NEWS SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15662, 16 July 1914, Page 6

NEWS SUMMARY.

Auckland 4 'Arbor Day was observed in Auckland yesterday.

Detectives arrested three men on separate charges of theft yesterday.

Two import-ant loan proposals will bo placed before the ratepayers of Takapuna at an early date.

A record number of calls were received b\ the Newmarket volunteer fire brigade during the poet year.

The annual sheep returns show an increase for the Dominion of 403,000 bend, and for the Auckland Province 134,000.

The Prime Minister has consented to have ;i report prepared upon the possibility of preserving some of Auckland's volcanic hills.

A married woman, a patient at the hospital, committed suicide by leaping from a window in No. 4 ward on 'luesday afternoon.

The Newmarket Borough Council has decided to protest against the erection of the drill hall for cadets on the site proposed in the Domain.

The Minister for Railways stated yesterday that an automatic alarm would be installed at the Onslow Street crossing, Kingsland " in due course."

During the year ending March 31, 2178 acres of the Hauraki Swamp lands, valued at £18,000, were settled. A total of 32,525 acres of the swamp, valued at *ii./8,250, has now been reclaimed.

Replying to a question by Mr. A. M. Myers' (Auckland East) th's Hon. James Alien stated that he fully recognised the urgency of the question of th; Auckland University site, and that h>- hoped to arrive at a decision before bng.

A report upon the state of the trout in Lakes Rotorna and Tarpo, prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs, shows that a large quantity of poor fish has been destroyed, and that the food supply has been greatly increased.

Fire destroyed a shop and six dwellingrooms in Ponsonby Road Jaot night, occupied by ]\lr. George L. Huillier, tobacconist and hairdresser; nothing but* a piano was. saved from the dwelling portion, and the stock suffered much damage.

'the Minister for Public Works 'stated yesterdav that the Otamatea section of the North Auckland Railway would be handed over to the Railway" Department on Aucrnst 1, and that the Bickcrstaffe section would probably be completed by ember. New Zealand: The price of meat has leen raised in Christchurch on account of t he high prices ruling for all classes of sock. Further petitions, protesting against the Bible in Schools Referendum Bill, were piesented to Parliament yesterday, t No information has been received by the Union Steam Ship Company as to the suggested equipment of the Vancouver steamers as armed merchantmen. ' H.M.S- Philomel was formally taken over by the Government yesterday ae a training ship. Many applications, from intending recruits have been received. . The Government is of the opinion that the period within which a person must make ; application to an insurance company for payment- of a policy should not, be extended, as it might lead to criminal practices. Australia: The Victorian gold output for 1913 was 45,1980z less than for the previous year. The death of a young woman, found shot under mysterious circumstances, is reported from a station near Tas3. The Melbourne Licensing Reduction Board has ordered the closing of a number of well-known city hotels. The president cf the Farmers' Conference, now sitting in Sydney, stated that in the event,of labour troubles, tile farmers themselves would see their produce put on board ship. British Empire: The third reading of the Home Rule Amending Bi'l has been carried in the, House of Lords.

A London barrister who is seeking to divorce his- wife alleges that she has been mined by th? influence of night clubs.

Commander Kendall, the commander of the Empress of Ireland at the time of thp collision, is to be promoted, and will be given an appointment ashore.

The High Commissioners for New Zealand and Australia are satisfied that colonial interests will be safeguarded by alterations to clause 5 of the British Finance Bill. •

Some interesting information about conditions in the Solomon and Hebrides Islands has been gathered by those who recently ; visited the groups in the mission steamer Southern Cross. ■

The vacancy for the West Birmingham seat in the House of Commons caused by the death. of the late Mr. Joseph Chamberlain has been Oiled by the election of Mr. Austen Chanberlain unopposed.

Eight Solomon Island natives, who recently attempted a voyage of 90 miles in a canoe, nearly died of starvation, and . reached their destination in a .weak and exhausted condition. One man was lost on the voyage. " . Foreign: Anti-Austrian feeling is increasing in Servia. • Two bombs have been found in a French railway station. N An Italian miller in a small provincial town has run amok and fatally shot eight people. Persian protests to Russia against consular activity in Northern Persia have been ignored. Reports from Albania accuse the Epirote rebels of massacring women and children. Strike troubles at The Hague have caused serious disturbances in the vicinity of the Peace Palace. Huge forest fires are raging in Russia, where the greatest continuous heat wave for half-a-century prevails. Costa Rica and Salvador are protesting ' against the. treaty which Nicaragua is entering into with the United States. .. j The United States is taking action with a view to securing the suppression of the tfivolts in Hayti and San Domingo. Sporting and Athletics: Britain has defeated France in the preliminary round of the Davis Cup contests. . Germany lias now decided to compete. The New Zealand Rugby Football team at present in Australia defeated Western Districts at Orango yesterday by 59 points to 10. The Norden Cup hockey match, played ■'-' at Hamilton yesterday between the Manawatu and Waikato teams, resulted in. a •win for Waikato by 4 goals to 1. A rumour current in Sydney that three members of the Now Zealand Rugby football team, at present in Australia, have expressed a desire to play tho League -, game is indignantly denied by -the men i themselves.