DOMINION NEWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 November 1926, Page 9

DOMINION NEWS.

INCREASED WAGES GLAUMED. (by TELEGRAPH—press ASSOCIATION.; CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 5. The Arbitration Court to-day heard a claim bv the p umbers and gasfitters of the Dominion for 3s per hour, with Is 6d a clay extra for the man responsible for the work on an outside job, or who instructs other workers. The present award provides for 2s 2d per hour. Decision was reserved. DUNEDIN’S NEW ORGAN. DUNEDIN, Nov. u ‘Specifications .sent to England for the Dunedin Town Hall organ, drawn by Mr. Paget Gale, provide for one hundred and two stops, exceeding the next largest in New Zealand by 25 stops. SETTLED OUT OF COURT. AUCKLAND, Nov. 5. The case of Frank Binton Toms v. Stephen Fearnley, an action for alleged slander, was withdrawn at the Supreme Court on the defendants unreserved apology. Otapuhu has *- been disturbed by a “peeping Tom” and the defendant, by making statements identifying the plaintiff with that individual, caused Toms much distress. To*,ns submitted liis finger prints to the police, which when'eompared with those of defendant, proved that Toms was not the guilty party. Defendant was now satisfied that the plaintiff was entirely innocent of any' such offences. Counsel for the defendant said' that his client had very' foolishly repeated a rumour he had heard. His Honour expressed his pleasure that a settlement had been reached in the manner stated. FIRE AT HASTINGS. HASTINGS, Nov. 5. A fire at 1.25 a.m. practically destroyed the residence owned by Mr Lionel B. Rhodes. No one was home at the time, and very little was saved. The insurances on the house were £9OO in the Phoenix Office and £4OO in the New Zealand Office. WHALERS SAIL SOUTH. INVERCARGILL, Nov. 5. The whaling steamer Sir James Clark Ross and five chasers sailed from Stewart Island at seven o’clock this morning, direct for the Ross Sea whaling grounds. Fifteen local youths accompanied them. GALE AT WELLINGTON WELLINGTON. Nov. 5. The prognostication of the Government meteorologist to expect another gale of special severity in and about Cook Strait proved correct, a heavy northerly arising yesterday and increasing in force as the afternoon woie on, the gusts reaching 50 'miles ner hour at the height of the storm, between eight and nine o’clock in the evening. At 11 o’clock it had commenced to die away, rain falling ti” 4 a.m. The total 79 points. Gardens, etc., suffered, but no structural damage has been reported.