NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13772, 8 May 1915, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

I' AN INCOH.'tECT -TELEGRAM. I'United Pbksb AasociA-rioN.] Auckland, May 6. In tho' Magistrate's Court, a wido'.v named Isabella Morpeth Mas charged •vith -sendinc; a telegram, addressed toj •1 residm-t of Krnsortown, Ha«-k© s Bay, trojiti-ary to war ' regulations. Lieir.^nant-Colonel Hume, officer com-: sanding the military district, said the case was brought to stop the prevalent and deplorable practice of_ circulating incorrect reports' of casualties amongst -ur troops. Tho telegram put. m by defendant'on Friday read: "Commandai Plugge and 700 New Zealanders killed.' The message was stopped oy the censor. \ The rjp. fendai^- pleaded not guilty, and stated that she had,heard the news from a gentleman in the street, whose address she did not know. 3ii Fraser, S.M., saiil the defendcint'p explanation bore the impress pi •ruth, but she had been most indiscreet. As she was :m old lady a nominal fine of ,f 1 and costs would be imposed. The Magistrate remarked :hat perhaps it would be a lesson to. people oirculati:iii such rumours to lea in thai the maximum fine for the '..ft'encj was £lr%. j