NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 25

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The final recount in connection with the Grey by-election was concluded on Iho 6th, and the absent votes were taken into consideration. 'J.lie majority for Mr Holland now stands at 148.

The appeal of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League for £25,000 for the trench parcels and regimental funds is 'within sight of realisation, donations or promises to that amount having been received. Tho weekly intercessory services carried on by the Dunedin Presbytery, practically ever since the war started, aro to bo discontinued, and instead Knox and First Churches are to be open every day and all day for tho people to pray in. Tho Rev. G. P. Mitchell was inducted on Wednesday into the charge of tho Kuapdalo Presbyterian Church, when the Rev S. E. Hill, of Tapanui, preached the official sermon, the Rev. A. Gow addressed the minister, and the Rev. G. W. T. Hcrcus addressed tho congregation. The Waikato winter show, which was opened on tho 4th and closed on the Bth, has been a huge success. The attendance and takings exceed those of last year. Brilliant sunshine prevailed all week. Over 9000 entries were received. The show covers two acres, crowded with exhibits. At a meeting of the Dunedin branch of tho Returned Soldiers' Association it was decided to send a protest to the Dunedin City Council against appointments being made to positions which might be Idled by returned soldiers without first calling for applications for the position. _ A report, presented to the Dunedxn Presbytery, stated that during the year 26 military camps had been held for training, and chaplains'had been present at all of them. In addition, about 20 voluntary camps had boon hold, and in each case, a chaplain had attended morning and evening for duty. The annual report of St.. Margarets College, submitted to the' Dunedin Presbytery acknowledged two recent gifts of £soo'and £250. The total cost of tho institution was £11.700, and the present debt £7OOO. An appeal was made to those country districts which sent students, but no money. Mr Mitchell, who has been acting as representative of the Second Division League on the Financial Assistance Board, was officially withdrawn by the league as a protest against tho board's policy. Ho left himself eligible for reappointment as a citizen belonging to the Second Division League, and the papers to return him to the board are now awaiting final signature. The Nelson section of the Post and Telegraph Association on the 7th resolved: "That this section expresses disappointment and dissatisfaction that no general increases in salaries to meet the increast cost of living have been made in the classification list of 1918-19, and calls upon the executive committees to circulate a petition of protest for signature by all officers of tho service." The Hon. T. M. AVilford (Minister of Justice), in reply on the 10th to a deputation from the Council of Churches asking for an alteration of the law to enable the police to deal with Sunday trading in marble bars and similar places of refreshment, said ho agreed with the judgment of the Chief Justice. He promised to submit the representation of the deputation to the Cabinet. . ■ ■'

Replying to a request by a deputation from the Auckland Civic League, asking the Government to end Miss Rout's disquieting propaganda amongst the soldiers by at onco recalling her, the Hon. Q W. Russell said it was a matter for the Minister of Defence, but Mr Russell remarked that he sympathised! with the views of the league, and it was against his wish that Miss Rout was allowed to leave New Zealand. The Pateena's departure from Wellington to Nelson on the sth was held up for nearly four and a-half hours owing to the firemen leaving tho ship. Ono of their number was reprimanded for wilfully dirtying a new .carpet in tho alleyway, and as he refused to" clean up tho mess ho was given notice. The rest of the stokehold crew thereupon handed in their notices and left the ship. Some difficulty was experienced in filling their places. At a meeting of members of Columba Presbyterian Church, Oamaru, to make arrangements for carrying on work alter the departure of the pastor, Mr Robinson, who had been called up in the ballot for military service', and declined to appeal, it was decided to grant Mr Robinson leave of absence for tho period' of the war, and grant tho free use of the manse to Mrs Robinson. The Kirk Session recommended that a minister be secured who would be resident amongst them, and take full charge during Mr Robinson's absence. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin South Licensing Committee, Mr Widdowson, S.M., who presided, said that three hotels has been proceeded against during the past year for breaches of the Licensing Act, and four convictions had been recorded, two being of a serious nature. The police report stated that the hotels had on the whole been well conducted during thei past 12 months. Reference was made to several repairs and improvements, and the application for a renewal of the license for the Ocean View Hotel was adjourned until the 26th inst., when if the work was going on tho application would b© granted. John Whittaker pleaded guilty in Gisborne Magistrate's Court to five breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, in obtaining credit without disclosing that ho was an undischarged bankrupt. Ho filed in Auckland in August, 1912. Last September he applied for his discharge, and tho order was suspended for sis- months sc. na to take effect in March of this year. He came to Gisborno in November, 'and entered business in December. He was again adjudged a bankrupt in April, and his previous bankruptcy was, then revealed. The accused, who had previous convictions against him. under the Bankruptcy Act, and for vagrancy, \va sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment. At tho annual meeting of the Dunedin Licensing Committee the Chairman (Mr Widdowson, S.M.) said the police reported generally that the conduct of licensed houses had been fairly good, with one exception. Ten had been proceeded against for various breaches of the Act and regulations, the result boinn- 21 convictions—ll for minor offences. The Chairman made special reference to the charges against John Collins, of the Gladstone Hotel, and warned him that further charges would lead to his having to leave the hotel or lose tho license. A warning was also Riven to the licensee of the Green Tslund Hotel. All applications wore granted, except, in the cases of tho Kuropoan, Caledonian, and Green Island Hotels, where alterations were to be made, and the cases were.allowed to stand over.