DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD HONORED. [Per Press Association.] Greymouth, January 14. A great number of followers of the Liberal Party met Sir Joseph Ward at a complimentary banquet to- | night. Over three hundred wore i present, and Mr G. E. Perkins I (Mayor) presided. Sir Joseph received a 'most flattering reception. In the course of a brilliant address lie gave an outline rtf the doings of the Liberal Party. He pointed out the. different prepressive measures placed on the Statute Book by that party, and stated that they were not as prone to nonfulfilment of promises as were the present Ministry. -He drew a comparison between Liberalism and progressiveness and Reformism and socalled progressiveness. Prior to lastelection the present Government had made several promises which it had never carried out. Sir Joseph made feeling reference to the late member for the district, Sir Arthur Guinness, and said he hoped Mr Webb, his successor, would do as much for the district and the Dominion as a whole as the late member bad. He announced that at an early date he would deliver a policy speech in one of the cities, and would there indicate the Liberal programme. In conclusion, Sir Joseph said that he sincerely trusted that the upholders of Liberalism would keep together and not become divided in their ideas, and that, if this was done, the Liberal banner would come into prominence very soon. CHARGES AGAINST YOUTHS. Dannevirke, January 15. Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., was occupied to-day in hearing charges against seven youth, two for alleged theft, and the others for allegedly receiving property knowing the same to have been stolen. Charles David Emerson and Gordon Gillespie, employed by Messrs Drummond, Hodder and-Co., hardwaremen, admitted joint and separate charges of theft of ar- i tides from the stock. In statements made to the police they said they had been asked by one of the other accused, who was starting a “batch,” to get the articles for him, and had done so.

The principal of the prosecuting firm asked for leniency for both boys,' stating, at the same time, that much had been stolen from stock which was not included in the charges. Accused were convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. In tlie cases of receiving, Percy Stanley Preble and Linden Harold Frost were finelxl £5 each, or one month; and R. W. McCarthy Wratt and Allan Hugh Toomer were convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence. ■ ROBBERY IN A MOTOR. Tirnaru, January 15. Two men, charged with taking a drunken man for a motor ride and robbing him on the road, were today committed for trial at the next Supreme Court sittings. HLDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS. Christchurch, January 15. It is considered probable that July 1 will be fixed as the date of tbo opening of the Lake Coleridge hydroelectric power works. FRACAS AT HUNTLY. Auckland, January 15.

Dixon, president of the new Huntly Arbitration Union, accompanied by about 15 avbitrationists, entered the Coalminers’ Union office at Huntly to-day and formally took possession of it. Wood, president of the old niiion, and a few ex-strikers, were : n the office at the time, and a collision between the two forces occurred. A number’of ex-strikers, who vere outnumbered, escaped through the window. Another man fell out m to the street, and another was either pushed or knocked down. The prompt arrival of the police stopped the fracas, and, although a large and excited crowd quickly gathered, there was no further trouble. Wood refused to leave till given possession of his union’s hooks and papers, when ho quickly departed.

The examination of candidates for membership of the now union is now completed, 200 being accepted, 71 rejected, and 17 held over. "Many of the rejected men are leaving the town,, and considerable bitterness is being evidenced by those remaining. One mine is now almost fully started and the other is expected to commence operations about Monday next. A CHARGE FAILS. Timaru, January 15. The case against a Federation vharf laborer for abusive language ind also for using threatening lang•age tending to create a breach of the peace, was dismissed by the magistrate to-day. The language •omplainod of was used to the secretary of the Arbitration Union, on November 24. JEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. Wellington, January 15. During last session the Minister tor Public 1 Works was urged by members to have the new Parliamentary Buildings pushed on so that they might, as soon as possible, be rescued from the unhealthy atmosphere )f the present temporary character. It was suggested that the work of erection might be undertaken in such a way that the main efforts, ai first,

would Liu directed to completing thu now Chamber for the flouso of Representatives.' To-day officers of tlie Department conferred with the contractors, and an arrangement was arrived at hy which the pew-Cham-ber will lie put in hand almost immediately, and will, it is hoped, he ready for the 19,15 session. This will not mean delay in the case of the other parts of the buildings, as the whole contract is to he completed hy December 12, 1915, and the contractors expect,to be through by then; but they will concentrate a special force of men on the Representative Chamber, so' that it will ho available for use at a considerably earlier date.

AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS. Palmerston North, January 15. At a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union here to-day, the question of agricultural high schools was brought up hy Mr Matheson, who moved; “That if the future of our hoys is to ho considered, and it will he seen that the majority of them should he engaged in agricultural pursuits, no scheme of education is sound that does not provide for agricultural high schools, and the executive urges on the Minister for Education to establish such schools.” The motion was heartily endorsed and carried. IMPROVED TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Palmerston N., January 10

A start has been made with the work of installing the conduit system in thelocal telephone service. The present maze of wires in the Square will be put underground, leaving only the telegraph wires overhead, which will considerably improve the appearance of the Square. The system is to bo extended through the principal streets also.