WITHIN THE DOMINION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6491, 10 April 1908, Page 6

WITHIN THE DOMINION

LATEST TELEGRAMS PRESS ASSOCIATION. SLACKNESS AT FREEZING WORKS CHRISTCHURCH, I April 9. Slaughtermen employed in Canterbury freezing works have had an extremely poor season up to the present, the months of dry v eather having affected the farmers sicclc A natural result was that sheep and lambs could not bo sent to the works in the sarr.'- numler as in a good year. With fewer sheep and cattle to operate 01 the slaughtermen could only earn diminished cheques, in some cases, it u> stated, averaging only, half what would be earned in a good season. Rains having fallen recently an Improvement is takin" place, and the season will probably be an extended one. OLD AGE PENSIONS ACT. AUCKLAND OBJECTIONS. AUCKLAND, April 9. The Auckland branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation last night carried a motion expressing the opinion that the Old Age Pensions Act does not fulfil the functions for which it r 'as , i-'inrui. intended, and referring the whole question and its weakness to the council for consideration and report. The particular provision of the Act objected to was that which penalises pensioners by depriving them of pension® for five years for, drunkenness. The Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C., ohar-aeteriso-i this clause as infamous and as a blot ch the statute book. ALLEGED HORSE SHOOTING. TDI.ARU, April 9. Daniel Sargent, a middle-aged farmer, was committed for trial at the Supreme Court on a charge of wilfully killing a horse Iw 'booting it, and wounding three others. , The horses l elouged to a neighbour, with whom accused was on very friendly terras, and tbtre appears to have been no motive for the deed. MEETING OF MORMONS. WAIROA, April 9. A Mormon meeting is being held at Nnhaka. There i re. nearly 60 Mormons present, and over' 1 000 natives. The, proceedings are orderly. WRECK OP A SCOW. BT ■ April 9. On Tuesday the soow ■ Eunice was driven ashore at Pelorus Sound. A man ramed Spaisou, an AJB., was drowned during the efforts of, a_ boat’s crew to prevent the soow capsizing. A . FORGETFUL THIEF. TDIARU, April 9.

Six months ' ago a commercial , traveller had a bicycle stolen from Westport. /Nothing more was heard of it until last week, when the police here discovered a young man named. Bell ■in possession of it. Accused was before the Court this morning, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. He said ho was not sure of his name or age, but remembered having been before the Court in' Wanganui.

A CONTRACTOR DROWNED. AUCKLAND, April 0. ■ James Kelly, contractor, was accidel tally drowned at Whakataue.