DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 January 1914, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

TRAMWAY CONDUCTOR iWJUREO [Pun Puess Association.] Auckland, January 5, A somewhat peculiar accident occurred, about 9 p.iu. yesterday, to a tramcar conductor . named Lindsay Jack. The car had reached the terminus, in front of the Post Office, Queen Stereet, when suddenly a loud cry was heard from the rear of tno car. The inspector and motorman ran to see what was the matter, and toroid die conductor lying unconscious on the platform. He had evidently received a severe electric shock, but no one saw how it occurred. The conductor was taken to the hospital, where he recovered consciousness late last night. He is now progressing satisfactorily, it was evident that his arms and shoulders had been affected, though no serious burns were noticeable.

ILLEGAL USE OF CHLOROFORM. Nelson, January 5. A young man, Douglas Keir Gibb, .vas arrested yesterday and brought before the Police Court.to-day, charged that on or about January 2, with intent to commit a crime, he attemptid to cause a person (a young woman) :o be' affected by chloroform. Accus'd. was remanded till to-morrow.

ROWDY WHARF LABORERS. Wellington, January 5. The re-opening of the “donkeyroom” "in X shed, as a place for engaging wharf labor, was marked by a food deal of rowdyism this morning. Before eight o’clock, a large crowd if men- some hundreds of them exitrikers, assembled in the room, and .vhen the men were being selected dierqj was a good deal of heckling and rowdiness. Afterwards, as too much: labor was available, a large number if hands wore left, the majority of diem being men who had come back to work when the strike was called iff. They made it decidedly uncomfortable for members of the Waterside Workers’ Union, who had resumed inring the strike, and also for the new hands. There was considerable uproar, and several attempts at speechmaking' were'made. One man, who was insulted, struck an opponent and received i somewhat severe handling, his main injury being a cut over the eye. B • reported the matter to the wharf officials, but saS<l that he could not identify his bpponent, and, consequently, no lictioh could be taken in the matter. In another instance, two men complained that ex-strikers had prevented them from going up the stairs into the waiting-room. The men were warned by one of the chief wharfingers that, should such unseemly conduct occur again, the shod would be closed and they would have ’to 'waif odtside on the quay. Th is would of course mean that wharf hands would he engaged on the wharves, as they were during the currency of the strike. Owing to more serious developments in tile afternoon, Mr Fletcher, chairman of the Harbour Board, consulted the police authorities regarding the maintenance of order on the wharves, ad gave orders for the “donkey’•oom” to be closed until further notice.