DOMINION DOINGS

Southland Times, Issue 14437, 7 June 1910, Page 5

DOMINION DOINGS

THE ESCAPED PRISONER. (Per United Press Association.) ' ASHBURTON, June 6. Though over three days had elapsed since his escape, Trembath was still enjoying liberty at S o’clock to-night. Pursuit by a large body of police has been keen, but so far the escapee, who has been singularly favoured by the weather which continues foggy, has evaded recapture, and there seems to be no very reliable information as to his exact whereabouts. Latest advices point to his having crossed the Rangitata river, despite police guarding bridges. To do this he must have forded the river, which is a heavy stream. A man answering his general description and mounted on a lady’s bicycle, was seen by a civilian on the road between Arundel township, adjoining' Rangitata traffic bridge, and Geraldine; but the fog rendered identification incomplete. MINISTERS’ MOVEMENTS. WELLINGTON. June 6. Sir Joseph Ward departed for Auckland to-duy. He will be the guest of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at dinner to-morrow evening, and on Wednesday he will go on to Huntly to attend a conference which is to discuss Maori matters. He expects to return to Wellington on Friday. The Hon. J. A. Millar is accompanying the Prime Minister to Auckland. The Minister of Railways will leave Auckland on Thursday and. return to Wellington on Saturday, after a call at Wanganui. The Hon. G, Fowlds and the Hon. Dr Findlay, now at Auckland, are expected back in Wellington in the middle of the week. By to-morrow there will be four Ministers of the Crown in Auckland. The Hon. T. Mackenzie returned yesterday from the south. He and the Hon. J. Carroll are the only Ministers in Wellington this afternoon. The Native Minister will set out for Huntly within the next day or two. The Hon. R. McKenzie is visiting the Nelson district. The Hon D. Euddo, who has been having a day or two in Christchurch and North Canterbury, will be in Wellington to-morrow. The Hon. A. T. Nguta is in the neighbourhood of Port Awanui. DEFENCE MATTERS. WELLINGTON. June fi. The following circular from Colonel Robin, chief of the General Staff, has been forwarded to officers commanding districts: amendments to the Defence Act, necessary to give effect to the proposals made by Lord Kitchener, and considering that the current year must be one of transition in the Territorial Forces, corps should, as soon as possible, for the present confine the recruiting to physically fit men below the age of 2.1 years to maintain the corps or units at their strength, neither should they increase their pre-ent strength until the permanent staff for corps Is available to carry out the necessary renumbering and recruiting and reorganising of the corps up to the new establishment.”