Second Edition LATEST MESSAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 5, 22 August 1911, Page 6

Second Edition LATEST MESSAGES.

By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. United Press Association. (Received 22, 1.30 p.m.) Now York, August 21. At Sail Francisco Nellie Schmidt Schofield swam the Golden Gate Channel in forty minutes—an unprecedented feat. A parrot’s scream “Come on” awakened ..the occupants of a tonstoried Madison Square apartment house and sated the lives of twenty people. Aipoliceman worked the elevator at' the imminent peril ot Ids life and the people rushed hall-dressed into the street. Ottawa, August 21. The ■ steamer Hero and the tug Chieftain collided on the St. Lawrence near Quebec. The tug sank and four on board were drowned, Tivo tornadoes' met on tbo prairie in Southern Manitoba, accompanied by lightning, rain and bail. Considerable damage was done to crops. Five persons were killed at Minot, North ] )a kota.

DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, August 22. In tho Divorce Court to-day John Henry Rayuer was granted a divorce from Katherine Raynor, Percy Wakefield SollCy, with whom she went to Sydney,' being joined as co-respond-end. : A decree was also granted in the case GS John Fitzell against Jano Elizabeth Fitzell, Arthur Yates, in whose name two of the respondents were registered, being joined as corespondent. 'AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL UNREST. DOUBTFUL TACTICS. (Received 22, 9.30 a.m.) Sydney, August 22. The Shop Assistants’ award has expired ‘ bore. The union alleges that.several large establishments have taken advantage of the fact and reduced wages. A new Board is sitting. Unionists state that the employers arc unnecessarily protracting tiie sittings, and threaten a strike which will paralyse business.

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. /(Received 22, 9.30 a.in.) Sydney, August 22. Tho opening of Parliament to-mor-row will, have a humorous side. Tho Clerk will preside without power to speak, until the Speaker is elected, and the new members (Messrs. Dunn and Pon;y) will have to wait outside, as tho Si)°aker issued the writs he only will be. able to receive tbo return. ine Clerk has no authority to call members to order if they use Torcible expressions. Mr. Wade, endeavoured to dissuade Mr. Willis from accepting the Speakership, but ""Mr. Willis was firm,. ,

CHAR.QSD WITH MI}R£SER. (Per Press Association.) i oto« weimipa; 7 nughst ■ 22? William ; i; Fra nets 1 DujViifiuw was charged at- the M.agistra,tc.’s, Court with haying.iunlawfully killed Jolm William 'Ld'ifg on Saltirdtty' night. Long died' suddenly, and aiv ( autopsy showed that.,lie, Intel a- fractured skull. Dowman was remanded until .the 30th, bail being refused. Deceased Long left a 'widow and two young children.

THE EVSOKAU LANDS. (Per Press Association.) ■Wellington, August 22. • The Mokau land transaction was further considered by the Native Affairs Committee this morning. Mr. V\v T. .jennings (Cnairman) drew attention to a report appearing in a paper to the effect that no had stated that he did not wish to narnow the enquiry, whereas Mr. Massey had made tnat remark. Mr. Massey recounted tiic history of tlie case, and pointed out that the meeting at widen the Order in Council was made was presided over by Sir James Carroll, anti was hold on March loth. The sale was confirmed by the Maori Land Board on March 22nd, and was not.gazetted until March 00. Ho hold that the syndicate did not propose to. part with the mineral rights/ which would gibe them a monop..iy over the coal-nearing areas of the west .coast of Taranaki provincial district. The Government had made a serious iiiistako in allowing the block to bo purchased by private individuals. 'lncaGovernment should have acquired the, laud, and after disposing of the cbal-1 fearing areas, out up the block under the optional system. Cir James Carroll asked it Mr. Massoy was correctly reported in saying that Jones’s title became void, and the natives had resumed occupation of the land. . Mr. Massey said that was not quite right. Ho did riot suggest tiiat the laud had not legally passed from the natives to Lewis. With regard to the statement that the Government could have bought the land for IDs Id, ho hoped to he able to prove that the Government could have purchased the land far loss. His point was that the Government should have purchased from the native owners, and that European settlers should not ho exploited by a syndicate. It was just a matter of opinion whether the Government should have bought the land nr whether private enterprise should have been allowed to acquire it. Hutu re settlors would not he aide to get on the .-land on suc h easy terms as the Government could have given. He nad not the run of departmental papers, and therefore he could not be strictly accurate with regard to details. Mr. Ngata asked if Mr. Massey’s case might not be boiled down to two issues—that the issue of the Order in Council was detrimental to the public' interests, and that it was against the interests of the native owners. Mr. Massey refused to commit himself. He had board that throe different valuations of the property had placed it at less than the price paid by the syndicate. The Committee adjourned til! tomorrow, when Mokau Jones will be called.