GENERAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 12, 11 May 1912, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

The directors of the Waihi Gold Mining Company are considering the desirability of seeking new property in order to spread the company’s risks. Several London journals condemn lorn Mann’s prosecution as unnecessary and unfortunate. King George is still displaying a keen interest in the naval manoeuvres. The Trust Agency of Australia is investing money from Australian repayments in Argentina, where there arc good openings investments. William Lotinga, sporting journalist, was awarded a farthing damages against the “Sporting Times.” The self-governing portions of the British: Empire have been granted the ri’ght to denounce the commercial treaties of 1861 and 1870 between Great Britain and Denmark. It is believed that all danger from floods in the Mississippi valley is now past.

Tho Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the West Coast Native Leases commenced its sitting at Hawera yesterday. To-day the commission, is taking evidence. The case.in which Mr Knox and four other directors of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. were charged with refusal to give evidence before tho Sugar Commission was adjourned. A recent visitor to New Zealand declares that the majority of tho trout in the country are diseased. The Sydney Harbour Trust has fitted out a vessel to seach for the dredge Manchester,''which is its property. ■ ‘ ■ < ... About two years)ago a Scandinavian

v/as guilty of using, obscene language

in a public place at Maungawai, - but', disappeared before Court proceedings took place. The other day he was arrested in Auckland city, by the same policeman who witnessed . the offence in the country settlement. A conference of local body delegates at Wairoa strongly condemned the new Local Government Bill. . , The Arbitration Court, , sitting, at ; Auckland, reserved decision in a case in which a man claimed damages for injury to his voice, there being a con-, llict of testimony as to the degree of injury received. The Vancouver mail service is gaining in popularity. The last vessel to leave Auckland had all berths engaged and took 1500 boxes of butter. The jury at an inquest at Auckland on the victim of a motor accident added a rider that all drivers of motor ears should hold a “certificate of competency.” i' Through a traction engine breaking tnrough a bridge outside Hastings the driver was killed ’ instantly and the fireman severely scalded. The Melanesian Mission (London) farewelled Bishop Wood, Bishop of Waiapu. At a conference of the ist Unionist Association in London the Lord Mayor of Belfast said he did not- believe that Home Rule would lead to war. If it did there were three hundred thousand men ready to fight as their ancestors had defended Londonderry.

Lord Rothschild lias given notice to move to except Antrim, Armagh, Down and Londonderry from the operations of Home Rule. A Sydney butcher states that during the past three years the expenses of workers bas increased- fifty per cent. At the Oddfellows’ conference in Sydney one brother, in opposing granting membership to women said men and women should bo kept as far apart as possible in surf-bathing and politics. The manager of the Broken Hill Block X mine reports a serious diminution in ore reserves. Xext season the Victoria Racing Club will increase its stakes by a thousand pounds. Hie Federal Statistician calculates the average wheat yield at 9.7-1 bushels per acre, as against 12.90 last year. The Premier of the Commonwealth discounts the rumour that France intends to cede New Hebrides to Great Britain. Official information ho lias received docs not make mention of such an intention. 0. A. Oadwallader, driving from Carterton to Martinborough last night drove over a drop of ten feet at a bridge approach. The car burst into flames and he was badly burnt.