VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1911, Page 5

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY XBI.EOIIAPH—PKK PBK93 ASSOCIATIOW.] * “LOAVES AND FISHES.” f; . TIMARU, March, at the opening of an addition to the W:Umataitai (subip\ni.)v; school, j- 'Air yL Graigie,' M.P., said that Ke had besn criticised as “a loaves and fishes member.” He declared that so taigas the present system was maintained, lie would continue to do his best to get the legitimate wants or his eleecorate supplied under that system. ■ w.c.t.u. : < NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.—Dede gates to the annual conference of t£e W.C.T.U. were accorded a reception this afternoon, by the Mayor and citizens. In the evening they attended.:,'a children’s function. The business of the Conference commences to-morrow. , ; q , WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY, ;( ■ WELLINGTON, This Day.— Abopt 120 shopkeepers met to-night to take action in view of the coming poll on fKo question of a Saturday half-holiday. The , meeting was strongly the proposed change, opinions being that tit would cause considerable dislocation and loss of trade and would specially injure small shopkeepers, A strong committee was appointed to work. .Idr the. retention of the Wednesday halfholiday. A resolution was passed protesting against the clause in the Shops and Offices Act, allowing municipal electors to decide the day for the -halfholiday closing of shops, considering that clause was harassing and against the interests of the business community- ' :

EARTHQUAKE. V,;. WATPAWA, This Day—A sharp earthquake, preceded by rumbling, was felt, at 8.55 o’clock last night. ; V NAPIER, This Day.—An unusually severe shock of earthquake, lasting 20 seconds and preceded by a sudden jolt, was experienced at 8.55 last night. No damage is reported. . ■,. A LONG SITTING. A GISBORNE, This Day.—The Bdtough Council meeting last night lasted until 2.30 a.m. The question of the adoption of Edison’s storage battery cars for the tramway was further postponed. It was decided to call tenders for sleepers for the tramline... The Mayor said he expected the- electrical apparatus to be shipped from England in a month or six weeks’, time. .Thete was a four hours discussion regarding sewerage works. At 2.15 the Mayor left the chair but another Chairman was appointed and a motion about the recreation reserves to which the Mayor objected was passed. MAORI SYNOD. GISBORNE, This Day.—The Triennial Maori Synod his finished its , sitting at Waiomatatine. The Bishop df Waiapu delivered a stirring address on Monday. The offerings of each tribe were collected, totalling ' £742, of which £SOO was given to the Hukarqre Girls’ School Fund, which amount will be subsidised by Mr J. N. Williams. t ~ , ,i PUBLIC MAN FINED. L 7 ASHBURTON, This Day. —Judgment was delivered this morning in the case of Henry Davis versus Hugb Friedlander, when Mr Day S.M., said lie could not dismiss the charge oh account of the triviality of amount involved and would therefore convict Friedlander and order him to pay costs amounting to £2 13s. v i; GIFT TO THE QUEEN. - f• ' WELLINGTON, This Day.— Notwithstanding that the lists for contributors to the “Maries” gift to thu Queen have closed, subscriptions still continue to come into the Mayoress and she is obliged to return them,, as .there is no time now to forward 'ibis money to England. , A FATAL FIRE. INVERCARGILL, This Day. Through an explosion of benzine the residence of D. Blackburn, Waikawa, was destroyed by fire last night. His wife, who was in delicate health and a young son perished in the flames. FATAL EIRE. DUNEDIN, This Day.—Mrs George Matheson, a resident of Hampden, died from injuries sustained at a fire in her husband’s premises yesterday. BLOCKING A THOROUGHFARE. AUCKLAND, This Day.—Mr. Cutten, S.M., recorded convictions against several doctors charged with a breach ■of the by-laws in leaving motor cars, in Queen Street while engaged at their consulting rooms. He said that it would be an unreasonable privilege to block traffic in the main thoroughfare. It was not the same as leaving cars outside private residence or the residence of a private patron.