day, in an interview regarding the probable fate of the exploring party that went to prospect the new coal field, stated that when the character of the country and the conditions existing were taken into consideration, the non-ap-pearance of the expedition at the appointed place and time might be easily accounted for by sickness. If any members of the expedition contracted a bad attack of malarial fever, when inland, it might last for weeks. She did not think it likely that the party had been .attacked by hostile natives, as they understood the natives well, aud were well knowm to them.

FESTIVAL OF THE EMPIRE. Wellington, March 3. Approximately £80 is in hand for funds to send the New Zealand representatives to the Festival of the Empire sports. The estimate of the total amount required is £400. M. E. Champion, of Auckland, has decided to make the trip. R. Opie ? of Christchiutrch, has notified his willingness to go, but cannot obtain his father's consent. An offort is being made to prevail on Mr Opie, sen., to grant consent. The local executive decided that G. Haskins be tested over lj miles and a mile at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Christchurch, March 3. This morning, Mr Isitt, referring to the allegation that the Temperance Party had been sold over the Licensing Bill, declared that Sir Joseph Ward had treated the Party fairly. Previously all members of the Party had been impressed with the absolute fairness of the treatment received. Sir Joseph Ward had been quixotically just, even saying that he would fulfil his promise regarding the 55 per cent, majority, even if the Government went out of office on the issue. The Temperance Party did not accept the offer, but contented itself with an advantageous compromise. He felt that the statements made in the Conference showing .a lack of appreciation should not go unchallenged. A recommendation from Wellington that quarterly meetings take into consideration the question of increasing Ministers' salaries was adopted, and a special committee was set up to consider the steps to be taken to improve stipends. Im the course of discussion it was stated that the Church was losing, five ministers because they were unable to face the constant worry of small stipends. At the evening sitting of the Methodist Conference a committee was set up to negotiate with the Primitive luethodist Conference re union.

It was agreed that the Minister of science be requested to arrange for Methodist chaplains to attend encampments of Territorials, and that such chaplains be quartered amongst t-he men and take their part in conducting church parades. AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY. Wellington , March 4. Mr Wright, M.P., has sent the following telegram to the President of the Methodist Conference, at Christchurch: " Press Association reports the Rev. Mr Isitt as stating that the Government offered to stake its existence on a 55 per cent, majority, but the Temperance Party declined the offer. The temperance leaders here know nothing about such an offer. Surely further explanation is necessary."

KILLED IN A MINE. Greymouth, March 4. A fall in the State coal mine yesterday afternoon entombed a newcomer aiamed White, whose body was only recovered at midnight after strenluous work. Another men nar-. rowly escaped death. A DOCTOR DIES. Dunedin, March 4. Obituary—Dr. Douglas, of Queenstown, in charge of the Frankton Hospital from 1864 to 1910.