WITHIN THE DOMINION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6396, 19 December 1907, Page 5

WITHIN THE DOMINION

latest telegrams. PEESS ASSOCIATION. THE WAEEENGA VINEYARD. AUCKLAND, December 18. Surprise has been expressed by recent visitors to Waerenga at the fact that a considerable portion of the vineyard at the Government Experimental Station there has been rooted out. Some two or three acres of vines have been taken out, and it is stated that it is probable that a further area wBl be similarly treated in the near future. It is understood that it is not on account of any disease that this step has been taken, but that it is duo to a decision on the part of tho department to reduce the area of its vineyards. FALLEN SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL. DUNEDIN. December IS.

The Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Committee brought its labours to a close today and disbanded. It received some .£1609, and after providing a marble memorial to fallen soldiers and commemorative tablets for schools had a surplus of JMO, Half of this is to be spent on a souvenir to the hon. secretary (Mr G. Duncan) and the balance will bo given to the Veterans’ Home, Auckland.

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE. WESTPORT, December 18. . During the month Captain McNaughy, general organiser of the .National Defence League, has held enthusiastic public meetings throughout Westland. Branches have been established at Greymouth, Hokitika, Reefton, Kumara, Ross, and Westport. A FINE THOROUGHFARE. DUNHpIN, December 18. A poll was taken to-day on the proposal to raise a loan for the completion of widening King Edward street. South Dunedin, a thoroughfare running from the city to Ocean ueach. The proposal was carried by 1221 votes to 306. Work on the section authorised is estimated to cost .£16,840, and when completed will give a continuous street from Normanby to Ocean Beach—a distance of over five miles—with a minimum width of 68ft.

MAORI WAR MEMORIAL. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 18. At a meeting of the Marsland Hill Memorial Committee, to consider the erection of a suitable memorial on an eminence in the centre of the town to Imperial and colonial troops who fell in the Maori wars, it was reported that JE3OO had been collected, and a Government subsidy of £3OO promised. Donations had been received from officers in all parts of the world who took part in the wars. It was decided to call for competitive designs for a monument. THE MAGISTERIAL BENCH. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 18. Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., who has just returned from England, has received notice of transfer to Oamaru. Mr Fitznerbert, b.M., who, has relieved Mr Hutchison here, remains permanently. ENCOURAGING MILITARY TRAINING. AUCKLAND, December 18. At the annual dinner of the Volunteer Officers' Club, Lord Plunket, replying to the toast of "The Governor,” said he was' very much in favour of encouraging military training. He was highly pleased with the keenness displayed in the volunteer movement in new Zealand. Admiral Fawkes, replying to the toast of "The Army and Navy," referred at length to the dependency of the army and the navy upon each other. Colonel Davies, Inspector-General of the New Zealand Forces, dwelt on the excellent work of the Officers' Club.

Hr Justice Denniston proposed "The National Defence League/' and eulogised the work of the league.

DISGRACING THE KING’S UNIFORM: DUNEDIN, December ‘lB. At the Police Court, John Mowat appeared in the dock wearing the uniform of "O’ Company of the Volunteer Ell'es, to answer charges of wilful damage to a door’belonging to William Martin, and of having broken into the dwelling of Isabella Martin with intent- to annoy her. Sub-Inspector Norwood, in. asking for a remand, said the accused and another comrade, also a volunteer, followed two young women down Castle etreet about 11 o’clock last night, and afterthe girls had gone into the, house tbo two volunteers knocked at the door. On the girls’ mother telling them •to go away, they, thrust their bayonets through !he door, while one threatened to put his bayonet into Mrs Martin. Constable Mason, on being summoned, found the two volunteers swinging their bayonets about, and damaging the flowers in the garden. Mowat, who was arrested, hud given the police the name of his com..im a remand was asked for till Saturday, to ’enable accused to te tried together. In granting the application, Mr Graham, S.M., said the offonde was a very serious one—bringing disgrace on the King’s uniform.

SAD CASE OF SUICIDE. AUCKLAND, December 18. An elderly woman named Frances Richards, who resided with her nusband in Brown street, Ponsonby, committed suicide by hanging herself' shortly after 5 o’clock last evening. ' She had been ill, and her husband went cut to get her medicine. On returning to the house he found his wife’s body suspended to the back door by means of a strap. A doctor was summoned, but efforts to induce respiration were unsuccessful. At the inquest Mr Richards stated that his wife feared the loss of her eyesight, and that a specialist had said she suffered from a peculiar affection, the effect of which was that she feared the light. The jury returned a verdict of death while of unsound mind.