NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 57

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS.

AUCKLAND. The Auckland Farmers’ Provincial Con. ference passed a resolution that, in .vievf of the hostile and bitter attitude many foreign countries have shown towards the British Empire during the war, the conference is strongly of opinion that the farmers’ unions of New‘Zealand should energetically contend for preferential trade within the Empire and with the Allies, while they remain so While crossing the Wanganui River on the 29th nit. on their way to town front their market garden with vegetables two Chinamen were carried down the river, which was in flood. After floating for several hundred yards the trap was overturned. One man managed to reach the shore, but the other was drowned. Mr Vivian Walsh made several successful flights on a locally-built seaplane on the 3rd. He made thrg© flights, each of over 10 miles, on the harbour, the maximum height being 300 ft. Mr Walsh also made a flight of over a mile, carrying a passenger. At the Supreme Court Walter Thorp, on two charges of having fabricated evidence before the Maori Land Board in the Iv. ng Country representing land transactions in which he was interested, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, with hard labour. WELLINGTON It was recently reported that the Wellington Hospital required the services of doctors and probationary nurses. Many applications resulted, and the authorities now announce that as they have many waiting appointment there is no need to cal! upon the services of any below the age limit—namely, 21 years. The Wellington City Council has refused to take delivery of the motor ’buses ordered through the firm of Richardson, M‘Cabe, and Co., Wellington, and that firm has now served the corporation with a writ for breach of contract. . WEST COAST. The week’s coal output at Grey was: —Paparoa, 339 tons 9cwt; Point Elizabeth, 1372 tons 10cwt; Liverpool, 1205 tons; Blackball, 5966 tons 19cwt; Brunner, 228 tons llcwt; —total, 9112 tons 9cwt. CANTERBURY. Thomas Williams, who was arrested in Dunedin on a charge of theft, escaped from custody at the Christchurch Police Station on the 28th ult. He asked permission to go to the lavatory, and it is presumed that he got through the window. He is still at large. The police have been notified of the arrest at Palmerston North of a woman named Minnie Garrick, charged with abandoning her child on the river bank. Christchurch, on February 4. The child was concealed in the stump of a tree, and is now in a receiving home. SOUTHLAND. The London Piano Company’s premises were gutted by fire on the 6th instant. A large stock of pianos and musical instruments was destroyed. The company is covered oy insurance.