INTERPROVINCIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12706, 8 March 1912, Page 5

INTERPROVINCIAL.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Tlie steamer Wairoa, 95 tons. Avhich is to take an expedition to the "Auckland Islands m search of the treasure Avhicb Avas lost .iii the ship, General Grant m 1864,. is at present m Auckland. In a few days the Wairoa leaves for Dunedin to be fitted out. : • At the Police Court, Henry Watson and George CroAve Avere committed for trial for having passed a gilded farthing to a cabman' for half a sovereign, paying their fare, and receiving eight shillings change. ; The Hon. J. A. Millar states that he had completed the preliminary Avork for the removal of the engine sheds of the Auckland railway to Newmarket. This necessitates the duplication of the Parnell railway tunnel. The Minister states that it is now within measurable distance, £8000 having been authorised for the combined Avork\ The Methodist Synod discussed a mibtroli by^the'ReA'-. Mrrßurton, of NeAv expressing alarm nt the growing tendency to militarism, as embodied m recent legislation, emphatically condemning the Compulsory Military Training Act, and pledging the Churcli tb' Work for its -'-repeal.' Thu Hon. G. J. Smith mo\-ed an amendment that while deploring the, necessity for defence forces of the Dominion, the conference endorse the principle of universal military training as most equitable for supplying such defence force. , The discussion is proceeding. Sharemarket business done : oyivia, 10s ; Occidental, 10£ d ;': 'Victoria, 8d ; Talisman, 50s j Waihi, 40s 3d; Waihi Reefs, Is 4d^ Grand Junction, iißs 3d; Standard Insurance, 30s 3d. The talisman return for February totalled. £23 ; £4s from 3980. tons. . i • - PALMERSTON N., this. day. The Minister for RaiUvays announced to a deputation yesterday that plans were m preparation for extensiA'e alterations to the Palmerston railway station. The congestion of. traffic has been serious during the -last few years, and representations haA y e been made bA r the Chamber of .Commerce. The* Hon. J. A. Millar says that the alterations include an island platform m the centre of the railway yards, to be connected with the present platform by overhead bridges ; also additional buildings erected at the Avestern end of the present station. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Fines were imposed this morning on another batch of youths charged with failure to obey the Defence Act. In giving a reserved judgment m cases m which conscientious and religious objections Avere raised, Mr Bailie, S.M.. sajd that the question of yeligion did not arise till the men Avere ppt to service. It Avas the duty of everyone -to register and take the oath, but the defence authorities could consider religious objections later. Fines avere i imposed. Counsel for tho defence- indicated Uhat an appeal Avas probable; '

ASHBURTON, this day

The hearing of the charges against Thomas Henry Alexander and Annie Alexander, his Avife, avlio Avere alleged to have kept; licj'uor for ..sale*, aleo,^ to have sold l liquor m a rio-license district, Avas resumed to-day before Mr S.M. The charge against Mrs Alexander Avas dismissed. Alexander Avas convicted on tho second charge and fined £50.

TIMARU, this day

Yesterday was the wettest day of the season, two inches of rain having fallen m the last 24 hours. This is disastrous to farmers having grain m stook or m ill-built stacks. Tbe ground Avas so saturated that the carting of threshed grain Avas put a stop to. There is a good deal of grain m stook and a considerable quantity yet unout. INVERCARGTiLL, this day. A tire occurred at midnight m the premises of W. E. Butcher, tailor, which Avere gutted. Tbe iire spread to 'the roof of the adjoining shops, m Avhich the stocks Avere considerably damaged' by smoke and water. The places damaged were occupied by Rankin (jeweller). Holmes (bootmaker), and Gilchrist (chemist). The total insurances on the stocks Avere : £1260 in' the NeAv Zealand office, £1350 iri the South British, £1200 m the Victoria, £360 m the Commercial Union, and. £loo m the Alliance. The buildings Avere insured for £1200 m the Norwich. Union office and £600 m the Guardian office. 'The loss on the stocks is heavy.